APOV

„On our way home we had a conversation if any sort of longitudinal stripes makes someone look thin or not. Then you snatched away my phone and you wanted to hire two private investigators to tail each other. The journey home finished with you begging me on your knees to buy you a pony. " He takes a sip of his coffee, while I'm just staring at him.

„It will be delivered next Friday", he says casually, so a „What the fuck?" slips out of me.

„You were very persistent. It was less effort to just buy you the pony." he explains as if it would be the most normal thing on earth. Now I ask myself if he means business, but try to drop it.

„And once we were at home?", I ask but think, that I don't want to hear the answer. I lay my hands on my face, prop up on my elbows and wait full of fear for his answer.

„Once we were at home, I wanted to tuck you in, but you complained about me being a party pooper. So we played a round of strip poker and well - I won. After that I was finally able to put you to bed and get you to sleep", he tells me. I look at him unconfidently.

„Just sleep? That was all?"

„Ana, you were comatose and necrophilia is not my thing. I like my women sentient and receptive", he says.

„Thank goodness!", I say a little too joyful, because I'm relieved. I'm already the home wrecker of the nation, so it's good to know, that I'm not jumping his bones every time I see him. However, he looks at me with such a disappointed face, that I reflect about what I did wrong.

„Why thank you so much! I never thought it would be that bad to sleep with me!", he says offended. „Although: It's interesting, that you didn't complain when I was engaged, but now, that I'm not engaged anymore, you would have a problem?", he asks in confusion.

„Well, that's because …", I begin but then I pause, because all the weight drops suddenly off my shoulder. „You broke off the engagement?", I ask hopefully and an octave higher, and he nods. „Oh what a shame!", I say as innocent as possible.

„Tell it to the marines! If you would wipe off your toothy grin, it would be much more credible!" he gives me the needle. But Christian is right, I can't deny myself the smile, so I look down on my lap to hide it.

„You have to eat something!", he commands but I shake my head no.

„No, that's not possible, my stomach is still sore from the way too much alcohol."

„… which shouldn't be there in the first place. Yesterday you drank more than a whole ships crew!", he holds up a mirror to me. I just stare at him.

„And what exactly do you want to do now?", I challenge him bravely. The news about his relationship status provides me with a whole new self-confidence.

„If you were mine, you wouldn't be able to sit in a whole week!", he grinds out.

„And why's that? Would you like to give me a spanking by any chance?", I ask amused. But he nods and looks very serious. Shit! Does he really mean it? I have to giggle inevitably, which knocks him out of his stride and he's looking at me quizzically. What would he do, if I ...

„OK. Where?", I ask suddenly and I'm not sure anymore, what's in store for me. His jaw drops on the floor while I rise and arch my eyebrow. „Well?", I provoke arms akimbo before he stands up and reaches out for me.