ELLE

It wasn't a usual occurrence that I find myself lying on top of someone else's chest - much more when it was the devil himself, my husband.

Surprised, I hide my face in his chest, overwhelmed by his heavenly scent. I breathe in and sigh, snuggling closer to him. The morning was a pretty shade of gold and pale blue. The sun was about to wake the people up, peeking through the drawn curtains, the breeze lightly entering from the open window. I shivered, snuggling closer to him, making me bite down a giggle as his chest hair tickled me. My eyes widen as I realize that he is naked beneath me.

Does it mean that something happened last night?

I quickly checked beneath the blankets and sighed in relief when he was wearing some boxer shorts, his happy little friend camping inside, my cheeks flushing. I averted my gaze and stared around the room as the sun illuminated our wedding picture. I looked so happy that day because even if it was an arranged marriage, I married the man I had always wanted for a long time.

We used to attend the same high school in the past. Gabriel is the perfect example of a bad boy; with his cronies and obnoxious ways, he was feared as he was famous. His family status has helped him get what he wants. Even when he always gets in fights, he always manages to be one of the honors while I score the top. Girls worshipped him as he passed through the halls, making me hate him more. He hated me, too, because I was always his competition, and he made my life hell by bullying me and playing pranks on me.

It is because of this that I have fallen for him.

When he played a prank on me in tenth grade when we had a camp back at school, Gabriel and his cronies tried to trap me in a broom cupboard. Sadly, his cronies are so dumb that they have managed to trap both of us. That was the only time I saw him afraid of tightly enclosed spaces. Instead of getting annoyed at him, I comforted him and tried to soothe his trauma. The night was spent with words that had never been spoken between the two of us as the relentless rain battered the windows, occasional lightning shining from the slips on the door. I have never thought of Gabriel to be a coward; it is my first time seeing him tremble like a small child.

We were later found asleep, snuggled close to each other. He was the first to wake up. He roughly pushes me against the side of the cupboard, making me hit my head. Even if he hurt me, I will never forget the way he looks at me, so full of shame and guilt. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I have been caught in the trap.

All those years, I have managed to hide it from him, refusing to get in his inner circles and keeping to my own as we finished college, not until my father called me back to New York and arranged for me to marry him. I was aghast, for I could not believe how fate had played me.

Now, as I lay next to him, listening to his quiet breathing, I believe I am lucky enough to be his wife for a year. I turn my head so I can stare back at him, too surprised to react. I held my breath as I studied his face, his stubble lightly brushing my forehead as I tried to lean closer. He is really here, lying so peacefully. Does he even notice that I am on top of him?

He probably doesn't feel it because he hadn't pushed me off. I can feel my neck getting stiffer by the minute. I push myself up on my elbows and look down at him. My eyes were glued to his face; I was really struggling not to lean down and kiss him. I'm still finding it hard to believe that we slept together on the same bed for the second time and that nothing happened last night. I slowly lean back on my pillow, letting out a sigh.

Not having the level of self-control I wish I had, I took another peek again and observed him. His hair is tousled, and his lips open slightly for him to breathe. He was so peaceful. He looks so young and gentle as he lies beside me, unaware that I am practically salivating over his majestic appearance.

Why did God make him perfect?

This precious moment is enough for me to choke back a tear and smile. Even though he's cold and heartless most of the time, there is still a side of him that's warm. I believe if he tried hard enough, he is still capable of caring for someone.

The fact that he didn't leave this morning made me consider it a wonderful miracle. It was the first time that I was able to spend one waking moment he was here beside me, snoring softly as I looked at his face.

I swallowed a lump in my throat as my gaze fell back on his lips. I couldn't help it - I traced his brow, his defined cheek, that strong jaw, and a perky nose. I didn't even realize that his eyes were already open as I traced my way up to his forehead again, my fingers freezing on top of his brow. The sight of his opened eyes made me stare at him in surprise. I draw my hand back, my heart hammering inside my ribcage that it is a wonder how he is not hearing it.

I continue staring at him, thoughts running wild inside my head. Now I have to face the consequences of complementing the features of my own husband...

" I guess you're done playing with my face, Mrs. West." The simple address to me made me almost jump out of there and run. What had this man eaten last night that made him this, this sweet? And sarcastic.

Yep, sarcastic. The latter is better.

I tilt my head to the side, biting my tongue to avoid my mind from giving off any smart remark. I don't want to ruin his mood, most specifically when he is this playful. I have experienced worse mornings in the past because of how talkative I am. Living with Gabe has taught me to be silent, speaking only when acknowledged.

