"No! Esme. Just be patient for a moment. You'll give my wife a heart attack if we rush in."
"Let go of me. Ticklish, Esme!" "Don't stab my leg, you impatient bastard." Rose stared at the ceiling of the guest room uncomprehendingly. Her arm felt the emptiness beside the bed. There was no one but herself who had been woken up by the noise from outside. Last night, after thinking the whole time about the answer to her question about Theo's reaction, she had to be put to sleep by fear just because Theo changed positions at the same time. What if what Travis said was actually something bad? Rose couldn't imagine any other humiliation she might receive. "Esme!" A sharp tone followed by a long laugh from the same person, provoking Rose's curiosity to explode even more. She knew very well who the owner of the baritone voice was. But, she felt very unfamiliar withWet. Rose's body was submerged in the bath up with the soap suds covering her chest. Her fingers moved, rubbing the surface of her shoulders and the recesses of her neck just to clean the parts untouched by the daisy-scented liquid. Rose's every touch was tempered with a sense of caution. Theo was there, chin resting on the edge of the bathtub watching her activity without pause, occasionally blowing air until some of the foam moved away, leaving half-clear water, which made Rose have to repeatedly stop the ridiculous action. "You're weird," Rose said to start the conversation. Her words managed to make Theo frown in curiosity. "Weird?" "Yes." "I thought Esmeralda was your bedmate. That time you didn't defend yourself either. So even now, I believe that you're an asshole who likes to play with women." No one knows what was so wrong with her statement that Theo burst out laughing. Should Rose count the number of times this m
"Let me do it." The male doctor paused, watching as a set of cold faces glared at him sharply and intimidatingly. Occasionally, the gaze of the man in the white uniform shifted, giving Rose an uncomprehending look. Theo looked like a lion ready to stab him, once he moved closer to Rose lying on the blanket. "I said, just me, give me the gel." "But, sir. This kind of procedure should be done by the medical team." "I don't care. Give it to me-" "Theo, what's wrong with you? Instead of causing trouble here, you'd better wait outside," Rose interrupted half-angrily. The examination process would not go smoothly, if Theo continued to stop the activities of the doctor who was ready to apply gel on the surface of her stomach. "I don't want him to touch you. Why don't you give the gel to me, and I'll take over." "Seriously, Theo. Doctors touch pa
"You said you were hungry." Theo had been silent all along. Now his opening sentence was uttered when the waiters left after serving the order on the table, which made Rose shrug indifferently. "Yeah, so what?" asked Rose, occasionally looking around the restaurant building. "Does ice cream fill you up?" "No." Back in focus. Rose's first bite ended with a faint shake of her head. "So?" "Your child wants ice cream." Theo squinted. Rose's gestures and expressions were clearly saying something different. "Do you have something to hide, Rose?" For a moment Rose's face lowered. Similarly, Theo's question created a huge thud in her chest. Why was it that for a moment like this, Theo recognized the situation so easily? Rose let out a rough sigh. Her fingers clenched into tight fists. Then she looked up, smiling faintly - apparently Theo was still
"It's a punishment because you like making fun of me." Too relaxed, Theo sat back in his original position. Much different from his previous stance. He leaned back, folding his arms with a mischievous grin. The woman who had been staring at him was no longer in the same place-going with a man who came after. "I didn't order boiled crab," Theo said, followed by a small chuckle. "But it looks like my boiled crab is very ready to eat," he continued, deliberately dropping his fork down. "One moment, Sugar." Theo bent down. His arm reached under the table. Slowly creeping to touch the crossed legs. "Theo." Rose assumed a wary stance as the rough brush of a hand continued to tickle half of her calf, after revealing her oversized jeans. She glared at Theo's one free hand, beginning to raise it in a gesture of silence. "Stop this ridiculous behavior of yours, Theo. You're going to
The image of that beautiful smile, so unexpected and strangely contagious. Rose still kept remembering something new, even if it was only for a moment. In her mind, there was nothing more pleasant than feeling at peace by the gesture, which treated her like a warm embrace that was stretched so tightly. The fingers were still rubbing the surface of Rose's body soulfully, followed by the peck of lips on the open shoulder. However, her back was to the man with a hint of charm. Rose's eyes also lingered for a long time - savoring the remnants of the seduction made as explosive as the hot truce since they entered the hotel room, for the sake of both forgetting the chaos, for the sake of both expressing desire. One surrender, she'd said back then, no longer applied wherever Theo offered favors in the name of 'making love'. Rose can't argue that she's getting entangled in an activity she once rejected, especially with a man who's going deepe
