Chapter 3-The Shock

The next morning, Saturday dawned bright and cheerful, with the melodic chirping of birds echoing through the open window. I squinted at the alarm clock on the nightstand, its bright numbers blinking back at me—7:35 AM. A groan escaped my lips as I instinctively moved closer to Dean’s warm body, the comforting weight of sleep pulling me back under.

A couple of hours later, the sound of running water broke through the haze of slumber. I opened my eyes to find the space beside me empty, the sheets cool where Dean had just been. With a soft sigh, I sat up in bed, rubbing the remnants of sleep from my eyes. The morning light poured in, casting a golden glow across the room, but all I could think about was how cozy Dean's bed is and I feel myself melting back into the mattress.

Suddenly, a gentle knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Curious, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the soft carpet to answer it. As I opened the door, Amber greeted me with a warm smile and a delicious aroma wafting from the tray she held. “Good morning! I brought you both breakfast,” she chirped, presenting the beautifully arranged tray overflowing with fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and steaming coffee.

“Thank you, Amber,” I exclaimed, my heart brightening at the sight of the delectable spread as she handed me the tray, feeling grateful for her thoughtfulness. The promise of a delightful meal made my stomach rumble in anticipation, and I couldn't wait to share it with Dean.

"You're welcome, enjoy." She said as she walked away.

I closed the door behind me, and I tasted the mushroom spinach omelet. It’s so good, it just melts in my mouth. I took a bite out of the homemade banana-nut muffin. When I took a bite out of it, steam came out, Dean came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, and another towel drying his hair. "Hey, good morning, Jasmine," he said.

Dean walks over to me, with his washboard abs dripping wet.

"Good morning....Amber brought us breakfast... It's really good." I took a fork and fed him the omelet.

"Hmm, this is delicious, you're right."

"I know that, why do you love me?" he just smiles at me, shakes his head, pulls me close to him, and kisses me on my forehead.

“I love you because you're kind and understanding, especially when I get in my head about self-doubt,” I said to him.

"Of course, sweetheart, anything to make you happy," he said to me as I started to blush. I tried not to stare too much at his muscular body. "Like what you see, love," he said.

I was speechless and just nodded to answer him, "Do you want to touch them?" he said.

"What?" I said, shocked.

"My abs, do you want to touch my abs?"

I nodded my head as I reached my hand out and felt his chest. It felt so muscular and strong. I didn't want to let go, but then Amelia, another maid, came in and smiled.

"I just came back for the tray," she said as she took it and walked away.

Dean and I started laughing in embarrassment, and then we got ready to go to our jobs. I said goodbye to Dean and went back to my house.

As I walked through the front door, I noticed something was different. My coffee table was cleaned and scrubbed down, which was unusual because the last time I saw it was covered in trash and a dirty plate. I was even sure there were ants and flies, so I walked over to the coffee table to pick up, but before I dialed the number. I walked to my room and opened the door.

I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me. I kept looking around, but I didn't see anyone. I decided to trust my instincts anyway. I felt that someone was there...in my house, so I grabbed the rifle off the wall and held it close to me, safety off. I was ready...I tiptoed through the halls of my house, and my feet made the wooden floors creak with my steps. I felt someone grab my shoulder. I turned around and was about to shoot whoever it was, and the person who stood before me...it was Dean.

"Dean, what are you doing here? I could have shot you." I whisper to him.

"I'm sorry that I scared you. I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry, Jasmine...I really am," said Dean as he took the rifle out of my hands and pulled me close to him; I rested my head on his shoulder. Trying to enjoy this quiet moment to ourselves, with our schedules and just our lives ‌it hard to find time just for ourselves and anytime we can find the time just to ourselves is a blessing in disguise and I don’t take that for granted and while I was just enjoying the moment with Dean and watching the surrounding nature, I couldn’t help but shake this feeling of being watch again. I looked up to see a strange man taking a picture of me. I screamed....so loud I could have broken all the windows in my house.

"Jasmine, what's wrong? Tell me... what do you see?" he asked me.

I couldn't speak, but I just pointed out the window, and when Dean looked at the window to see what I was screaming about, a figure dressed in black appeared, but when Dean went to look, it was gone. I'm not crazy; I know what...I saw...I don't know how much I could take in one day. My vision started to get blurry, and I could hear Dean calling out to me.

"Jasmine!!!" he screams my name as I slip into a deep subconscious.

I don’t know how long I was out for, but when I opened my eyes, I felt something wet against my head, and when my vision became clearer, I could see Dean gently kissing me on my forehead.

“Dea,n what happened?” I asked him.

“You fainted, are you okay?” he asked me.

I nod my head as I gently try to stand. Dean helps me get to my feet. He has this look of concern on his face. He kissed me gently on my forehead as I walked into his bathroom to take a shower. I turned on the hot water, and as steam began to fill the room, I stripped off my clothes as I got in the shower. The warm water runs down my body as I try to figure out how I am going to find out who is following me and why.

I felt an icy chill go down my spine. I heard the door open....I peeked through the curtains as Dean brought me some clothes to change into. "Thanks, Dean," I said as I washed my hair.

"No problem, Jasmine, just call me. If you need anything, okay?" said Dean as he left the bathroom. After he left, I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist and another towel around my hair. Then I changed into the clothes Dean's brought me, and when I walked out of the bathroom. Dean was waiting for me on the bed. The cool air hit me instantly, cooling me off.

Dean looks up at me and smiles as I join him in the bed and cuddle up with him as I lean down on his chest. I hear his heart beat gently against my ear, and my eyes begin to close slowly as I decide to take a quick nap. Considering the day I've been having lately. I need to take a break and try not to stress for both of our sakes. I just hope the police find the stalker before he finds someone else to stalk next, or someone else that I care about. I feel Dean's arms wrap around my waist to bring me closer to him, as I drift off to dreamland to escape from reality just for a little while.