"Someone finally decided to come out of hiding."

My breath hitched.

I am not yet ready to face him.

I didn't turn around, I froze in right there even though I could imagine him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed across his chest and a smirk on his face.

His voice alone was enough to make me feel alive. My heart thumped loudly in my chest.

"Miss me, wifey?" He teased.

Miss is not the word I would use, I was dying to see him and he couldn't even bother to call me once.

I gripped the edge of the counter trying to control my emotions.

He said playfully. "No reply? Did you lose your tongue?"

I refused to reply to him.

"Well...it seems you didn't miss me. But I did."

I sucked in a sharp breath. He missed me?

"Your constant blabbering, your feistiness, your efforts to make me jealous and your annoying voice. I missed it." The sincerity in his tone shook me to the core. "I didn't even get to kiss your forehead every night for a whole week."

"Did you really not miss me?"

He sighed. "Still no reply? What happened to the Aeryn I married?"

"You won't even ask where I was?"

"Or am I okay?"

"Or did I have dinner?"

"You won't even shout at me?"

He paused for a moment. "Did you like your new car?"

"Did you use it?"

"Come on, Aeryn", he urged playfully. "Give me a sassy or a sarcastic reply. Tell me you don't need my money."

If I open my mouth, I will cry. It's better to keep my mouth shut.

Go away! I shouted in my mind.

"I know what you are thinking. I am not going to go away unless and until you speak."

His voice turned low and he confessed. "I am dying to hear your voice, Aeryn."

My heart skipped a beat.

No.

I am angry with him.

I finally turned around, there he was leaning his back against the wall, his arms crossed across his chest just like I thought.

I was glaring at him and I moved closer. He uncrossed his arms and stood straight, his eyes following my every movement. For a second his eyes dropped down to my lips before he was staring at my face again.

I didn't stop glaring even when I stood in front of him. Close to him.

I glared at him for another few seconds before I lifted my hand and slapped him. Don't worry, it was not too hard.

His jaw clenched as he placed his palm on his cheek where I slapped him. But, there was no anger in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak but instead I grabbed his shirt's collar, pulling his face closer to mine and pressed my lips upon his.

My lips were pressed tightly upon his with a fear that he will push me away any moment.

But he didn't.

Both his hands cupped my cheeks as his lips willingly parted, kissing me back. His lips moved with mine in sync.

His beard tickled my jaw and his fingers tangled with my hair, tilting my head and deepening the kiss.

Our tongues met slowly, and we both fought for dominance before I ran out of breath and let his tongue explore my mouth.

I bit his lower lip making him groan. And his one hand moved lower and gripped my waist and pulled me incredibly closer to him.

Our chests were pressed together, our mouths devouring each other. Everything felt like drowning in an ocean of love and desire.

Running out of breath caused us to pull back. My hands still gripped his collar, his one hand around my waist while the other still in my hair.

Our chests heaving up and down. Our foreheads pressed together.

My eyes refused to meet his. Refused to see rejection in his eyes even though he did kiss me back.

His breath still fanned my lips. His voice was husky. "Why did you slap me?"

I slowly lifted my eyes and our gaze collided. His pupils were dilated.

"Because you disappeared", I rasped.

"Why did you kiss me?"

Cause I love you and I thought you left me.

"Because you disappeared", I repeated my answer.

He didn't reply, his eyes were searching mine, as if trying to find answers in it.

I asked the most dreaded question. "Do you regret it?"

"Regret what?"

I gulped. "Kissing me."

His lips slightly curled up in a smirk. "Not a chance, wifey."

He questioned me back. "Do you?"

I shook my head. "No."

He brushed his lips against mine with a smile. "Good."

I stared at his face for a moment realising how much I missed him. And then I broke down. Fisting his shirt in my palms, I rested my head against his chest as tears fell from my eyes.

"Don't do this ever again", I sobbed. "Don't disappear like this."

His hand which was still around my waist, tightened and the other hand gently stroked my hair. "Did you miss me?"

"More than I should", I cried. "I thought you left me because of that kiss."

"You think I will leave you just because of a kiss?" He breathed into my hair. "There is no force in this universe that can seperate me from you, Aeryn."

I cried harder at his words. "I thought something happened to you. I thought I lost you. You were not answering anyone's call."

"I am sorry, Aeryn. That was very stupid of me. I just wanted some time alone."