Five hours was not a short time to stay in a room waiting for the arrival of whoever Theo had informed. Although she didn't know exactly where she was going... Rose was desperate to order a taxi online - across the hustle and bustle of Milan with just enough euro notes, and the debit card Theo had given her, before he left her alone. And if Rose had an urgent need. Still aimlessly traveling, Rose's attention was drawn to the thermal paper-the results of her fetal sonography. She smiled, rubbing the surface of the image in illegible pixels. Only one-Rose was not pregnant with two as she had thought. It felt a little regretful to have rejected something that was not yet a reality. If Theo's reaction was anything other than expected, having three would be fine with Rose. "Control yourself, Rose!" Rose repeatedly patted her face lightly, barely able to contain herself. Then she gazed intently out of the window-enjoying the view of the
"No, I'm not. I'm taking some time off to prepare some things until my wedding day. Oh, yes, Rose, this is Crowel, my fiancé and future husband." Sirea was eager to introduce Crowel. She seemed so trusting of her fiancé. She didn't even seem to care, even though the man had no intention of letting go of the touch of his fingers - continuing to hold Rose's hand. Crowel's gaze was too intense. Rose didn't move when the man pulled her into his embrace. "Sorry. This is how we familiarize ourselves." Rose's forehead furrowed. She remembered that Sirea didn't do the same thing as Crowel when they were first introduced. She knew Crowel was lying. Hoping that Sirea would take her lover away, before Crowel did something easy. Luckily, Sirea received an incoming call from who-knows-who, so she hurriedly excused herself, leaving Rose alone in the park. ***
A gentle stroke from the top of the head traveled down, touching the surface of the skin of the face that looked innocent without any make-up. Theo thinned his lips. The action was a far cry from the expression that was too cold to read. He had been on the edge of a rage for most of the day, seeking an outlet to control his unstoppable anger for one reason. Some time ago before returning to the hotel, precisely after sending a short message to Rose-he accidentally pressed the notification pop-up that successively came in when he got several new messages. Unfortunately, it ended up in two photo submissions from unknown numbers, which Theo had actually ignored since he had a technical meeting for hours in the meeting room. Nothing could have gone wrong. If only the photos didn't show Rose being intimate with a man out in the open. He was furious - even smashing an innocent cell phone into pieces, without thinking of hacking it. Two photos with almost di
Rose had to admit that Theo was quite different by remaining silent when their position was intact. The last sentence from her was ignored, the man was busy sniffing Rose's body scent. Deeply nuzzling the surface of her flat stomach. "Take a shower." Rose played with the black hair warmly. She smiled as Theo looked up at her. "Take a bath with me?" The ash bead drowned Rose deep in the warm ocean. She pursed her lips as she pulled Theo's facial skin wide to the side. "I'm old enough to bathe by myself. Hurry up...." A faint shake of Rose's head brought her to fall on her back on the bed. Theo's thirsty face and the man's large fingers began to dig into a t-shirt depicting a black bear, just like Theo who was currently resting on top of her. "I told you to take a shower, Theo. Not—" Rose was silenced by the tongue thrusting into her mouth. The sound of a wet sniffle trails off—a greeting of desire igni
Slowly Rose's eyelids slipped from their valves. The same Theo stared, silhouetted against each other in the mirror—Rose was lost in the seduction of the locking gray bead. "I was thinking of Oracle. He knows I don't like wearing earrings. Deliberately gifted me earrings so I'd wear them," Rose replied, successfully drawing one of Theo's eyebrows up high. "He's here, isn't he? Why don't you go straight to him." Theo's baritone voice whispered softly. Comparable to the smile on Rose's lips that curved again-this time briefly and too faintly. "He's back home ...." "Home?" Rose's body was slightly freed as Theo moved his face away from the crook of her neck. "Yes. Axe came to pick him up earlier." One step away she found Theo moving backwards. "Strange. Oracle came home because he was afraid of me, right? Did I hurt him too much?"Theo's quiet tone disturbed Rose's mind. She scrutinized the few times Theo's expre
Rose didn't care how the swaying bed jerked like a violent swinging shock. She maximized each powerful gallop like a giant crashing into the earth. Theo's body was a soft target for her feet. The man moaned in a submerged voice. Yet, also with pleasure... sometimes asking Rose to move from one spot to another. "Up again, Sugar. Up to the shoulders." Rose chuckled, still doing everything Theo wanted. One foot stomped even harder on her husband's hot, sexy shoulders. "That's it," Rose said. One leap ended the earthquake on the surface of Theo's body. She flung herself down beside the sleeping man. "You said you will give me back my gift box!" "I need to know. Who gave you the gift?" "Oracle. Here, give it back quickly." Rose's arms extended to pull the red velvet box in Theo's grasp. Their positions were in sync, both using their arms as a fulcrum to lift their chests. "Let me open it." Theo's large fingers separa
