I am whipped. Completely.

That day when she tried to play that stupid prank, I got a goddamn heart attack. I thought I lost her and that thought was enough to make my heart shatter into pieces and at that moment I knew I was in love with her and I could never lose her.

Maybe I always had feelings for her because...

The day I first saw her, a ten year old kid, entering our backyard, with her head tilted slightly, her big chocolatey eyes filled with curiousity, made my heart skip a beat.

For a moment I paused, everything around me paused (except Addison's delivery that hit me in the chest).

She looked like a little angel, so innocent and cute and heart started to beat at a fast rate.

Only when I got hit by that ball, I realised that she was just a kid and I was developing some weird feelings for her. She was just a kid. And I felt so angry at myself for looking at a child that way, it was so pathetic.

I was furious at myself. So, so, so, furious.

And then she had the audacity to laugh at me which caused to glare at her making her laugh even more. And at that moment I decided that it was much better to hate her at least that won't be weird.

And that's what I did for the next thirteen years until we got married and things started to change.

I had to spend every day of my life with her, share my room with her, bicker with her which I quite enjoyed and almost every morning, I woke up to her.

Those old feelings started to grow back but this time, she wasn't a kid anymore, she was a woman and she was my wife.

My wife. And there's no way I am letting her go now. The contract can go to hell. She's staying with me now, forever.

But that is only when...she wants to stay. I...I... can't force her...

What if she doesn't want to stay with me anymore? I mean...she must be missing her home...her parents...

They are the important members of her life...unlike me.

My heart clenched at that thought.

I really, really hope something changes after last night. After we consummated our marriage.

"Rafe!" I suddenly heard her whine loudly.

I turned my head to the side where she was walking beside me but she wasn't there.

"Leona...where--" I turned around to see her sitting on the ground, cross legged, her hands folded across her chest and an adorable pout on her lips.

"What happened?" I asked walking closer to her and crouching down infront of her.

"I'm tired, idiot!" She complained.

"And...?"

She looked at me in disbelief. "And? What do you mean and? I'm tired! I can't walk anymore."

"And you want me to carry you, huh?"

Her eyes lit up, and she gave me a toothy grin while nodding her head. "Yes!"

I sat down cross legged on the ground, infront of her. "And you think I won't get tired myself because of carrying you?"

"But you are a man and--"

"That's very sexist of you." I remarked, cutting her off. "Be independent, baby. Be a feminist!"

"I am a feminist! But...but... can't you carry me? I'm so tired because of you only."

"Me?" I raised my brow.

"Yes, you!" She accused, hinting at last night and I found myself blushing lightly.

"Okay...but what do I get in return?"

She thought about it for a moment, tapping her chin with her index finger. "A kiss from me." She grinned at last.

"Just one?"

"Fine, two kisses."

I shook my head. "Not enough."

"Three...?"

I shook my head again making her frown. "Four."

I finally agreed. "Though it's still not enough but it will do for now."

She sighed in relief and I couldn't help but smile widely at her cuteness. God, I love her so much.

She got up and I followed her and she extended her arms towards me, gesturing me to carry her like a child.

"First the kisses", I said.

She rolled her eyes and came closer to me and gestured me to bend down a little since she was shorter than me.

When I did, she gently grabbed my face and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead making my heart skip a beat.

And then she placed a kiss on each of my cheeks and finally she pecked my lips and pulled back. "That's four kisses, now carry me."

I licked my lips, liking the lingering feel of her lips on them before I picked her up in my arms like a small child, wrapping her legs around my waist while she wrapped her arms around my neck, placing her head on my shoulder, giggling to herself.

It was quite difficult to carry a huge backpack on my back plus her and plus the weight of the backpack she was carrying.

"If at any point I fall down, it's your mistake." I grunted.

"Why...? Are those kisses not enough to give you some energy?" She drawled playfully. "Or do you need more kisses?"

And saying that, she pressed her lips against my neck making me stop walking, my arms tightening around her.

Before I could tell her to stop, her mouth parted slightly and she bit down there lightly making me almost groan.

"Leona, stop it." I warned. "Or else I am going to throw on the ground and have my wicked ways with you after which you will definitely won't be able to walk."

That made her stop, only for a second and she said in a sexy tone, "Maybe...I would like that..."

I groaned loudly and shook my head. "No. I am not going to let you seduce me right now."

"We need to keep moving ahead." I added as I started to walk forward, carrying her in my arms.

"Fine..." I could imagine her pouting and she placed her head back on my shoulder.

"How long till we reach there?" She asked after a minute.

"According to my calculations, we should reach there by tomorrow."

