572 and One
CHAPTER TEN
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He haunted her around the clock. Day and night, he didn't give her any respite to gather her thoughts. They scattered into the four winds whenever he was in her vicinity. With not a warning, his presence would keep her under siege. No, he didn't have to be in her line of sight for her to go on alert, waiting and expecting him to assault her thoughts and senses. She never failed to take precaution, yet he still managed to break though the barriers time and time again.
There were times she knew he was dangerous to her but she couldn't seem to get away fast enough. Or willingly. Like a mouse being lured by a chunk of mouthwatering cheese, she found it exhilarating to get close to the forbidden. She ignored all survival instincts and kept moving forward, knowing for certain that a trap was just ahead raising its sharp teeth and waiting to snare her up in them.
Had they been nemeses in previous life where she'd been a cat and he a mouse? And now she was paying for her bad karma? Because there were times she felt like she was the prey and he the predator.
Or had she been a bunny and he a carrot, favorite food of her kind the rabbits? A carrot lying about and around with an innocent look but it had a deadly power that could and would ensnare any willing victims with its allure.
But if she were as senseless as that mouse, wouldn't she be drawn to all the traps that were set up long before he'd come into her life disrupting her peaceful existence and shaking her calm demeanor? She wasn't known as Ice Princess for no reason. Some even nicknamed her tough cookie. She wasn't like that at all. Not that she wanted herself to be perceived that way anyway. It was just that she wanted to make her grandma and sister proud and have her brother's approval. And to accomplish all that, she must excel in her studies and all the extracurricular activities.
In doing so she couldn't hang out with friends far too often nor could she be socially available to her classmates or other activities at school that weren't on her curriculum. Of course she would help her fellow students with their studies when asked, but that was about it. She got no time for idle chit chatting about boys or latest fashion or gossips about celebrities.
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"Hey."
"Hey." He returned her greeting, raising their joining hands and gently kissed hers. "This is how I want to wake up in the next fifty years."
"Fifty?" She asked liking the way they had woken up too. He next to her. Her hand in his, intertwined throughout the night. Even if her fingers felt a bit stiff from bad blood circulation. "Hmm, that's not..."
"Not long enough."
She turned to him fully feeling happy to know they shared the same thought although not spoken. With heart on her sleeve she concurred, "Yes, we need at least another ten years to make up for the lost time we were apart."
"Won't you find it boring being with one person that long?"
"You're right." She played along. "Why didn't I think of that? One night is already too long. Maybe I should call Kaien and tell him I'll come back in a year or two."
"Who is Kaien?"
Purposefully she gave him a vague answer. Just to see his reaction. "The guy I lived with while attending school in Massachusetts. Didn't I tell you?" She shrugged. "Guess I forgot to mention that I moved in with him a few months after I got back from Japan and went back to school. His place is within walking distance of our university." A pretentious sigh as if she missed the past with another guy. "He was my Asian Studies professor. He also teaches philosophy and you know how much I like philosophy. You can say we saw each other 24/7." Playing with her ring, she went on as no reaction from him. "So you see, we were very close."
He said nothing. He just lay there and listened.
Almost emotionless except for his eyes. They were laughing at her false insinuations. Not giving up, she told him a tall tale. "He comforted me when I was down. His hugs were very comforting. He even volunteered to hunt you down for making me cry."
His brows raised but not a word. She punched him on the shoulder, frustrated with the outcome.
With his free hand, he kept that punching hand to him after giving it a kiss. "I'm sorry I wasn't there." Completely ignoring her efforts, he called to mind, eyes full of remorse. "I never saw you cry when we were together before."
"Like you said you never saw me cry." She lay back down and snuggled close, basking in his warmth. "That doesn't mean I didn't cry. And I didn't cry in front of Kaien either. As a matter of fact, I never shed a tear during our separation." Arms around her tightened. She rested her chin on his bare chest. She confided, gaze holding his. "I didn't dare cry. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop just after one good cry. You know how I'm, I don't do things by half measures." He nodded. She felt happy tears gathering as she revealed her last secret to him. "You're the only guy privileged enough to see me cry, to see my tears and weakness. You're the only guy who can make me cry and want to smile for."