Gabriel just gave me a smirk before leaning on my forehead, kissing me swiftly, making my heart go haywire as I tried not to faint.

Wait, am I still dreaming? Is this even real?

I was surprised when a velvet remark brought me back to my senses, followed by a pinch on my cheek, "No, love. You aren't dreaming. And, just like you stated, this is very much real." He gave me another pinch to my already red cheek, and I had to duck my head slightly to keep my tomato face hidden from him. I'm blushing so hard that I probably look like a cherry rather than a tomato.

He startled me when he wrapped his arms around me and made me sit up, his form towering over me. I feel so small next to him. He stared down at me, giving me a gentle smile, "Those cherry blushes are better than pale cheeks. I guess I have to pinch your face every waking moment so you'll stay like that every day..." That did it! I was about to pinch his cheek when he suddenly bolted, running off to the bathroom.

This is wrong.

I have never expected a playful Gabe, especially in the morning. I may have seen it a few months ago, but I never foresaw him returning this soon. I guess I would have to thank Frances for that chocolate cake he'd given me. I'm sure he'd thrown whatever potion he had from his cupboard and made it into a cake. I guess Frances knows that Gabe loves chocolates and wants to relieve us of some stress by giving them to Gabe.

I straighten up, fixing my hair with my fingers, contemplating my choices. Should I go inside the bathroom to brush my hair and witness what Gabe was doing?

Great! I'm turning into a pervert now. How can I even think about that?

My mind still can't recover from the happened the other night. My body was actually wishing for some love from Gabe again, but I won't push it. I do not want to spoil this little playful moment between us. If I would have to deal with this playful Gabe longer than usual...then so be it. I would like this version much more than that monster who usually possesses my prince.

I raked my hands through my hair and thought about making breakfast. This is one of the best mornings I'd have to save down on my memory. Even though these things won't last forever, I might as well enjoy this magical moment while it lasts. I hastily went out of the room and skipped down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. I prepared the egg, cracked them, and stirred them in the bowl. I add some milk to it before I switch the stove. I put the pan over the fire, and I pour some oil on it. I waited for quite some time, pouring the mixture down and sniffing.

It was delicious....and glorious!

Grabbing some of the loaves on top of the fridge, I pulled four pieces and flattened them in the middle. I poured the last of the egg mixture on it before popping them inside the toaster. Having done with the loaves, I brewed some coffee. While waiting for both to finish, I get back to the egg by mixing them, having a scrambled one instead of the usual omelet.

I grab a bowl and empty the contents of the pan into it. The toaster let out some 'ping' as I grab two plates, setting them on the table with two loaves on each. After placing the food on the table, I snatched two cups and poured the coffee into them, almost slipping into another dimension as I smelled it. Now, this is what I call perfect. All I need to do now is fetch-

"Am I missing something?"

Nah. Forget it. I guess I won't need to fetch him after all.

"Nope. You are not. "I look down at my fingers, feeling nervous about what might have come out of this situation, for I never wanted to spoil it. "Please, have a seat...I made us some breakfast."

It must be a miracle that he complied without any further complaints from his smart mouth. He grabbed a fork and scooped some of the egg from the bowl before putting it inside his mouth. "Hmmm...I must say that I kinda miss all these." He smiled at me, and I had to stop myself from giggling like a teenager.

He is turning me into a Jell-O. He's messing up with my control system, and I have to hold tight to the edge of the table, averting my eyes from him. Goodness, I must accept the fact that he would be the death of me.

I sigh, grabbing my own fork to have a taste of my work. I must say that I did great, and to add to that, I didn't realize I was feeling very hungry, considering that I hadn't had dinner last night. Snatching some of the toast, I pulled the cup to my right and sniffed the coffee. I placed it on my lips and gulped, not realizing that it was the most insane thing for me to do so.

I coughed several times, startled to hear laughter coming from the man I called my husband. He looks at me again before another string of laughter bubbles itself out of his chest - Smooth and deep chuckles vibrating from his lungs. "You probably haven't eaten in the last two decades you've lived- ha-ha-ha!" With that, he slaps the top of the table as fat tears flow down his cheek.

I'm quite annoyed that he's back to his usual teasing self, but I must say that I'm quite amused at how he reacted. I thought I was going to hear those snappy remarks on which he'll call me a tosser or a nutter. But I guess the playful Gabe is still on the roll.

Grabbing my other toast, I nibbled at it, not caring about the numbing feeling inside my mouth. I shouldn't have sipped all that coffee like it was some freaking fruit shake. I wasn't thinking at all. I guess this man who was laughing at me was the reason behind my unattentive behavior. I am floating with happiness when he's near me.

