Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 25

Often

The next morning, I woke up without Arik by my side. Ni hindi siya umuwi sa bahay niya dahil ayaw niya kaming iwan. Ayos lang naman iyon sa pamilya ko. Mas lalo na sa akin.

Tamad aking bumaba mula sa silid ko nang makaramdam ako ng gutom.

I couldn't get the confrontation with Armando out of my mind, and I really don't want it to happen again. Halos isang oras lang naman tumagal iyon pero ubos na ubos ako.

Nadatnan ko si Arik sa kitchen na nagluluto. He was wearing an apron over his white shirt and sweatpants, which showed off his muscular back and biceps. Even from behind, he remains handsome, and I doubt that will ever change. He seems to become more attractive every day.

Tahimik ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap ang braso niya. Saglit na natigilan siya roon bago niya tinagilid ang kanyang ulo upang tingnan ako. Tiningala ko siya.

"Hey," namamaos na usal niya kaya napangiti ako. "Good morning, sleepyhead."

"Good morning. Ang sarap matulog nang matulog," ani ko at sinilip ang ginagawa niya. "Ano yan?"

Kumislap ang kanyang mga mata habang malawak ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Pansin ko ang paninitig niya sa akin na para bang kinakabisado niya bawat sulok ng mukha ko.

And I love seeing that every single day. That's one of the things I love about him.

"Doing husband duties?" he chuckled.

"Husband your face. Gigisingin ko lang ang anak mo."

"She woke up a while ago. Your Mom took her to the golf course for a short while. Saglit lang daw sila roon at babalik din kaagad," he said, still gazing at me.

"It's their morning routine," I muttered.

"I also know a morning routine," he grinned and fixed my hair.

Binigyan niya ako ng mababaw na halik sa labi at halos habulin ko pa iyon nang humiwalay siya.

"Ano na naman yan?"

"Should we do it here?" he murmured.

Nang maintindihan ko ang sinasabi niya ay hinampas ko agad ang kanyang braso.

"Arik!"

I could feel my whole face turning red because of what he said. Mahigpit niya akong hinawakan sa baywang at muling hinalikan sa noo naman. Hindi ko na napigilang mapakagat sa ibabang labi ko.

"Parang ang galing-galing mo sa ginagawa mo. Where did you practice? You must have been married before," I teased him and playfully left.

Sitting on a high chair at the kitchen counter, I watched him continue what he was doing.

"I'd love to do this for you for the rest of our lives, so I should be good at it. Walang tao sa mansion na ito ngayon, Celeste. Do you want to have a..." He paused and grinned, looking handsome as ever.

"What?" I asked.

"A quickie? Here?"

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Mabilis ko siyang binato ng sandok na naroon pero agad siyang nakailag. Arik just laughed. My face was burning hot.

Hindi ko na alam kung kailan magseseryoso ang lalaking ito. Bigla na lang siyang nagbibiro ng ganito. I don't know if he does it on purpose to lighten my mood.

I have to admit, I'm actually loving it.

"You're so annoying," I whispered, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Arik laughed again and kissed my cheek.

"I'm just kidding, Celeste. But if you change your mind, I'm still up for it," he continued, and I shook my head.