"Mama? Dad?"

Someone shook my shoulder. "Mama, get up."

I slowly opened my eyes, finding my face pressed up against Eve's chest, his hand wrapped around my waist and his chin rested on top of my head.

We were still on the couch.

I carefully removed Eve's hand from around my waist and stood up making sure I don't fall from the couch.

Carmel was looking at us in confusion.

My movements woke him up as he sat up straight, trying to understand what's going on.

He looked towards the window and seeing the morning light he turned to Carmel. "What day is it today?"

"Umm... Saturday", Carmel answered.

He sighed. "Oh, thank God." Having said that, he again laid down on the couch.

Carmel looked between us. "Why were you both sleeping here?"

I scratched my head. "We were... talking last night...and we just fell asleep."

"Oh..."

With his eyes still closed, he asked, "Aeryn, don't you have to go to your restaurant today?"

"Nah...I started with my periods last night. I am taking a break this Saturday and Sunday."

"Great", he muttered. "Wake me up in ten minutes."

"Okay...", I said before walking upstairs to my room to get freshened up.

Once I was freshened up, I went back down in the kitchen where Carmel was taking out some cereals in a bowl.

"Did you wake, Eve?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I forgot."

"Let it be. I'll wake him up."

I went back outside to the living room where he was peacefully sleeping on the couch on his back, one arm over his stomach the other hanging down from the couch.

I crouched down in front of the couch slowly brushed away a strand of hair from his forehead. He looked so cute while sleeping. Not like a jerk that he is.

Will you be my support?

I remembered our conversation from last night and I felt the butterflies dancing in my stomach.

Last night, I thought he was going to kiss me but unfortunately, he didn't.

I cupped his cheek and gently caressed it with my thumb and then leaning down, kissed his cheek lingeringly.

His hand which was hanging down from the couch caught my wrist, his eyes still closed. "Taking advantage of me while I'm sleeping?" His voice was hoarse.

I shut my eyes in embarrassment and a blush spread across my cheeks.

"I was just waking you up", I muttered in a failed attempt to defend my actions.

By now he was looking at me. He smirked. "I like your way of waking up. Why don't you wake me up everyday?"

Rolling my eyes, I got up forgetting that he was still holding my wrist. As I got up, he pulled me down making me land on his chest.

I blushed at our intimate position, his hand snaked around my waist making sure I don't fall. While my palm was pressed against his chest.

His eyes were twinkling with amusement.

I attempted to get up but he held me down. I glanced towards the kitchen hoping Carmel doesn't see us like this.

"W-what are you doing?", I whispered shouted.

He cupped my cheek and bringing my head closer to him, kissed the corner of my mouth making my heart skip a beat.

"Goodmorning, wifey", he whispered against my cheek.

I was red as a tomato by now but I somehow managed to say, "Goodmorning."

He smiled softly and still cupping my cheek he brought my head closer to his. I gulped.

Is he going to kiss me?

He eyes flickered down to my lips as he bit his.

Why this torture? Just kiss me already!

Our lips were inches apart, his eyes fluttered closed, so did mine.

His hot breath fanned my lips as his lips hovered mine.

I decided to end this torture and leaning closer, pressed my--

"Mama, where are the eggs?", Carmel's voice came from the kitchen.

He groaned cursing underneath his breath. "Fuck."

My eyes flew opened and I was about to burst with embarrassment. We both stared into each other's eyes, our lips still hardly apart but the trance was broken.

"Mama!" She called out again.

"C-coming!", I stuttered.

His hand removed from my waist and without looking at him, I ran away from there.

"Why is your face so red?", Carmel questioned when I gave her the eggs.

"Nothing...", I said nervously.

Aargh! We were about to kiss!

Damn you, Carmel!

She was scrutinizing my face and then she said in a low voice. "Did you guys kiss?"

I felt like banging my head on the counter.

"Tell me", she urged.

"We were about to", I said in a disappointed tone.

