A/N: Thank you very much everyone for your continued support.

Last part of this chapter contains some mature scenes (though I am warning you, it may be crappy, lol).

Happy reading!

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Claire stirred from sleep feeling warm and comfy, she buried herself further in whatever it is that is keeping her warm. She even slung her free arm over the thing to snuggle closer. Caught between her dream and reality she didn't mind that the thing embraced her tighter and even whispered a "Go back to sleep, sweetheart," not to mention, a kiss on her forehead.

She woke up slightly felt disoriented, the room is dark and illuminated by night lights. She tried to get up but felt weak, that's when she noticed that something heavy is slung over her body making her movement a little difficult. She traced where it came from, she gasped and held her breath for several seconds when she found out it is her husband whose arm is draped over her body. She caught herself staring at his handsome face. She was mesmerized with his boyish and carefree look while asleep, she cannot help herself not to touch and trace his brows, nose, his aristocratic cheek and thin lips. She snatched her hand when he suddenly stirred. He opened his eyes halfway before greeting her.

"Morning sweetheart. How was your sleep?"

"Fine, good morning." She answered in a whisper and found him staring at her with a creased forehead and slightly irritated, which caught her off guard, so she did not stop herself from asking.

"What is it?"

"I do not like the stunt that you pulled two days prior." Lucas said that made her confused.

"Two days ago? I just went to the shop that day, what did I do?" She asked slightly annoyed and tried to get up again. But Lucas has another thing on his mind, he didn't let her up.

"Would you mind?" She said brow raised with impatience and irritation.

"No. We need to discuss what you've done, which is reckless, considering you almost died." Lucas angrily said with emphasis on every word. The last two words caught her attention.

"What do you mean I almost died? I cannot remember anything wrong that I've done before travelling to Millbrook." She answered defensively.

"It did not happen when you were in Millbrook but after you came home." Still lost at their topic, Claire couldn't react properly. Her confusion probably showed on her face, so Lucas explained further. "You came home late last Monday, tired and weary, according to Alvin. You refused dinner and opted for a light snack after you had your bath." At his words, the memory came back, though a little fuzzy. "We found you unconscious on the tub, you're already blue. The doctor said that, if we found you much later, you could've died. What were you thinking sleeping on the tub Claire?" What he said made her gape, yes she do remember submerging herself in the tub to relieve her aches and pain, but nothing after that, not even a glimmer.

"What day is it, now?" She asked whispering after several seconds.

"It's been two days after the incident. It is Wednesday evening now, sweetheart. Go back to sleep, you need to recuperate after that reckless and irresponsible behavior that you pulled." She heard him say that made her irritated, she was about to rant at him but stopped when she saw the pain and worry etched on his face. So instead she apologized.

"I'm sorry I made you worried."

---

Lucas just embraced and kissed her forehead. Yes, he's been so worried, a worry like he never felt before with anyone. Like his heart was being squeezed making breathing difficult. He only felt complete relief when Dr. Andrews said that she is out of danger and only needs enough rest and sleep.

He is feeling cozy with his wife when he heard a sound definitive of an empty stomach. He willed himself not to laugh but a chuckle escaped that made Claire look at him pouting, an adorable pout that made him peck her lips. He clearly saw shock on her face and he thought she will bash him, but she let it go. To stop awkwardness to blossom, he stood up and urges Claire to come with him to the kitchen.

"We cannot wake Alvin right now, it's already eleven o'clock. I am sure he is fast asleep." He heard her say but still came with him.

"Who said we need to wake him up, I will make ourselves some snack." He saw disbelief on her face which he swear will be different after he prepare it.

He took out ingredients and a pan, fired up the grill and skillfully chopped some onions and lettuce. He put some bacon on the heating pan and tossed burger patties into the grill.

"You're making burger?" Claire asked gaping.

"Is it that obvious sweetheart?" He said teasingly that made Claire shook her head.

"Claire, can you get a wine that will go with my masterpiece?" He requested which Claire immediately did.

Burgers piled up on their plates with a glass of wine. They shared what Lucas considers to be his masterpiece, they finished their food over light conversations.

