Got my German fixed! I want to thank everyone who reviewed the first time around and corrected my German (now I just need to learn how to actually say the words). On with the story!

Chapter 3

Eyes on Fire

I don't know what the hell I was thinking agreeing to Pete's request. I wasn't really thinking actually. I had agreed to his insane request just because I wanted to help him. I had decided to wear a salmon button down with dark blue jeans. My white kicks covered my feet. I stared up at the house in front of me, my stomach rising into my throat. I had never been to Ashland's home before, and finding it had been difficult. Pete was an awesome guy, but he sucked at giving directions. I made my way to the front door and knocked. 11:59. The door swung open to reveal an middle aged woman. She smiled at me. "Oh! You must be Mr. Ashland's guest!"Mr. Ashland? Fucking rich people. I smiled at her.

"I am Marilein." I felt awkward, speaking to an actually maid.

"Please, come this way. He is on the veranda, waiting." I stepped in and welcomed the cool breeze that ran across my skin. She led me down a hall and into what I assumed to be the living room. The house was all dark wood and regal colours. I felt like my kicks were leaving permanent imprints on the pristine white carpet. One wall of the living room was lined with floor to ceiling windows. I could see the small pond outside and could even see a few birds. I was surrounded by opulence, and felt entirely out of place. The woman led me to one of the windows and slid it open. I was greeted with the smell of freshly cut grass and flowers. I stepped outside and jumped at the sound of the door sliding shut again. Pete was supposed to meet me here, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was just Ashland. I felt surprisingly trapped for being outdoors.

There he was, sitting in a white chair, his back to me. He was staring out into the distance, at the woods surrounding his home. I stepped towards him and he titled his head slightly, but did not turn to look at me. "Please, sit. Karen will deliver lunch shortly." His voice was deeper then I remembered. He shifted his chair so that he was facing the table now. He turned his gold eyes on me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat down. I felt underdressed even though he was wearing a blue button down and khakis. I could even see his bare feet. He had nice feet. "I'm happy that you accepted my invitation." His eyes never left mine.

"Pete begged me… Where is he by the way?" He didn't smile at me. His eyes grazed across my face, as though he was looking for something. "So, I'm here. I hope this isn't going to take long." I just wanted to get out of there.

"Well, it all depends on what Karen made. I was hoping that we would be able to talk and perhaps even enjoy a walk? There are trails…"

"It's part of the agreement right? Unlimited for this month. So I guess. You didn't answer me though…"

His eyes narrowed. "Answer what?"

"Where Pete was. He said he would chaperone."

"Did he?" A small smile played on his lips. We sat in silence until the food arrived. I stared at the loaf of bread.

"What type of bread is that?" I had the sinking feeling that I had been duped. Changing the subject eased my nerves.

"Sonnenblumenkernbröt." He cut two slices, placing one on my plate and the other on his own. Karen handed each of us a bowl of soup. I stared at the foreign bread. I sometimes forget that Ashland grew up in Germany.

"What?"

He looked at me, his eyes confused for a moment. "Sunflower bread…"

"OH! See I can eat that…but suninbluecorn didn't sound edible at all."

He laughed then. A wide smile graced his face and I found myself staring at his dimples. "Ah.." he licked is lips. Those fucking lips. "You didn't even try to say it right! You butchered the word!"

"I don't speak German and you said it too fast." He obviously forgets that those around him don't speak German. After all these years, he had still not lost his accent. The lunch remained quiet after that. He had thankfully made no attempts to touch me through it all.

I felt impossible full after the meal. I wasn't sure if I would be able to eat dinner. I glanced at my watch. 1:38. Ashland was looking at the newspaper and still eating. I felt…neglected, maybe? He had requested me to be here so adamantly, and now… now he wasn't even talking to me. He wasn't even looking at me. Karen came and left, occasionally asking if I would like anything. I stared at him, watching the wind rustle his black hair. "Ashland?"

"Ja?" he looked up from the paper.

"Can I leave now?" He didn't want me there.

"Not yet…" Was this some form of torture?

