Serena woke up when she felt a wet cloth wiping her in between her legs.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Charlton said as he gave her a lopsided smile.

"No, it's alright. I also need to get going. What time is it?"

"It's just 2am. No need to rush." He replied as he placed the cloth back to the basin. Then he bent forward to kiss her lips.

She pushed him a little and covered her mouth. "I have stale breath" she explained seeing his confused face.

He chuckled. "There's an extra set in the bathroom."

Serena was quick to move. When she came back, Charlton was sitting on the bed his back plastered on the headboard.

"Come here and lie beside me. Do not go just yet, I'll walk you back later." He said as he patted the space beside him.

Serena snuggled his chest as she sat beside him. She felt him brush her hair with his palm. "This feels nice too."

"Yes, I wish we can be like this always. We never did get to lie in bed together before."

She nodded her head in response. Appreciating the low rumbling of his chest as he spoke.

"Serena, to tell you honestly, I can't wait for us to be like this for the rest of our lives. I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to assume that you feel the same way about me, about us."

Serena looked up to face him and smiled, "Right now, I think we're on the same page. I too want to spend my days with you like this."

Charlton chuckled as he touched the tip of her nose with his index finger. "I hope you don't ever change your mind. I am not usually like this, but I still do have my insecurities."

"What for? Don't you trust me? what I feel for you?"

"I do trust you, it's just that I'm not so sure about, well… Geoffrey. Sometimes, the thought that one day, he will come to see you for the wonderful woman that you are keeps me awake at night. Just thinking of him trying to win you over, or him reaping you away from my arms makes me want to… I don't even want to say it. But it makes me really mad."

Serena burrowed her face on his neck as she said "If he does, which I hope he does not, then that's his problem. The ship has long sailed, and I am here with you. And just like you said, exile tops as our punishment. I even thought of what we can do after we're exiled." Serena responded. Although she just wanted to have him as a first boyfriend initially, just like the song that they have been singing, she just can't help falling in love with him.

Charlton chortled, her breath tickled his neck while her words soothed his heart. "You don't know how happy your words made me. But do tell me about this plan of yours after we get exiled. I haven't really thought of that route much yet."

She looked up at him and with them looking at each other, face full of smiles, she started narrating her plans, "Hmm… I just thought that when we get exiled, we can go travel around the world. Explore places we've never been to. My parents, I guess they will forgive me, they might even send me some allowances to get through." She laughed, getting excited by her own ideas. "Then, if that's not enough, I think we can get by, with me composing music, and you accompanying me or polishing the music that I make. I believe we'll land on a gold mine then."

Charlton laughed along, "I like that idea of yours. But don't worry too much about making money or what not. If we do get exiled, which right now, I am already looking forward to, I won't let you work yourself too much. I will do my best to provide for you and our future children when we get to have them. But by then, I might not look the way I do now, maybe you'll get tired of me when I'm all dirty with grime from working my ass."

"What are you talking about? I won't let you suffer either. I will never allow you working with dirt and grime as you said, I won't be able to accept it If you lose your face value!"

"Ha! Just as I thought! You only like me for my face and body! You're a really bad girl!"

"Hmpft! What? It's not like you started liking me because of anything else either."

"No, when I first saw you, I think it was love at first sight. Not just plain I want to get under your skirt. I'm all pure and innocent!"

"And I am a real goddess. Hmpft!" She harrumphed as she playfully smacked his chest.

Charlton guffawed as he pushed her back in bed and started kissing her.

--

TBC