A/N: another chapter for all of you. Thank you for your continued support.

Happy reading!

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Morning came and light is already seeping through the gap in the curtain. He veered his head towards the bed whether Claire is still sleeping but found it empty. He checked the time, it is only five minutes past seven o'clock, which means that she just got up and maybe still in the bathroom, and as good as his guess is, he heard a flush from there. He kept himself lying on the couch and wait for a sign that Claire is already finished with her morning ritual. It will take about thirty minutes before she will leave the bath.

He must be a prophet of sort today for what he had surmised is happening. The closing of the shower act as the signal that he's been waiting. So he got up and cleaned his mouth before facing her and waited. It also came to his mind to clothe himself so as not to scandalize his wife more. Then he stood by the doorway leading to the walk in closet and waited.

Claire walked out of the bath covered with robe, water moisture still clings on her exposed skin. Although he is used to seeing woman's body parts, he had never seen a woman more beautiful and alluring than his wife right now, considering she is covered modestly. He noticed she has that aura of indifference - again. He sighed and spoke up.

"Claire, please talk to me. If you don't want us to be like before then at least be civil to me. I cannot do this pretense without your help and don't forget that you already agreed."

She did not answer, not even a mumble, she is busy choosing her outfit.

"Do you mind?" She whispered while holding a pair of jeans and shirt.

He turn around, his back facing her. He wanted to laugh in disbelief, he had never been in a situation like this where a female refuses to be seen by him, they usually display their body to entice him more. Rustling of clothes snapped him from his train of thoughts, it fueled his imagination and stirred his groin that made him took another deep breath.

"You can talk, you know?" He heard Claire's voice. Why does her voice sounds so bewitching and he knows she is not even trying. He forced himself to clear his head from seductive thoughts and focused on the matters at hand.

"We need to discuss our ground rules." He started which Claire hummed her agreement.

"Tell me your boundaries first, is it okay if I kiss you?" He asked unsure whether it is appropriate.

"You already did that before without my consent, don't you remember? Or you have forgotten already." She answered while passing him, removing her head towel. He caught a whiff of her shampoo, a combination of citrus and flowery scent that made him groan, for she made it harder to suppress the stirring in his groin.

He followed her to the bedroom and found her sitting on the couch, indian-style.

"So, it's okay if I kiss you?" He clarified.

"Well, for the sake of our ploy, then yes, there is no problem. But I will only allow it in public." She said decisively.

"Okay. Until where?" When Claire raised her brow in confusion, he continued. "Cheeks, lips? Just a peck or more?"

---

At his questions, Claire willed herself not to blush. She already had some rules on her mind even before she came here. She even wrote it down in a paper that she handed to Lucas.

Lucas accepted the paper which contains the following:

● Rules to Follow When in Public:

1. May kiss on the cheek, forehead and lips (but only after asking permission).

2. May hold hands anytime.

3. May touch the arm, shoulder and waist (but only if needed).

4. May act sweetly as possible especially in front of other people.

5. May come to balls and parties and be introduced as wife (but only and if only the situation arises).

● General Rule: Do not interfere with each other's business.

"What about in private?" Lucas asked after reading what was written on the paper.

"What do you mean?"

"You only wrote here the rules when we are in public. What about if we are in private? Like, right now?" Lucas said in a whisper while approaching her which she quickly dodged, that made him smile.

"You afraid to be alone with me, sweetheart?" He asked charmingly but Claire countered it quickly.

"I am not afraid to be alone with you Mr. Harrison."

"If you aren't, then prove that you do not and don't try to escape." Lucas tauntingly said.

"I'll prove it some other time husband for I am already hungry. My rules stand as it is, you can add your own if you like. Good morning husband." Claire said teasingly, leaving him with a hard on that is becoming difficult to hide. He needed a very cold shower.