"Then why didn't you?"

I pouted sadly looking at her. "Because you called me!"

She gasped. "I am so sorry!"

Then she smacked her head. "I am sorry, mama. I didn't know."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you didn't."

She grabbed my arm. "Mama, I am sorry."

"It's okay, Carmel. It's not I am dying to kiss him."

"I know you are dying to kiss him", she teased.

"Shut up."

"For how long will you deny it? Accept that you like him. Or maybe love him." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Two things. First: I don't...I don't like him, okay? Nor do I love him. Second: Do you keep forgetting that I am your mother?! Who talks about all this to her mother?"

She frowned. "You only said you are my friend/mother."

"Yeah...but I am still your mother. I am elder than you!"

"Just by fifteen years."

"Fifteen years is a huge age gap!"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think so."

"By the way", she said changing the topic. "I think dad loves you too."

My heart skipped a beat. "Carmel, shut up."

"It's so obvious, mama. Whenever he looks at you, he smiles. He is in love with you."

He smiles while looking at me?

"Carmel, you better stop reading those stupid romantic stories", I scolded.

She rolled her eyes. "I am just telling you what I saw. If you don't wanna believe it then it's okay."

Ignoring her, I started preparing the breakfast.

He is in love with you.

No, he isn't!

I am not going to give myself false hopes. In the end, you just get disappointed.

I set down three plates of eggs and bacon on the dining table when Eve walked down the stairs.

We three sat down for breakfast, I was silent while Eve and Carmel were talking. I didn't pay much attention to them cause I was lost in my own world.

Carmel's question to Eve snapped me out of my thoughts. "Are you okay now, dad?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You looked sad yesterday. Are you happy now?"

Eve looked at me intensely, a smile forming on his face. "Very."

His gaze made me blush. Carmel looked at me then back at him. "Did I miss something?"

"Finish your breakfast, Carmel", I said diverting the topic.

.

.

.

"Carmel! Eve! Your most favourite person is here!"

I came out of the kitchen to see Gareth standing near the door and bawling at the top of his lungs.

"They are upstairs", I told him.

He looked surprised to see me. "Shouldn't you be at your restaurant at the moment?"

"Are you not happy to see me?"

"Of course not, dear." He walked closer to me. "I am very happy to be in your graceful presence."

Lifting my arm, he kissed my knuckles and winked.

I placed my hand over my heart. "Thank you, thank you."

"Will you stay for lunch?", I asked.

"Gladly."

I looked over his shoulder, Eve was standing on the stairs looking at us, looking not so pleased.

Gareth followed my gaze and looked behind him and smirked.

Gareth wrapped his arm around my shoulder pulling me closer. "Oh, brother. Your wife's really kind, she asked me to stay for lunch."

"You are not staying here. Get out", he said walking down the stairs.

"He is your brother!", I snapped at Eve.

"He is being an asshole", he told me in a surprisingly calm voice.

"He didn't say or do anything", I argued.

"He already did on Friday."

Gareth's arm was still around my shoulder and Eve looked at it, his jaw clenched.

He growled. "Remove your hand from her!"

"Do you have any problem, Aeryn?", Gareth asked me sweetly referring to his arm around my shoulder.

I shook my head. "No."

By now even Carmel walked down and was looking at us in confusion.

Something flashed across Eve's face on my answer and he looked...hurt?

Gareth winked at me. "Thanks."

Eve's body literally shook with anger, when I looked carefully at his face, tears were forming in the corner of his eyes.

"Eve, are you...are you crying?", I asked.

Gareth instantly removed his hand from my shoulder and stepped closer to him. "Brother...I was just kidding."

He pushed Gareth away. "Fuck off!"

And went past us when Gareth said, "Come on! I was just messing with you. She is like my sister!"

I guess Eve didn't know that Gareth considers me his sister. He already told me this a long time back.

Gareth looked guilty and I gave him a small smile. "I'll handle him. You both go."