"No, you don't. You had your fill of acting like a baby last night." Rose ruffled the remaining strands of hair that still dangled over half of Theo's face. She looked down, searching for the most comfortable spot to strike. "Ouh, Sugar ...." A contrived hiss. Rose knew that no matter how much she clenched her teeth, it wouldn't give Theo much leverage. "Let go. I have to meet, Axe." "You son of bitch. I hope you don't leave before I get back." The chances of escape were slim in the conditions Rose had to face. She wasn't going to waste it, deliberately hunting her nimble footsteps leaving Theo alone lost on the bed. Rose reached for the doorframe. The hinges clicked after she positioned herself facing the man who had been calling impatiently. "You're taking so long." The stifled protest from the owner of the deep, raspy voice uploaded a barely perceptible smile on Rose's lips. "Sorry, Axe. I h
"Open your eyes, Theo." The throbbing was still as loud as it had been the first time Theo had spoken. Rose's heart and head were fighting each other. Each fighting for the space that overlapped the boundaries she had created for herself. In between came a strange feeling, which Rose could not organize into a symphony. She was a jumbled mess of randomness. Should have reconsidered Xelle's sentence a moment ago, was it true that Rose was trying to stay with someone who made her get lost in her own feelings? .... No, she wasn't. Rose didn't want to be confused by all that reality. As far as possible, she separated the things that shouldn't be lodged in the deepest corner of her heart. Towards a kind of choice which is the most appropriate to win Rose's sanity. She didn't want to be conquered. "Wake up. Get up, Theo!" Rose squeezed the clay muscles in her husband's arm. Turning the curled up body to face the ceiling of the main room. "T
"What conclusion?" A look of unequal color narrowed sarcastically. Rose's face was lifted a little roughly until she looked up and stared at each other. "It's so bad that even saying his name scares Oracle. And you say he didn't mean it?" Xelle's whisper was like a spark of fire. Quite disturbing if Rose had to admit it. She brushed off the lingering link of fingers, though Xelle's actions were not hurtful. "Theo didn't mean to. I was the one who misplaced the Oracle in our midst," Rose argued, not realizing how the blind finally blinked. "You're defending him, Rose?" Rose swallowed harshly. The glint in her eyes flickered quickly. "I'm not. It's just that you don't understand. I told you, that Theo did that out of his control. He had a nightmare last night." Rose held back the lump in the back of her throat. "You know I love Oracle, Axe, he's my son too. But please don't make a mess here. I've seen my husband hurt enough times. Not anymore. P
"Oracle, are you sure you want to go straight home? Not wait for Om T to wake up first?" Oracle's rejection firmly dispelled the offer Rose had repeatedly made. Rose's breath rushed out, lips pressed together thinly. She contemplated everything that had not and would happen. In front of her, from a distance Rose had guessed what Xelle's reaction would be, if the blue bruise on Oracle's conspicuously elastic bandage—covered wrist caught the heterochromia's eye. As slow as a leaf combing Rose changed position. Towering high, she awaited the quick approach of the one who was now beside her. "Daddy." The thin curve of the lips responded to Oracle's greeting. A neat knit of eyebrows rose with Xelle's sharp eyes scrutinizing. He took a deep look at Rose's face, then turned back to the first focal point. His large body knelt down, light as a feather to reach for Oracle's small fingers—noticing carefully the cloth wrapped densely... breaking the suspi
"Travis." Rose pushed her way in, making the man behind the ledger jump. "Sorry, Travis. I was in a hurry." "What is it, Miss?" The light question came after Travis closed the thin sheet marked with a string. "Do you have any painkillers or anything to treat the bruises on Oracle's hands? Theo just had a nightmare and accidentally did this to him. I'm scared if anything happens." Travis's eyebrows shot up. "Mr.T just had a nightmare?" he asked. In stark contrast to Rose's haste. Travis was too calm to notice the extent of the bruise. "No need to worry, miss. You'd better see the master, I'll treat him." Travis smiled. She hesitated between refusing or agreeing. Rose glared at Travis and Oracle's faces in turn. She blinked. "Are you sure there's nothing to worry about?" "Yes, Miss. I can handle it. You should see the master. He may need you." Stunned, considering things from all angles. Rose finally sighe
"Uncle T, you hurt me. Let me go!" "Uncle T!" Rose tried to understand the situation in the dim room. Faint squeals of pain clashed in the air. Rose frowned, as the almost uninterrupted movement in its entirety pulled her closed brown eyes wide open. In front of Rose several black events were fully recorded, broadcasting the silhouette of a rough resistance along with a small body that was trying hard to pull himself out of the grip of the subconscious. Rose's heart hammered violently. All the chaos overlapped to form ornaments in her head. She took definite steps, quickly bringing half the darkness to light. And then some things that Rose couldn't digest properly, appeared in a heap, jolting her feelings. On that torture—like bed .... Oracle was completely unable to resist the strong grip that could be seen from the muscles digging into the surface of the large, clayey, man—sized arms of the person there. The