"Let's play a game then," he said sitting at the edge of the bed.

"A game?"

"Yes. You can ask me anything about me and I will answer you honestly."

"Will you be honest?"

" I never lie, Lilly." his voice was firm.

"And once I answer it will be my turn to ask a question about you."

Lilly nodded slowly as she tried to weigh the pros and cons of this game.

"Shoot a question then." his words caught her attention again.

The atmosphere in the room somehow felt heavy. The traces of laugh lines from his face disappeared and she had no idea about what to ask so she shot the first words that came to her mind.

"Tell me a way to shut a man's mouth. You speak too much so I will use it against you."

This wasn't something she had wanted to ask but the heavy atmosphere called for it and her plan worked as she heard him laugh.

"I had thought you would ask something serious." he chuckled before returning his gaze to her beautiful face.

"Men and women might be different in many aspects but they are still similar in quite a few. Tracing her jaw with his long finger he continued, "So my dear wife feel free to use your tempting lips to get me quiet."

"Seems like you have experimented this with quite a many women." she shot back desperate to say something to set him back because she was too weak to break it.

He smiled softly as his attention moved from her mouth to her beautiful dark orbs.

"You sound jealous."

" I am just curious."

"You are the first one I have used it on. Women never speak in front of me. They speak what's needed and they obey. They never question me while you -"

"I sound like a handful."

Her comment earned her a soft chuckle from him and that voice did something to her heart.

"That's true too but you are my wife so I give you the right to ask questions. You have the right to know about your husband."

She wasn't sure if he realised it or not but his words felt so seductive to her at this moment. In this contractual marriage where she had thought she would be held by bonds and the iron chains of control, he was giving her freedom and rights. He was giving her the respect a wife deserved.

"Stop torturing that lip now." Ashton interrupted her train of thoughts as he freed her lower lip which she hadn't realised she had been chewing this tension upon.

"Or if you want that," he continued leaning forward but the words were lost when his lips touched hers. The kiss was slow but sensual. But then he suddenly broke it leaving a flustered Lilly gasping for air.

"Damn it!" Ashton cursed looking at his phone and it was then that Lilly realised his phone was ringing.

"I'm getting late for the meeting," he said tucking his phone in the pocket of his trousers as he got up and looked at her dishevelled self.

"If the meeting wasn't that urgent then we would surely have proceeded with this." his smirked and an unwanted blush crawled up her cheeks making him laugh.

"Eat well, Mrs King. I'll be back by 6 p.m." giving a soft kiss on her forehead he left and Lilly just sat there staring into the blank space before she finally realised her mistake.

"Oh God, I enjoyed that kiss!" she gasped as her fingers went to her lips on their own accord as if reminiscing the past few seconds.

" I can't believe it."

'You enjoyed every kiss you have shared with him up till now, honey.' her inner voice mocked.

"Damn me! This is not good."

***

Lilly walked into the kitchen with Sam. The duo fresh and ready for the day.

"Good morning, Mrs King." Mia and the other maid greeted Lilly.

"Morning." Lilly smiled back. She wasn't sure if the morning was good after being greeted by her shockingly handsome husband, receiving a good morning kiss and an aching body. Her shoulders felt stiff and that pain travelled from her back down to her waist.

Maybe sleeping all night in one position while stuck to the edge of the bed wasn't a very good idea, she acknowledged. Putting Sam on his child's chair she said, "Sit here. Ok?"

A sleepy Sam looked at her as she rubbed her waist and stretched her spine backwards hoping for it to ease her pain.

"What is it, Mrs King? Are you not feeling well?" Mia asked.

"No. It's just that my waist hurts a little."

"Oh..." Mia and the other maid smiled looking at each other. ''It happens at times, I guess."

"Yeah," Lilly answered while she reached for her coffee mug.

'Sleeping all night in one position sure hurts.'

As she turned, Lilly found Mia and the other maid smiling as they whispered something to each other.

'Why do I get a feeling that something is being misunderstood here?'

"You need something, Mrs King?"

"A cup of coffee for me, warm milk for Sam and some pancakes would be great."

" I'll get that right away. Please take a seat."

"Thank you."