His eyes reflecting the love in her, he thanked her with a passionate kiss.
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"Ichigo?"
His dad's voice woke him up although spoken low, he was a light sleeper. Very gently he moved his wife's head off his shoulder to get up. They'd just fallen back to sleep at dawn. She needed more rest. He was about to stand up when another voice came. It seemed to have stopped his dad from knocking.
"Isshin." His dad must be in one of his moods for his mom to sound that worried. "Isshin, leave them alone."
"I can't. I need to give our son this."
He had no idea what this was. But whatever this was, he didn't think he would like it.
"Even with that, you won't get any grandbaby if you keep barging in like now."
"Oh, you're right." His dad sounded disappointed then his tone changed. Cheerful like always. "OK, kids, see you tomorrow."
"Sometimes, Isshin Kurosaki, I wonder whether you or I is the insane one." A long sigh. His mom was acting again. His mom and dad were two sides of the same coin. "You calling them kids and yet you want them to have kids or I for choosing you over other guys who proposed."
His dad laughed and a kissing sound then a clear, musical laughter from his mom. He smiled shaking head as their voices faded. The upper floor quieted down. Or not. He heard a sound and it was muffled. His eyes searched the room and found his wife with her head under the pillow. Her shoulders were shaking. His chest tightened at the sight, how he loved to see a carefree Rukia. He chuckled taking in the sight and breathing in the happy feeling that he could feel floating in the air.
She removed the pillow as she turned on her side to face him and giggled. There was merriment in her beautiful eyes and warmth in her flushed cheeks.
"I know." Lying down next to her, he said, "Sorry about that."
"No need. I see that Dad hasn't changed whereas Mom has." She stopped laughing just long enough to reassure him.
"Thank you." He was grateful for her understanding of his dad's caring but disturbingly strange behavior. "You said Mom has changed. How?"
"You remember that Lunar New Year our families went to the festival together?"
"Yes, I remember." He answered as their past rolling before him. "Do you?"
She laughed recalling their younger years. "In detail."
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"Rukia?"
She heard her name being called so she turned to the voice and looked to her left. "Yes, Auntie," she replied to the beautiful, middle aged woman, who was sitting on the other side of her grandma.
"Why don't you come sit here?"
At the request she let her gaze travel past and landed on the woman's son, whose eyes were on the stage. She wasn't too sure it was a good idea to sit next to her nemesis. They seemed to exchange blows at every turn and every time they crossed path.
Before she could decline the offer, Mrs. Kurosaki took the chance out of her hand. "I'm too old for this kind of noise." Mrs. Kurosaki stood up from the folding chair. "Come sit with Ichigo and enjoy the music."
Mrs. Kurosaki took her hand and sat her down then sat herself down in the back row. Still stunned from the turn of events, she sat still but her mind was racing. What the world was she doing, sitting next to the hateful guy?
"I see, you haven't grown a bit."
He sure was hateful. Her retort was just on the tip of her tongue but she had to swallow it back as Mrs. Kurosaki leaned forward and told them, all smile. "I knew you two will get along well. Aunt Heather thinks so too."
"We get along just fine, Mom."
The big, hateful guy had the gut. She wanted to show his mom and her grandma just how fine they got along. But how? The festival was in full swing. There were quite a few people who knew her family. And there were her brother's associates present as well.
She made do with a sugarcoated threat. "Yes, Auntie, we get along just fine. In fact, I think we'll cruise around and find some games to play." She turned to him, daring him to contradict. "It's a nice day for air hockey. What do you say, Ichigo?"
"Sure, I'm game if you're." He doubted his mom saw the arrows the girl was shooting his way. He wasn't backing down. No way, Jose! He dug in in an undertone. "Little girl."