Gareth nodded and Carmel and he both went upstairs.

Eve was in the kitchen looking inside the refrigerator, when he heard me coming, he slammed it shut.

"Why are you crying, Eve?", I questioned softly.

His back was towards me. "I am not."

I leaned my back against the wall. "He considers me as his sister. He told me this the day we got married."

"You don't need to get jealous", I added.

At this he turned to me. "I am not jealous."

I scoffed. "It's obvious, Eve."

He walked closer and placed his right palm on the wall, kind of caging me in. "I already told you. You are mine."

"I am not an object."

"You are my wife."

"That doesn't makes me yours. You need to stop being so possessive."

I attempted to move away but he held my shoulder with his other hand, stopping me from moving.

"And you need to stop being so feisty", he said.

I was about to reply but he cleared his throat and said, "I bought you an Audi."

My jaw dropped. "What?!"

"Audi, it's a car--"

"I know what an Audi is! But why did you buy me that?!"

"Because you didn't have a car", he said nonchalantly.

I face slammed myself. "You already have so many cars, Eve. And I was using your BMW, there was no need of buying a new car."

I didn't give him a chance to speak. "Or wait a minute. You had a problem with me driving your car? That's why you bought me a new car, huh?"

"What you are thinking is wrong."

"I can't believe it, Eve! You bought me a fucking Audi!"

"Calm down, Aeryn. It's not a big deal. Consider it a gift."

I ran my hand down my face. "I don't need such expensive gifts!"

"It's wasn't that expensive. I bought you a simple model."

The calmness in his voice made me more angry. "I don't need your money. It's okay if I didn't have a car..."

"You are my wife, Aeryn."

"No, no, no. I don't want your money for God's sake! And now don't say that I am indirectly using your money since you bought my restuarant and blah, blah, blah... don't worry I'll pay you back someday."

This time he raised his voice. "Again you are saying the same thing. You don't need to pay me back! How many times do I have to tell you?"

"No! I will pay you back."

"Shut up, Aeryn."

"No, I won't shut up because you are crazy!"

He rolled his eyes. "Shut your mouth or else I'll do it myself."

I remembered he said the same thing in Australia and feeling a bit confident, I said, "Go on, do it."

His jaw clenched. "Watch what you are saying." He gave me a warning.

"No. Now you make me shut up."

He warned again. "Aeryn."

I mocked. "Go on. What are you afraid of?"

He cursed underneath his breath. "Fuck it."

"I know you will--"

And grabbing the back of my neck, he crushed his lips upon mine.

It took me a few seconds to realise that he is actually kissing me! My first kiss!

And when I did, my eyes fluttered closed on their own. Butterflies exploded in my stomach, my heart skipped several beats.

The kiss was brutal, it felt as if he was punishing me, taking out all his anger on me. It was rough and hard and fast.

My hands automatically wrapped around his neck as I kissed him back and with a groan he pressed his body closer to mine.

He sucked on my bottom lip and thrusted his tongue inside my mouth.

Damn!

He tasted like honey and vanilla. His tongue slid against mine making me moan into the kiss.

Then he slowed down and started kissing me gently and passionately. His tongue traced my lips before tasting the inside of my mouth.

Abruptly we stopped when he heard two loud gasps.

He immediately pulled back and we both turned to the entrance of the kitchen where Gareth and Carmel stood beside each other.

Gareth's one hand covered his eyes and his other covered Carmel's eyes.

"We didn't see anything", he squeaked without removing his hand from his eyes.

Oh God! This is so embarrassing!

Having said that he dragged away Carmel along with him from the kitchen.

I was still breathing heavily and I slowly lifted my gaze to Eve but he refused to look at me. He was looking down at the floor.

I waited for him to say something. But he didn't.

He took a step back and then another and turned and left, leaving me standing there feeling confused, shocked, flustered, and a heart that was beating wildly for him.

Cause I was fucking falling in love with him.