"I didn't know you can make a burger this good." He heard Claire saying after her burger is finished. He ponder for a while and decided to offer a simple explanation without being asked.

"I learned to fend for myself when I was seventeen. My father died and our business is collapsing. I worked several odd jobs which includes working at a burger joint, making burgers. That is how I learn to make my masterpiece." His last sentence made Claire laugh.

"You know any other recipes to cook or just this one?"

"You wound me sweetheart, I also know how to cook some other things." At her raised brow, he supplied an answer. "I can cook stew, some roasts and I can fry some things." He finished, puffing his chest proudly.

"Really? You can cook those things?"

"Hmm. Though your's is better than my cooking." He praised her which is true. He cannot believe it as well that she can cook delicious meals.

"Time for bed sweetheart. You still need to rest." He said and stood up. They both cleaned the clutter that he made while cooking and washed the utensils as well. Afterwards they went to their room. He was about to lay on the couch when he heard Claire's voice.

"You can sleep here as well, you know. The bed is big compared to that couch. You already slept here beside me these past few days without anything sexual happening."

He raised his brow first and asked. "Are you sure? You were mostly asleep those days, unlike now?"

"I'm quite sure. Unless you are planning something..?" He almost choked on his own saliva at her taunting sentence and covered it with a small laugh.

"Of course not, how can you think that?"

"There's no problem then. This will be my side and that will be your side." Claire said while putting several pillows in the middle of the bed. "Clear?" When he nod his head as a response, Claire lay down on her side and bid him goodnight.

He thought there will be no boundaries, he sighed on his head, making his plan work is tougher than he thinks.

***

Claire was busy inside her den when Alvin's head popped. It's been a month after the tub incident and her cafe already opened, it was a huge success. Good thing, Lucas did not come because of some business commitment, for her brothers are all present to support her.

"Ms. Claire, Sir Lucas sent a package for you. I placed it inside your room."

"Thanks Alvin." She said before standing and went into their room and there on the bed is the package. She gasped in amazement at what she found inside the box, an elegant, vintage floral lace off sleeve in burgundy color and paired with a strappy heels. She found a note inside with Lucas' broad strokes:

-

She found the note endearingly sweet that made her smile. She cannot wait for tonight.

---

Lucas went to the restaurant where he made the reservation and waited for his wife. He asked Alvin before leaving his office whether Claire already left, but according to his butler, she is only about to leave which gave him ample time to calm his nerves. He is being fidgety about this date which never happened before to any woman he took out for dinner.

His attention was caught when he saw Claire being ushered towards him. She is so beautiful that he cannot stop himself from grinning, how can he not, she is his. He pulled her chair for her which she thanked.

"What's the occasion, Lucas?" She asked after he took his seat.

"Nothing, sweetheart. Let's just say that it is a celebration of our friendship and partnership." He answered.

"Okay. If you say so."

"You sound doubtful." He said which she answered with a giggle.

Their light banter was interrupted by the waiter laying their orders.

"I already ordered, is it okay? I know you like seafood the most." He asked which she immediately agreed.

"Yes, I like it, and this is okay."

They continued their conversation until they finish their meal and even when they went home. Their topic consists of anything under the sun while sipping wine.

"When did you start handling your family's business?" He heard Claire ask, he knows that if he answer her question it will lead to series of questions until it will come to the topic about his father, which he doesn't want to be discuss right now. He doesn't want to ruin the mood that they are in. So he chose his words before speaking, not letting his answer become a trigger for Claire to ask another one.

"When I was seventeen, my father died and I am the only heir to the business. How about you? When did you start your own business?"

"I started it when I was eighteen. My parents and brothers helped me put it up, especially my eldest brother." Claire answered which made him confused. "You have brothers?"

"Yes, four older brothers. You didn't know? You didn't saw the pictures in our home when you were there?" Claire answered clearly dumbfounded.

"No, I didn't noticed them. Maybe I'm just too preoccupied with so many things that time. One of which, is how I can make you agree to this ploy." Lucas answered, feeling shock and bafflement at the truth about her family.