---

Claire, couldn't believe that she was able to resist his charm. She almost gave in to his seductive advances. She knew he had a boner when they were at the walk in closet and it fired her womanly allure which made it easy for her to tease him. Ever since she realized that she love him, she became free with herself, with her emotion and the cautiousness that she put up as a defense mechanism for her not to get hurt. Yes, she did not talk to him whole day yesterday, not because she was mad at him but more of the fear of him finding her lacking in so many aspects. She knows what men wants, especially in between sheets and she feels she is inadequate in that matter - her being inexperienced. She felt herself became sullen and down than earlier after she woke up, finding him asleep on the couch that has no room for someone as big as him. She willed herself to stop thinking negatively and to lighten up her mood. She finished eating her breakfast then went to the den overlooking a small garden. It feels like home everytime she stays here. She opened her laptop and checked her emails, especially those sent by Bea from the shop.

She is still typing some documents when a knock sounded and in came Lucas holding a paper.

"We have to finalize this rules, sweetheart."

---

Lucas spent a good thirty minutes in the coldest shower he ever had. His boner just doesn't want to let down that is why he took longer in the shower than his usual. After he felt that his member is already manageable, he stepped out from the shower, dressed comfortably and ate his breakfast. Then spent some hours inside his office deliberating with himself what to write as an addition to the rules that Claire presented. When he finally made up his mind, he wrote and added the rule that he spent so many hours to think. Afterwards, he looked for his wife, who, as per Alvin is mostly staying at the den. He can clearly understand why, for it is situated beside a garden which is found inside a specially designed greenhouse which regulates the temperature, making the flowers bloom all year round.

He knocked first and promptly opened the door and laid the rule he made: We will follow "all" your rules and we can do whatever we want with our private lives.

"That's it?" He heard Claire asked with slight disbelief which he quickly explained.

"Yes, I found your rules quite reasonable, so we will follow them. Privately, we are free to do what we desire."

---

Claire is still not sure whether to agree with the rules that he made. There is something that bothers her after she read what he had written, that there is a foreboding somewhere in between those lines. It seems vague and ambiguous but straightforward as well. She cannot point out what bothered her, so she just decided to agree with it.

"Fine. It is settle then." Then she stood and shook hands with him.

---

Lucas cannot quite believe that she conceded with his rule, his plan is working. He left her alone afterwards, him smiling broadly.

***

A month had passed ever since she lived with Lucas. They both came back spontaneously to how they were before the blanket fiasco. They talked with each other over meal and even share moments with some good wine. They both had a routine of their own. He is working hard as usual and travel to different states, that at some time will take days. Meanwhile, she will stay over the weekdays in his house and will travel over the weekend to Millbrook to check her business. The expansion went well and they are scheduled to open in two weeks.

As for his family, they already packed and moved back to the big house three weeks after she moved in. A gruelling three weeks for her and Lucas, since they both needed to be sweet and at least touchy with each other.

Her parents, thankfully, is covering for her, that is why her brothers, including Sean, are not bothered with her not staying at their family home. Yes, Sean is unaware of her situation right now, otherwise, he will flip over and tell everyone about it.

She sighed when the light turned green, she is almost home. She was startled at her thought that she almost stepped on the break, for she already considers Lucas' penthouse her home. When did it start to feel like home to her? Instead of feeling afraid, she welcomed the warmth that the sudden thought brought to her. 'Yeah, it feels like home already, for home is where the heart is, isn't it?' She smiled at what she said to herself.

She entered the basement and parked her car besides Lucas' other cars. Yes, he has five of them, all classy and expensive, the quirks of being a billionaire. Then she rode the elevator with her access card and took a deep and thankful sigh when she stepped on the landing. She felt so tired this week, with everything that needed for the opening of the expansion. So many things to do with so little time.

"Good evening, Ms. Claire." Alvin greeted her that she replied with the same polite greeting. Alvin took her things and immediately sent it to Lucas' bedroom.

"I will serve you dinner Ms. Claire." Alvin offered which she instantly refused. She just wants to lie on the tub and promptly fell asleep afterwards on the comfortable bed.