I cut him off. "Look, I've been sitting here for the past thirty minutes watching you eat and read. Which, by the way, is boring as hell! You don't seem to want to talk to me, so I figure, why not let me go?"

"Can I not just enjoy your presence?" His hand rested against my knee under the table, squeezing gently. So much for not touching. I bit my tongue as I glared. At my silence, he smiled, his gold eyes burning. "Let us walk, then." He stood, his hand outstretched for mine. I stood, ignoring his hand. He didn't say anything, but I could see his face darken slightly.

We walked along a worn path through the woods. The sun beamed down on us. The walking helped my full stomach. Ashland was never much of a talker, then or now. He walked slightly ahead of me. I watched his backside. He had an amazing backside. "Your sister seems to really like Frederick." His voice cut through the forest air.

"Yeah. She won't shut up about him."

"Neither he of her." He smiled at me and I paused in my steps. "You've changed Marilein." His head titled, the sun making his eyes like glass. "For best I see. You look more beautiful then I last remember." The last time he saw me my face was red and I had been crying. "I hope that this month will provide time for reconciliation. The last time we had seen one another, we parted on less than bad circumstances." Understatement.

"What are you trying to say?" I stepped over a root.

"I wish to apologize for my actions. I doubt you will accept it, but I wish to extend it."

"We should head back now." My watch read 2:28. He stopped to look at me. He was standing on higher ground than me, and I noticed that he had neglected to get shoes for our walk. He stared at me, his face unreadable. His lips parted as though to speak, but his tongue only darted out to moisten them. He took a breath before walking to me, his eyes more amber than gold now. "Let's head back, please." I remembered that look. I was going to kill Pete the next time I saw him.

"I wish to," his tongue came out again, "spend more time with you." Alarms were going off in my head as he came closer to me, his arms snaking around my shoulders to hold my back to his chest. His warm, masculine scent quieted the alarms for a moment until I felt his chest rumble. I felt more then heard his growl when he buried his face in my neck. I cursed myself for leaving my auburn hair up in a ponytail. His lips were moist against my neck. My stomach knotted as his hug tightened. His chest vibrated harder as he moved to kiss my ear. One hand rubbed my shoulder, while the other traveled to my stomach. My stomach lurched at the sensation. I knew I was shaking. "Ash…" his hands were everywhere, running up the side of my body, moving under my t-shirt, fumbling with the button of my jeans. My hands pushed at his chest, trying to move him away. His mouth attacked my neck, his chest vibrating against my own. I could hear my blood pumping in my ears. "Stop…" I could feel him nuzzling the back of my neck, his arms imprisoning me against him. His kisses were far from gentle. They bruised my mouth as he let out a deep grunt. He was talking to me, mumbling words as he fought my jeans. "Please, Ash… Ash don't…" I pushed harder at his chest, making him pull his mouth from mine. His growl was louder then. He kept telling me he had to have me, right there. He told me how I had been driving him mad. How all he wanted was to be buried in me… he wanted to be where he belonged. I struggled against him as he pulled at my jeans. He stared at me with dark amber eyes, burning with the intensity of an inferno. "STOP!"

"STOP!" I could feel his hand resting against the waist of my jeans. His body tensed against me. He pulled away slightly. I felt like horribly mess. I wasn't sure when I started crying, but I could feel moisture against my cheeks.

"I'm sorry…I find it so difficult to control myself around you." I didn't look at him. "Du bist sehr schön." All I could hear was I just want to devour you... She had started at walking but soon found herself running towards the house. She could hear him yelling at her. This date had been a horrible, stupid idea. How could I give him the time of day when I couldn't bear to have any man touch me? Ashland Von Bischoff had fucked up my life our high school senior year and he didn't deserve any chances. He deserved to hurt just as much as I had.

Du bist sehr schön means You are very beautiful. And I know it does because a German and Austrian told me so! . One day, I will visit both countries and probably never leave (most likely because I gained 200 lbs eating meat, bread, cheese and beer _...but it would be worth it! So worth every freaking pound!)