"Is that the reason why you never had any relationship?" He cannot stop from asking.

"Partly, yes. When you have four brothers, all older than you, they act as a bodyguard. They are so much protective to me than our father. Four of them is worse than having CIA, FBI and military sections combined with how the way they scrutinize every male specie who is not a family, coming near me." She explained lenghtly.

"And the other part?" Lucas found himself asking.

"Which other part?" Claire asked him which he supplied.

"You said they were partly the reason, what is the other part?"

---

Claire found herself telling him everything.

"I did not found myself attracted to any of them. Not even a slight tingling or fluttering. I am not even looking forward to seeing anyone, even at school. I am hopeless romantic according to my mother. I want to fall in love with a man because I did, not because I was forced to do so. I want to fall in love with the person as a whole not only because he is good-looking or has a lot of money but because there is something in him that attracted me, something that cannot be seen by naked eye, but something that can be felt by the heart."

"So you mean, you weren't attracted to me when you saw me the first time?" She heard him ask.

"No, not one bit, though you are good-looking, as you already know based on how conceited and obnoxious you were. But growing with my brothers who are all attractive in their own worth, I can say that I am immune to your handsome face." She said with a little laugh.

"You really wound me, sweetheart. My ego can just take so much from you." She saw him fake a pained look with so much as putting his closed fist over his heart which made her laugh and eventually made him as well.

She never felt this free to be herself with anyone especially with the opposite sex, her brothers excluded.

After their bouts of laughing their hearts out, they found themselves staring with each other. Like any other times, she found it difficult to look away, especially now that Lucas' face is coming nearer. He paused an inch from her lips, it is as if giving her a choice whether to step away from him.

Maybe it was the wine why she feel the courage to close the gap or maybe she wants to know how it would make her feel, or maybe, just maybe, this is one way of making him know how she really felt for him, without words, only through action.

The touch of his lips, since this was consciously done felt different than the first, the one that happened at her office several months back. She found herself clinging into the lapel of his shirt and him already fully embracing her. His hands skillfully running on her back. Though they are still fully clothed, she can feel the burning, a fire already started from within her that she know only Lucas can ignite.

After several moments, she felt Lucas removed his mouth from hers that she wanted to complain. She saw him stared at her seriously and asked something that if she will overthink, a negative response will definitely come out from her. But since she already decided to let herself experience being with him, a yes was her response. She felt herself being carried to their room bridal style and Lucas started kissing her again after he put her down at the foot of the bed.

---

Lucas kissed Claire passionately, he cannot believe that she didn't turn away when he asked if she is sure of what they are about to do, for he cannot stop himself from here on. He felt a thirst and hunger from deep within him, a thirst that only Claire can quelch and a hunger that only she can satisfy.

He removed her dress and let it fall at her feet then carried her into the bed and there he worshipped her body, know every inch and crevices and tasted her sweet pleasure.

When he removed his clothes, he paused to calm his raging libido for he remembers this will be her first time. He took his time again to fuel her passion, when he knew she is ready, he entered her in one thrust making her cried out in pain.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. It is better this way, the pain will go in a little bit, just keep still." He pacified her by raining small kisses on her face then he kissed her again on her sweet lips. When she started writhing under him, signalling her readiness, he started loving her, he based his tempo and rhythm from her moans, sighs and cries. He controlled his release for he wants her to have it first before him, eventhough it took all his patience.

When she cried out her release, that's the time he let go of his' which made him so weak, he felt she drained every ounce of his strength. She took everything, not just his strength but his heart and maybe his soul as well.

He slept that night peacefully with a smile, cuddling his wife - yes, his, now, in every sense of the word.

************************************

Oh, the deed was done! What will happen to the divorce papers?

Please type in your comment(s) especially with the love scene that I took so long to write. Forgive me if it look shitty, this is the first time I wrote something like this. Lol! I did not explain it in explicit details for I do not know if I have an underage reader.

Please vote in as well, if you happen to like this chapter.

Thank you for reading!

-blue