***

After the breakfast, Lilly was playing with Sam whose toys had covered half of the lawn when she heard a maid calling for her.

" Mrs King."

"Yes?"

"Your phone was ringing. You left it on the table."

"Oh, thank you." Lilly smiled and the maid left.

She looked at her phone as it started ringing again and frowned. Her phone that rarely rings was ringing. It was an unknown number. Even the people from her workplace used to drop a message instead of directly calling her. Then who could it be, she wondered.

"I hate talking on the phone." She said looking at the phone and eventually, the call ended. Heaving a sigh of relief she was about to get back to playing with Sam but her phone started raining again.

"Who is so adamant?" Irritated she picked up the call and before she could ask the caller's identity a deep and dark voice interrupted her.

"Darling."

She looked at her phone in shock wondering if someone dialled a wrong number.

"How is Sam doing?" The caller questioned.

"Sam?" And then she realised the caller was none other than Ashton King.

"He is playing," she answered simply.

"And what about you? Missing me?"

'Did you eat something funny on your way to the office?' was what she had wanted to ask but then came to a change of thought and she gave her best cheesiest smile as she answered, "Yes, I'm missing you so much that I want to come running to you."

She heard him chuckle from the other end and that sound did something to her insides.

"Well, then I am sending you a dress so get ready. We have an important dinner tonight." He said informing her.

"What kind of dinner?"

"A dinner with my friends who want to congratulate me...us on this marriage."

"What about Sam?"

"Maids will look after him. He goes to bed at 7 p.m. we will leave at 7:30. If anything happens the help will call us."

"Is it really necessary to go?" she asked more to herself than to him but still he answered for her.

"Well, you are my one and only living and breathing wife so I need to take you with me. I had already told you about this so don't think of excuses." With that, he disconnected the call.

"He sounded a bit angry." she sighed. "Hey Sam," she called the toddler and he looked at her.

"Looks like I'll have to go for a party tonight."

"T?" the boy repeated and she laughed.

"Yes, party. I hope I don't mess things up so just wish me luck. OK?"

"Kay. Kay." the boy clapped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later a dress had been delivered for Lilly and by 7 p.m. Ashton arrived at the villa.

"Good evening, Mr King." Mia greeted.

"Evening, Mia."

"Mrs King is ready."

"Thank you. I hope you will be able to look after Sam."

"Yes, don't worry he is already asleep and if anything happens I will give you a call."

"Good." Ashton nodded and Mia went back to her work.

As Ashton entered his room his steps came to a halt when his gaze fell upon Lilly who was standing with her back towards him. When he chose the dress for her he knew it would fit her perfectly but what he hadn't realised was the back of the dress that was exposing way too much of her skin.

His eyes traced the deep V at the back of her dress that ended just a little above her waist. She turned around and her eyes met his. The dress was hugging her curves perfectly. With her hair left loose, she was looking a temptress that had walked straight out of his dreams.

"You look..." he took slow steps towards her as he continued, "Gorgeous. Beautiful, Mrs king."

His compliment brought the heat to her cheeks while a part of her felt at ease. It wasn't that she had doubts about herself it was just that she was nervous as she was going into his world and she wanted to look presentable enough because she had no idea how the other females at the place would be like.

But now when he complimented her she started feeling more gorgeous. His words had started to have that effect on her.

"But I think there is one thing missing," he said and she frowned turning again to look into the mirror to see if she had missed something. Then he got something out of his pocket and she looked at him. Earrings.

"May I?" He asked for permission and she nodded. He helped her with the earrings and placed a small pendant around her neck. She wasn't sure if she still looked gorgeous or not but now with diamonds hanging on her ears and neck, she was sure she looked expensive as hell.

"Now that you are ready we can leave," he announced. She turned to look at him. He was wearing a black suit. Different from what he was wearing in this morning, she noticed.

He stretched his hand for her and she placed her hand in his and it was then that she realised this was the first time they were holding hands like this and it felt really sweet.

They both sat in the car as the driver brought the engine to life and started moving the car through the streets of Brooklyn. They both sat silently as if lost in their world. With thousands of question arising in their head, they were busy answering them.

🤧( happiness)