The birds twittered from the window, and I looked at them, a smile gracing my lips. It was such a beautiful morning, a cloudless sky with a slight breeze filtering in the kitchen, the morning sun reflected by the open patio just outside, giving me a magnificent view of the forest. I am glad that Gabriel has chosen this location for a house; the lake nearby and the forest just behind it assure us of a peaceful abode that is free of any pollution coming from the city.

I watch as Gabriel sips his coffee, his eyes trained on me, making me blush. I turn my gaze back to my plate and bite my lip. I guess I'd have to prepare breakfast often, so he'll stay during the mornings. But the very reason why he was still here made me quite curious.

"Gabe?"

I almost slap myself right there, and then when his head turns unto me. His laughter was gone as his face contorted in a slight frown, "Hmm?"

I am almost afraid to continue, but my instincts told me that I have to face this head-on, one way or another. "Gabe, why are you still here? Aren't you going to work?"

That came out pretty good, right? Or not. Based on the frown on his face, my answer should be the latter, but I'll wait for his reply before judging him. "Why? Should I take my leave now?"

"No," I shake my head at him and look down at the half-eaten toast on my plate. "Of course not!" I sigh. "I'm quite curious about the main reason why you are still here." I wrung my fingers together and said, "Are you going to stay for the day?" I bowed my head after saying that, finding the toast a little bit interesting as I tried to avoid his gaze, tracing it with my pointer finger. I am afraid to make eye contact with him because I am dying of embarrassment right now.

It took a couple of minutes before I heard the foot of the chair scrape the floor as he stood. I thought that he'd leave right without any further explanation, but what he did next almost gave me a heart attack. He leaned down at me and smiled, "I would like to make it up to you if you allow me. I would like to share the best of me with you while we have this year left of our marriage."

My heartbeat picks up. He is going to open the conversation that we hadn't finished last night. I am doomed. I know his tactics; this is probably one of his schemes to make me believe in something so precious such as this. I straightened up my seat and braced myself to stand when he held me down, "Elle, I know it's wrong for me to speak about our divorce right after our anniversary celebration like I can't wait to get rid of you. It kept me awake last night thinking of what I did. It's very unlikely for me to act this way, affectionate and asking for apologies but believe me, I do feel guilty for what I did. I must have hurt you." He sighs, wrapping his arms around me. "That is why I came up with this decision that I am going to spend the whole day with you. I want to make it up to you by sacrificing twenty-four hours away from my pile of work in exchange for a chance."

He leans closer and kisses me, pecking my lips afterward as he speaks, "I would like to see how we're going to continue and if it will even be worth it to give this a shot. I don't want to end all this without taking any risk." He leaned down once again and kissed me, making me taste the eggs tinged with coffee and him in my mouth.

I am surprised when he pulls me up on the chair and carries me to the counter. He's kissing me with so much passion that I have to keep hold of his hair for me to stay conscious and awake. The emotions bursting forth from my chest felt like it is suffocating me; I am gasping for breath.

This must be a dream! A very hell-bent dream that I'm enjoying right now, though I am not sure that I am creative enough to dream about something as fascinating as this.

The kiss was heavenly and romantic, but humans need air. I have to curse both of us because we're not supernatural.

The magical moment ended with a peck on my lips; Gabriel gave me another kiss on the forehead before he lowered me down on the counter, "That's one hell of a kiss I haven't had for a while..." He blurted, a slight blush coloring his cheek.

I guess I have to say the same...and I'm hoping for more.

S A F I E

CHAPTER 6

ELLE

*Flashback *

"Gabriel," I whispered, a bit nervous about what his reaction might be. He opened his eyes and I can't help but smile as he wrinkles his nose, scratching his head. He blinks his eyes up at me, a question apparent on them.

"Happy birthday." I smiled and push the birthday cake in front of him.

"Elle-" his eyebrows scrunched up as his eyes searched my face. "Why are you--?"

"I want to surprise you. You are my husband and I am ought to care for you. I want to make you happy. Rise from your bed and have a bite of this, I promise you won't regret it." I push a spoon on his hand and gave him a sheepish smile. He sat there, frozen on top of the bed, a spoon on his hand. I am almost tempted to take a picture of him for he looks a lot like a model but halted as I see his brows slowly meeting in the middle and he glared down at the cake, saying. "Is this the scene where the wife finally decided to kill her husband?"

His words made me smile and say a little 'no' because inside, I am burning so bright of irritation for this man. I mean, can't he just say ‘thank you’ to me? He's pushing my patience and making me wish that I did put some poison on the cake. I should try and do that next time.