His voice was lazy. His pose was lazy. And so his eyes. His eyes. Gosh, she shouldn't have looked into them. His eyes weren't what they appeared. And they were laughing at her. Her! It was a tie.
For now, she told herself.
"I forgot to check whether or not I turned off the oven."
Mrs. Kurosaki said out loud, breaking into her vengeful thoughts. What had she done to be at the mercy of the Kurosakis? She felt self-pity. Even more so when Mrs. Kurosaki took her down another notch.
"Do you think you can go home with Ichigo and check if I turned it off?"
She must be mistaken for Mrs. Kurosaki looked hopeful. Sounded hopeful. Gleeful even. What in the world was going on? Mentally she cracked her brain for a way out. No such luck.
"Little Rukia, why don't you go with my boy?" Mr. Kurosaki, who just came back from the car getting a jacket for Mrs. Kurosaki. And just as she was about to open her mouth to refuse, he reasoned, a very lame reason. "He's a guy and guys don't know their way around the kitchen."
Yeah, right! She said in her mind. Guys just knew how to eat and grow big and belittle those who were smaller than them!
"Rukia?"
She turned to the voice, one could never say no to. With a heavy heart she dutifully replied. "Yes, Grandma."
"Go on, go with young Ichigo."
"Yes, Grandma."
Deflated and defeated. She'd thought her grandma would oppose but no, the day was her unlucky day. Resigned, she stood when the hateful guy did and followed out him to the parking lot. Walking behind him, she sorely wanted to give him a boot down the puddle they were walking past.
"Go ahead, your legs can't be that short." He tossed over his shoulder. "Better hurry, the puddle isn't a river. It's really small." He turned looking her up and down. "Just like your little self."
Without a second thought, she stretched her stronger leg and made contact with his rear end.
Splash!
The sound woke her up from her trance of revenge. She was shocked by her own action but wasn't too shocked to regret it. He'd provoked her and acted out of line looking at her person that way. He deserved the muddy bath. And more if she had another chance. Felt better herself, she walked ahead—back straight and head held high—not caring bystanders were looking on. Or she cared about the person who was drenched from the waist down.
She whistled but couldn't bear her own terrible whistling. That moment she envied the big, hateful guy's talent of whistling. His song-whistling was mesmeric, she could listen to him whistle all day and wouldn't get tired. Sometimes, out of the blue, she even preferred his whistling to recording artists. He was that good. That inconvenient. That troublesome.
Yes, singing. She started a song, some silly song that she couldn't recall the lyrics. She switched to humming. It was a song that had stuck in her head ever since... Nope, she wasn't going to name the time or identify the song. Her humming wasn't much better either. But she didn't care.
No one is listening, she thought as she stood by the red Honda Accord and waited for its owner.
And as if her dark thoughts for him had conjured his presence, he was standing by the car and holding the door open for her. His act of chivalry poked at her conscience. Hesitantly her lips parted then closed, an apology hovering and she was glad of her hesitation.
He said, bowing. "At your service, my little lady."
"Need another beauty bath, big guy?" She threw back at him as she got in the car. Buckling her seatbelt, she stared up at him. "Or you got tired of moon cakes and want mud cakes for Mid Autumn this year?"
He closed the door for her then got in the car. He closed the door, turned on the ignition then fastened his seatbelt and drove off the parking lot. He'd done all that in silence but his mouth wasn't that well-behaved. One corner of his mouth lifted. Even so, he hadn't glanced her way. Not even once. His eyes fixed on the road and she had the maddening urge to give him another boot. Or give his shin something to remember her by after the festival. But of course she couldn't. He was driving and she was the passenger. She might not like him but she loved her family and life. She still had goals to achieve and dreams to reach out for. So no, she wasn't going to give him any more souvenir. She turned sideways and looked out the window instead.