"Oh...and what day is it? How long have we been here?"

"It's the fifth day, baby. And thankfully, we will reach there on the sixth day."

She hummed in response and remained silent for the rest of the journey.

.

.

.

We were done setting up our tent for the night when Leona came running towards me and tugged at my arm excitedly. "Rafe! Look at that!" She pointed upwards toward the sky.

I followed her gaze to see infinite number of stars scattered across the night sky, a sight we don't get to see in the cities. It was beautiful.

"And you are noticing this now?" I questioned her amusingly.

"I never paid attention to it..." She said nonchalantly, her eyes still fixed at the sky.

"Come on, let's star gaze!" She suggested, looking at me hopefully.

I smiled softly. "As you wish, my dear wife."

She grabbed my forearm and started to drag me towards the river, where there were less trees.

Every night, we set up our tent somewhere near the river which flows through this forest, so that we have access to water for brushing our teeth and bathing too.

Dragging me there, she laid down on her back and patted to the space near her for me to lay down which I did, placing both my hands under my head as we gazed at the stars in silence.

Tilting my head towards her, I watched her instead. Her eyes were wide with happiness and excitement, and they twinkled, some reflection of the stars could be seen in her eyes.

I was awestruck.

"Isn't it beautiful?" She asked suddenly, glancing at me.

I gazed at her lovingly, her beautiful eyes which were reflecting the night sky, a strand of stray hair falling over her forehead as usual, her soft, plum lips which I had the chance to taste, parted slightly. And I nodded. "Very."

For me, she was the sky full of stars.

Like stars, she brightened up my whole life.

A tint of pink coated her cheeks and biting her lips, she looked up at the sky again.

The next few minutes were spent in silence which was broken by her when she asked, "We have been here for five days... aren't you missing your home now?"

I shifted closer to her and turning around hovered over her as I brushed away that strand of hair behind her ear. And I gazed intensely into her eyes. "How can I miss it when my home's right here with me?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, her brows furrowing. "Rafe..."

I lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Yes, baby?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, shaking her head slightly, she pushed me away gently and got up on her feet, her back towards me. Baffled, I watched her.

"You...you... can't...you can't say such things, Rafe." She cried softly.

I got up slowly and walked to her. "Why not?"

She turned around, tears flowing down her cheeks and it was enough to break my heart. I cupped her cheeks gently. "What's wrong, baby? Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head, more tears flowing down. "Not yet...but you will when...when all this ends...and...and you will leave me."

"This is about the contract, isn't it?"

She slowly nodded, sniffling she wiped away her tears. I took her hand in mine and dragged her towards the tent where a small fire was burning. I made her stand there and went inside the tent to search for something in my bag.

Sighing, when I found it, I went out to her. She stood opposite to me, the fire burning in between us.

I held up the contract in my hand, her eyes widening on seeing that, probably wondering why I have it with me.

"Leona...I...just..." I was lost for words. I didn't know what and how to say it. "Do you...want this marriage to end?"

She shook her head promptly.

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with...me?" My hands were trembling at that point.

A sob left her mouth and she nodded eagerly. A tear rolled down my eyes too.

"Just say it, Leona. Just say it and I will be yours forever. I won't leave you ever, I will be with you, for better or worse, till death do us apart. Just yes, Leona. Please." More tears fell from my eyes, a sob threatening to escape.

I wanted to tell her that I love her but I don't know why I held back. I didn't want to scare her...I just wanted to take one step at a time.

"Yes!" She cried.

That was all I wanted to hear before I dropped that fucking contract into the fire and I crossed the distance between us and grabbing her face, captured her lips.

Her hands wrapping around my neck as she kissed me back with equal passion.

The tears made the kiss salty yet it was so sweet.

One of my hand moved down and pulled her closer by her waist wanting to feel her, to know that all this isn't just a dream.

Deepening the kiss, our tongues slid against each other slowly, cherishing the feeling, not wanting this moment to end.

I didn't realise she had slipped her hand inside my t shirt until she ran her fingers down my abs.

Parting away breathlessly, I caught her wrist, stopping her. "Stop..."

"Why?"

Removing her hand from there, I hugged her tightly, placing my chin on top of her head. "Because our next time will be at home, in our bedroom. Not in the middle of a fucking forest."

"Besides, I don't have any more condoms." I added.

That made her chuckle and she buried her face in my chest. "What happened to 'I always carry one in my wallet' ?"

"I used that yesterday, baby and I don't have anymore."

"But..." She lifted her head and looked up at me. A mischievous glint in her eyes. "There are other things that we can still do."

My lips twisted up into a smirk. "Well...yes, my dear wife."