"Then I will prepare you your bath, Miss." Alvin said, he must've seen how tired she looks. She did not feel shy with him preparing her bath. At first, yes, but not anymore, he always draws up her bath everytime she comes home tired and stressed.

"Your bath is ready, Miss."

"Thank you Alvin." She thanked him first before getting up.

"You must concede with your husband's offer of letting Kevin drive you to and fro. Millbrook is not that near, Miss." Alvin said reprimanding her. Though he is Lucas' butler and sometimes act as a valet, he already extended his service to her as his master's wife.

"I am okay, Alvin. I needed the travel as well. It makes me think and clear my mind." She countered with a small smile.

"Very well then, Miss. A light snack and a warm glass of milk will be ready after you had your bath." Alvin said and left her alone. She removed her clothes and submerged herself in the tub.

---

Lucas came home later that night. Alvin met him at the landing and took his things.

"Is Claire already here?"

"Yes, sir. She came back later than usual and looked tired than before. She also refused to eat her dinner and instead wanted to had her bath and then sleep. I just prepared her a light snack and a glass of warm milk." Alvin answered more than what he asked. The information made him displeased.

"Is that so?" He only said and went to his office followed by Alvin. He spent sometime finishing signing some documents then went to his room. His brows furrowed at what he noticed. The snack that Alvin said he prepared even before he came are still there untouched and upon inspection, the milk that should be warm, is now colder than the waters of Antartica. He checked the bathroom to find it locked and the lights are on. He knocked and called for his wife.

"Claire! Sweetheart, are you in there?!" When he heard no response, he tried to knock louder but to no avail, the other side remains silent.

He went out of the room and yelled for Alvin to bring the spare key for the bathroom, which made the valet running at full speed. He snatched the key from Alvin's hand and opened the door.

"What time did she came?" He asked which Alvin answered promptly.

"A little over two hours ago." Alvin's answer made him uttered expletives.

He almost unhinged the door when he opened it with so much force. Alvin also came in after him but abruptly stop when he stared pointedly at him.

Another string of curses came from his mouth when he saw his wife on the tub not moving even with all the commotion that he made, especially when he saw her lips already bluish in color. He immediately drained the water from the tub and wrap her with the towel from the rack. He scooped her up bridal style, not minding if his expensive suit will be ruined because of the water.

Alvin, being the efficient employee that he is, already regulated the temperature on the bed on a warmer mode as well as the whole room. He immediately laid Claire on the bed and instructed Alvin to call Dr. Andrews. When Alvin left the room, he removed the towel covering his wife, wrapped her in a dry and warmer one and covered her with three layers of blankets to keep away the cold. He as well removed his soiled clothes and put a pyjama pants, he decided to lie and embrace her to add some more warmth. He prayed that nothing serious will come from her reckless behavior.

Some of her color already came back by the time Alvin came with Dr. Andrews in tow. He refused to get up and leave her on the bed which made Dr. Andrews reprimand him.

"I need to check her son." He let go of her and stood. The physician has been with them ever since he remembered, so he is not afraid of him even when he is in a bad mood. He waited with bated breath for several minutes for Dr. Andrews to finish.

"How is she?" He asked hurriedly when he saw the doctor removed the stethoscope and keep it inside his bag.

"She suffered from hypothermia. Good thing you made her warm as soon as possible, if you haven't saw her and took her out much later, she will be dead because of severe cold." The old man explained that made him exhaled a relieved breath.

"Do I need to send her to the hospital? And are there some things to watch out for?" He asked with worry.

"Just check if she will have a cough or any other complaints. As of now, I can see no major problem. I will come back tomorrow morning and check her again. For the meantime, keep her warm." The doctor said before leaving. The last sentence he uttered was accompanied by a wink that he doesn't know how to interpret or how he will react.

He came back to his previous position beside his wife and prayed again that she will be well and no harm will occur come morning. His last thoughts were of her and her alone, and that he will be sleeping with her without anything sexual happening - one of the firsts with her - his wife.

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Thank you for reading everyone. Any comment(s) are welcome. Please vote as well, pretty please.

- blue