Lifting my head I looked at him through the tears. "Some alone time from me?"

He shook his head. "Not you, Aeryn, not you."

I placed my head back in his chest. "Eve..."

"Yes?"

"Just don't do it again or else I'll kill you."

He chuckled softly. "I wouldn't dare."

I sighed feeling satisfied he all of a sudden bent down and lifted me up in his arms in bridal style and I let out a yelp. "Where are you taking me?"

He smiled down at me. "To our room, wifey."

His reply left me baffled. "Ou-our room?"

"Yes, our room, wifey."

"But I had my seperate room and--"

"Do you think after badly missing you for one whole week I will let you sleep in a different room?"

"Okay...", I whispered while I was bubbling with happiness.

He climbed up the stairs with me in his arms and I clutched his neck hoping he won't drop me.

He kicked open the door to his room and set me down on my legs.

Seeing his room, I burst into laughter. "This is your room?"

He scowled. "What's wrong with it?"

I laughed harder and clutched my stomach. "Who the hell has a bathroom like that?"

He folded his arms. "I chose the design."

My laughter subsided slowly. "Of course you did. What if you have an emergency? You have to fucking climb those stairs to go the bathroom."

"I love my room, Aeryn. And offending it means offending me."

I pulled his cheeks. "Aww... someone's getting offended."

His scowl deepened. "Don't pull my cheeks."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." And then kissed his both his cheeks.

He grinned. "That's better."

He yawned. "Let's sleep, wifey."

I hummed in response got on the bed and pulled the duvet over me. He joined me, turning his body towards me, our faces were inches apart and we just silently stared at each other.

Lifting his hand he brushed away a strand of hair from my forehead.

"Who was your first kiss?", he asked brushing his knuckles over my cheeks.

I bit my lips. "You."

His mouth slightly parted. "Really?"

I blushed. "Yes."

"And yours?", I asked.

A look of disappointment crossed his face. "A random woman at a bar."

"Oh..."

He ran his finger over my lips. "I'm glad I could be your first kiss...and will be your last."

"Last? How can you be so sure?"

"Because till death do us apart, you are my wife and I your husband."

My eyes twinkled with love. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?"

I shrugged. "Don't know."

He let out a chuckle. "Come closer."

"Why?"

"Cause I want to kiss you."

Gladly, I shifted closer and he slowly kissed me briefly. "Your lips are addicting." He whispered against my lips and then pecked it.

"I missed you so much, Aeryn", he whispered.

"I missed you too, Eve", I whispered back.

He pecked my lips again and then kissed my forehead and pulled me even more closer, wrapping his arm around my waist, cuddling with me. "Goodnight, wifey."

I smiled against his chest. "Goodnight, hubby."

.

.

.

I woke up to find Eve on top of me and peppering kisses all over my neck.

"Eve...", I tried to stop him but it came out like a moan.

"Hmm?"

"I...I will get late..."

He lifted his head and he had a frown on his face, he pecked my lips. "Goodmorning, wifey."

"Goodmorning. Now get off. I am getting late."

"You are not going anywhere", he stated.

"What?"

"You are not going anywhere", he said again.

I rolled my eyes. "I heard you the first time, it was a rhetorical question."

"Whatever...", he muttered.

"I need to go to my restaurant."

He rolled off me and laid beside me. "I already called your friend, Harper and told her you won't be able to come today."

"You did what?!"

"I called your friend--"

"Don't repeat it! Don't you understand what a rhetorical question is?!"

He chuckled. "It is fun to see you getting frustrated."

Ignoring his statement, I said. "Why did you say that to Harper?

"Because you are not going to your restaurant today", he said nonchalantly.

I whined. "Stop irritating me! Just tell me why am I not going to the restaurant today?!"

He chuckled again. "Because you are spending this whole day with me."

"And what about you? Don't you have to go to office today?"

He propped himself up by the support of his elbow. "I just came back from New York yesterday. I need a break."

I raised my brow. "Aren't you supposed to be workaholic?"

"Workaholic? Me? Gareth's workaholic, not me. He doesn't even date saying it will distract him from work."

"Then why did you start working the moment we reached our hotel in Australia?"

He smiled sheepishly. "To avoid you."

I pouted angrily and picking up the pillow smacked his face making him laugh.

He again rolled on top of me. "Now, the main thing."

"What?"

He bit his lip. "Will you do me the honour of going on a date with me?"