He knew she was trying her hardest not to get even with him for his last quip. His mouth was tiring but he refused to give in. Purposefully he turned to her but kept his sight on the traffic, a corner of his mouth raised.
And to get her attention back to him and just to see her tick, he said, "Wondering if the little girl is hungry after such hard work."
He heard her breathe in, sharply. From the corner of his eye, he found her gaze still glued to the scenery outside and fists clenched. He gave a short laugh knowing his tactic was working on her. And they'd just arrived at their destination. It was a short ride, he parked the beaten up Camry that he'd gotten from his mom when he'd first gotten his driver's license over a year ago. He got out and walked over to her side, he held the car door open for her. She got out mumbling a reluctant thank you.
"You're welcome, little girl."
Too pleased with himself, he didn't see the puddle not two feet away. He neither saw that puddle nor the victory came across her face. Not until he found himself in another her so-called beauty bath.
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"I couldn't believe you actually gave me the boot." He made the V-sign. "Twice."
Saucily she retaliated, "Who told you to compare me to that puddle and call me short?"
"Who would have thought little girl like you could deliver such force? I was just teasing you." Chuckling, he countered. "Didn't you know boys tease the girls they like but too shy to confess?"
"Well, big guy, you asked for it. So don't make excuses."
Hands up. "Unconditional surrender." He couldn't take his eyes off hers even if he wanted to. And he didn't. He wanted to keep on looking at her. To commit her each feature and every expression to memory. "Do you know what Mom said when we came back with me in another outfit?"
She shook her head then giggled. "I think this is one of those times when I should have said yes and pretend to know it all."
He kissed the tip of her nose. "Yes, you should." He lay down on his back and tucked her on top of him. "Mom said 'I can't wait to be a grandma'. Can you believe that?"
They shared a hearty laugh before she could respond. "I know, then Mom was worse than Dad is now." Worry lines between her brows. "Can it be that Mom is still upset with my leaving? That's why she isn't enthusiastic looking forward to becoming a grandma like before?"
"You worry too much and groundlessly." He traced her worry lines then kissed them away. "Mom confided in me that she was reason our marriage failed. She scared you off with her idea of grandchildren."
"That's not true," she dismissed the claim. "I wasn't scared off." She moved, nose touching his throat. "I looked forward to giving Mom and Dad their dearest wish. But not right after the wedding." Her breath was warm on his skin, tantalizing him. "Two or three years down the road when we were more independent. I considered taking courses for paralegal certification so I could support ourselves sooner while you attended medical school." A sigh. "I'm sorry I let my plans derail."
Deeply touched, he kissed her hair, the only part of her he could reach without letting go of her. "I'm sorry too, but we both are on track now." He gave her another kiss as she kissed his throat. "Thank you for being so thoughtful." Couldn't resist the temptation, he half serious half teasing. "Wonder where that daring girl go and now a shy woman took over her body."
She pinched him.
"Ouch." He massaged the injured area. "That hurts, Mrs. Kurosaki. I need gentle treatment after last night."
Another pinch. Then a punch. "You hateful man." Like her punishments, her admonition was just bark. "Don't you dare go there, big guy. You're supposed to be the gentleman."
"Honey, there is no place for gentlemen in the bedroom." And he showed her what he meant by kissing her fully on the mouth then traced down her throat. "Only hateful men get what they want. And this hateful man wants his wife so he can't be a gentleman."
A smile tugged at her rosy, swollen lips. He lowered his head and was about to tease more response from her, a clatter sounded from the other side of the door. He stopped, undecided as to what to do. Kiss her inviting lips or go check out the commotion outside. Eyes back to her, he knew the answer.
His wife's face turned crimson. The same with her throat and he suspected her entire person was wearing the same color. He loved the sight of her but didn't vocalize that love. She was embarrassed enough, eyes darting between him and the door. Probably too shocked to decide her next move. Stay or hide.