I am so distracted with my own thoughts that I am surprised to hear him moan, "God. I haven't tasted a chocolate cake this good in my entire life" His eyes captured mine before he pulled me in and stuff some cake on my mouth, catching me off guard. The sweet malty taste made my tastebuds explode and I have little to no control of the moan I let out.

"Now we die together," Gabriel smiled at me with his teeth covered with the triple chocolate cake I baked. He looks so adorable and young, I wish he is always as playful as this. Bowing my head, I enjoyed the taste of chocolate inside my mouth, watching Gabriel as he finishes the whole cake, his cheeks tinted with the chocolate ganache.

Oh well, Mr West, you might not mean it but I am dying to make you love me back.

*flashback ends*

I am dazed as the memory faded in the back of my head. Staring at his glorious face, I snap myself back to the present and to the book I am reading. We sat by the parlour, him staring out to the forest while I am sat by the window, staring aimlessly at the pages laid on my lap. The morning sun is now high up in the sky, announcing mid-afternoon; the breeze has ceased, replaced by the ever prickly warm haze. I huff, shifting my feet so that I am leaning by the window pane.

"Elle, what would you like to do for the rest of the day rather than spending it with your book?" I stared at him for a while as he leaned across the open doors, his head tilted to the view of the forest, as though he isn't really talking to me. I raised an eyebrow at him and he turns, making me flustered once again "What? I thought you wanted to spend a day with me? I am giving you the chance." The smile that he gave me tug at my heartstrings that I almost choke on my next words.

Glancing down at the book on my lap, I said in a shaky voice, "How does the beach sound for you?"

"The beach?" He turned his full attention at me, his eyebrows raised. He moves closer to the window where I am sitting at, his stance inquisitive as he crosses his arms over his chest, flexing those biceps that made me want to drool. I cleared my throat and held his gaze instead, avoiding the temptation, bracing myself for the question that will surely come out of his smart mouth. "Why would you like to go to the beach?"

"For the same reason as other people have! It's in the middle of the summer now and I haven't even heard the crash of water on the shore. I want to bury myself in the sand, bathe in the sun and smell the humid air...I want to--"

"Okay. Okay." He rolled his eyes and snorted, " You sound like a dying patient." He struts out of the door, leaving me speechless. I am tempted to throw the book at him but I wouldn't. This book is too precious for me; I wouldn't ruin it for a man such as him, he's not worth my first edition book. I should've snatched a pillow from the sofa.

Standing up from the window, I headed up the stairs and to my bedroom. I entered the closet, rummaging for something I can wear for the beach. I pulled a sundress and a piece of swimsuit, and marched inside the en-suite bathroom, removing my clothes. I am halfway through pulling the dress down on my chest area when Gabriel entered the bathroom. He stands there, like a deer caught in headlights, drowning in his own drool.

"Like what you see?" I am surprised when the words escaped my mouth. I barely had the time to cover my face in embarrassment when I heard his chuckle, giving me the sudden urge to hurl my slippers at his head as I hear his remark.

"Pssh, you barely had a C, love, which is why I am not that impress. 2You have the body of a teenage girl, so skinny!" He laughs again, strutting out of the bathroom and locking the door behind him.

That git! He doesn't know what he's talking about because he isn't a woman. Puffing my chest, I am surprised when I heard his voice from the other side of the room, "Hey, what's taking you so long? Have you been already swimming in the toilet?!"

"Git!" I hissed, pushing open the door and ending up face to face with the devil himself. "All that is coming out of your mouth is crap, Gabriel! If I could only--"

I momentarily stopped my blubber as I watch him change into a pair of board shorts. "Like what you see?" He quoted back to me and I can't help but blush at that as I tried to go back inside the bathroom "Love, you already see all of this and yet you still act so shy." His gaze was so intense that I was caught in a trance.

My mind flashes back to his strong torso and his biceps as he grabs me, pulling me closer. I can almost feel his hands brushing the sides of my face, sliding down so that they settle on the nape of my neck. Still, his hands slide further down until he is holding my breast. His whispers tickle my ears as I succumb to the feeling of haven he has provided while I writhe in his arms, a prey to his love.

It was all too much and his intense gaze at me is making my breath hitch. I felt my cheeks growing hotter by the second. I cleared my throat, "Nope. You are wrong. I can't see clearly in the dark. Plus, there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing. I am your wife." I stated as a matter of fact. The blush is still adorning my cheeks and spreading to my neck, making me scratch my ear and hold his amused gaze.

"Everything is right with what you are doing, love." He pulled my hand and I cannot help but smirk at him.