He got up and walked to the door. He turned back to the bed and waited for her to cover herself from head to toe before turning the doorknob. She heard the floorboard squeak then a chuckle. Curious, she poked her head out to investigate the cause.
A half-naked man holding a piece of paper chuckling to himself. As if he felt her eyes on him, he stood up carrying the tray of food back to the bed. He read as he walked. "My son, your mom and I are on our way to your Uncle Ken and won't be back until next week. Enjoy your time. Dad. P.S. Your mom stocked up the fridge so you kids don't need to go grocery shopping. Also, I closed all the shutters. The house has all the privacy and it's all yours and our Rukia. P.P.S. Hope we'll come back to good news."
She had a pretty good idea what the good news was. Like always, her father-in-law could do the strangest yet most endearing things. Exceeded any expectation and prediction. And judging from the funny look on her husband, he must have said something else outrageous.
"What is it?"
He looked up from the note, amused. "Honey, we'd better not let Dad down for all the effort he put into this heartfelt note."
He showed her the note. She couldn't help but laughed. Laughed so hard that her sides ached and she had to hold them lying down. At the end of the note, her father-in-law had added a third postscript. It was a drawing of crawling babies.
"The old man thought we didn't already take the hint from his usage of good news. And he wants to hear it next week. Next week!" Picking up half cut sandwich, he fed her, still laughing his head off. "People would think you and Dad were father and daughter if they saw drawings from you two."
"I know." She admitted, swallowing the food in her mouth. "My drawing of living things and people sucks." She laughed at her own talent or lack of. "And yet I chose architecture as my primary major."
"What was your second?"
"Let guess." She bet her one month salary that he had no idea.
"Photography."
There went her one month salary. How had he known? Although his guess wasn't accurate but was close enough. "Photojournalism." She drank a mouthful of orange juice before adding. "And don't ask me why I chose it. I wouldn't know." Finished off the sandwich he was feeding her, she watched him eat. "How did you guess it has to do with photos?"
"It's a secret."
He told her, making great progress with his sandwich. There was mayonnaise at the corner of his mouth, she swiped it off with her thumb. Just as she retrieved her thumb, he caught it between his lips. Her pulse quickened. And before she did something out of character, she pulled back. He followed and kissed her soundly on the mouth.
"You smell of omelet."
Her complaint sounded false even to her own ears and of course a smart guy like her husband couldn't have missed it. And he never shied from teasing her, putting her in her place.
"What about now?"
He enquired covering her and slowly he kissed her. He tasted like orange and she told him so before gently pushing at his shoulders. "Come on, big guy." He moved off her but his arms still around her waist. Playfully she patted them. "We got to clean up then shower. I also need to brush my teeth." She touched her teeth with her tongue. "I feel like there are ounces of plague on the—"
He didn't let her finish. He removed the comforter off her then picked her up, heading for the adjoining bathroom.
"What are you doing?"
"You said shower, right?"
"Right."
"Alright then, we're taking a shower."
"No, we're absolutely not." She knew some couples shared bath but not them. At least not yet. She still felt a little shy. "Ichigo, I meant I shower alone then you. Or vice versa. But we're not taking a shower together." Her husband turned deaf ear. "Ichigo Kurosaki." She boxed his ear. "I'm telling you again, we're not showering together."
He kept on his mission then they were inside the bathroom. Gently he put her down but didn't let go of her. "Already forgot until death do us part?"
Being clever, aren't we? She fumed. But with just a touch of irritation because of his highhandedness. And she had to acknowledge his quick mind. "Ichigo, you know I can't take a shower with you."
"Of course you can." He closed the door behind them then went to run the water. "We're married. Everything goes."
He could be as just stubborn as she. Agreeably that marriage granted great allowances, still she was going to put her foot down this time. "Everything goes only when both parties consent, Mr. Clever."
No response from him. Instead he gave her an eyeful of his body as he began to take off his pants. She averted her eyes and concentrated on his chest. That didn't help either. Her gaze travelled up and fell on his mouth. No, still in danger zone. They moved up north until they met his, which were twinkling.
The hateful guy was enjoying himself at her expense. He hadn't meant to take the shower with her at all. He'd been teasing her. Hateful. Just hateful.
Well, two can play the game. She started unbuttoning her top, his eyes still twinkled. When she was at her third button, he stilled but his Adam's apple was constantly in motion.
Her inner voice cheered while her eyes asked his, Now what, big guy?
He lifted an eyebrow challenging her. He knew her too well, she would never back down from a challenge. Particularly his. She hadn't ten years before. She wouldn't now or ten years later. So he waited and her challenging nature didn't disappoint him. Another button out of its hole and another then the last one.
They stood watching and waiting to see who would be the first to surrender. It was him. He took one step and another until their fronts touched. He confessed, his voice rough. "You know I was fantasying this moment when I saw our wedding band on you that day in your office."
Ugh.
Her throat moved audibly and he knew he'd just gotten her again. That was enough for now. He didn't want to overwhelm her with too much of his emotions. She might drown.
"Alright, Mrs. Kurosaki, why don't you take your show while I—your loyal slave—go and clean up our lunchh?" He said to her as he made a big fuss getting the bath tub ready to adjust his suddenly tight pants. "All set." He gave her open mouth a soft kiss then whispered. "Little girl, enjoy your freedom while you can, because once you're out of this room, there will be big, bad and hungry wolf anxiously waiting for his dinner."
He made a quick retreat before his gentlemanly teaching went out the window and have his dinner. Right there and then.
Dazed, she watched him leave, his step a bit off balance. She heard herself swallow. She'd thought she could read him rather well. She couldn't. She found that interesting. And stimulating because he kept springing up surprises on her.
"All nice surprises." She said into the empty room as she got in the half filled tub. The water was at the right temperature. "How did that big guy know?"
She sighed out of bliss. He was so considerate and thoughtful. She almost—just almost—regretted her refusal to share her bath with him.
"How on earth?"
She shook her head to get the scandalous image out of her mind. It didn't work so she slid down and immersed herself under water. That didn't work either. She sat up and applied body wash. Only then she saw marks scattering her body, some were more reddish and evident than the others. She blushed recalling how she'd gotten them.
"Rukia, you're so corrupted." She admonished herself then recited the name she'd been proud to carry but denied before now out of necessity. "Rukia Kurosaki." It was the best music ever. "Rukia Kurosaki, wife of Ichigo Kurosaki." A master piece.
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"Wake up, sleepyhead." Not even a movement from her sleeping husband. She sat down at the edge of the bed and gently caressed his rumpled hair loving the feel of it against her skin.
He rolled over and lay on his front covering his head with both of their pillows, mumbling. "Five more minutes, Mommy."
Mommy? What are you dreaming of, big guy? Your childhood? She smiled to herself finding it adorable.
He must be very tired to mistake her touch for his mom and present for the past. Her lips quirked. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night either and it was all his fault. And hers. She got up to leave him to his slumber but a hand snaked around her waist imprisoning her.
"Where do you think you're going, little girl?"
She glanced at him over her shoulder. His eyes were still closed, half asleep but his lips weren't. They turned up in satisfaction. So much for feeling pity for him and her plan to let him sleep a little longer. Suddenly feeling mischievous, she bent down and bit the arm around her. Just playfully but before she could take in what was going on, she found herself under him. His eyes dared her to make any sudden move. Even if he hadn't, she wouldn't dare move because she knew what was on his mind. Her thought was along the line but she had to push it aside. There were things needed to be done before the day was over. She had to go back to the hotel and check out. She needed her clothes. Her own clothes. She hadn't brought any and was wearing his dress shirt from yesterday.
He must have felt her change of mood for he moved back searching her face. "What's wrong?"
"I have nothing to wear is what wrong."
She told him, any bit of self-consciousness had gone being married to a straightforward and demanding man like her husband. There was no place for modesty with him when they were alone. She wondered where the blushing young man she used to know had gone.
"That blushing young man had to go to grow up and win back his young wife."
She hadn't realized she'd spoken. Tugging his shirt collar from under him, she said pouting. "Win her back to keep her imprisoned like this? You're too cruel to your wife, my other husband is much more considerate. Give him back please?"
"Not on my life, little girl. However," he got off and walked across the room, "why go back to your immature and irresponsible husband when you can have me and these?"
Ichigo said sliding the double door to the closet. There she saw female clothing taking up more half of the space. All hang up neatly and nicely arranged in the way she liked, season by season and color by color.
She got off the bed and stood next to him. Thumbing through her wardrobe, she lifted her eyes to his. "How did you..."
"It's a secret."
"Ugh, not one of your secrets again. Tell me how you got my clothes from my hotel room?" She looked over to the closet. Transfixed and deeply touched, she spoke with raw emotion. "And you kept my clothes all these years."
"Didn't you know Uncle Kisuke is the general manager of that hotel?" He looked down, love and devotion in his gaze plain to the naked eyes. "I even kept your toothbrush." Grinning, he jogged her memory. "The one with the white little rabbit on the handle."
"What other surprises do you have in store for me?" One hand on his chest at the region of his heart and the other touched his face, she asked in wonder. "Aren't you the dream of every woman, big guy?"
A kiss on her forehead. "I don't want to be every woman's dream." Her nose. "Or any woman's." Finally on the mouth. "I only want to be yours and no one else's, little girl."
"Still calling me little girl? Even after last night?" Just like his, her chest rumbled from laughing but she couldn't act normal as he. Her face warmed. And so her ears. Curse her fair skin, she suspected her entire body had pinked. "Have it your way, but don't call me that when you kiss me in public. I really don't want to pay Bail Bond a visit."
He pulled her pajamas out of the bureau drawer then his own from the drawer to hers. "No worries, I'll have it my way." Not giving her a chance to react, he handed her their clothes then scooped her up. "My way is to have that shower with you and I'm not taking No for an answer."
He intercepted her response. She hadn't meant to deny him but let him believe he'd had the last word. Always let your man think he has the upper hand. She giggled at the remembrance and the way Hisana had looked sharing her secret to a successful and blissful marriage. And being a good younger sister that she'd always been, she let him have his way with her.
Hours later and after such vigorous afternoon, both were exhausted and on the verge of sleeping, she made a show of settling in. She turned in his arms but her satiated husband didn't even inch or complain about the sudden movement and rustling noises. A light went on in her mind. She knew a better—much better—method to wake her husband up. She let her swollen lips roam his chin then along his jawline. She heard his breath catch but he didn't open his eyes. She smiled in triumph as her lips made their sojourn down the side of his neck and shoulder.
"If you want to catch some sleep, you'd better not rouse the wolf, little girl." That was all the warning he'd given her then she was under him. He sighed as if exasperated, eyes dancing. "Here I was trying hard to be the gentleman my wife wants."
"Your wife appreciates your consideration. And that's why," she raised up and kissed him squarely on the mouth, "she wants you to know that she only sees Kaien as an older brother. A father figure and nothing else. They don't even hug. They only shake hands."
His response was immediate. "I know."
"You do?"
"With certainty," he replied. "You don't have to explain anything. I know you and I trust you." His deep, usually veiled eyes expressively shined with love and trust. "And I trust you to trust me, I've never felt for anyone the way I feel about you. Always have."
"I trust you too. I trust you with everything that I'm and ever will be." She said giving him a kiss in benediction before surrendering to his passion and her own.
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24 JANUARY 2015
I'm a morning person so here is CHAPTER ELEVEN. And it's my thanks to sisteraptor, who just added 572 and One to her Favorites. Thank you, sisteraptor, your adding motivated me to finish this chapter super-fast. =)