When I Fall for His Seduction

Day 30 - After Wedding

"Good morning," is the 30th early greeting from him since our wedding.

He looked like a mess, with his hairs down and crumbled pajama. I just smiled at him from where I stand in front of the stove, preparing our simple breakfast.

Usually, he would sit on the counter while waiting for his green tea. But today was surprising for me. He came to the kitchen and circled his arms around my waist. I froze for a second before getting goosebump all over my body when he burrowed his face on my neck. I could feel he was deep inhaling my exposed neck and shoulder then tighten his hug.

I still couldn't yet digest what happened when he let go of the hug and kiss my cheek.

There, he finally did something usual, sit on the counter and waited for his breakfast with those flat expression. Again, today felt different because I could feel his stare on my back and honestly it made me uncomfortable.

"Here," I put his green tea and a complete set of steamed rice, miso soup, and grilled fish in front of him.

He smiled and catched my hand, urging me to sit beside him.

What's with this sudden aggressive behavior, really?

I said that out loud, fishing a chuckle from him. He just stared at me ridiculously, and still caressing my hand.

"Isn't this what couples do in the morning?" he simply questioned me back. Those smile. I couldn't resist the warmth that came on my belly looking at his rare genuine smile. I sighed.

"We will only be for 3 years, Shikamaru. I think we already agreed on that."

Shikamaru still looked at me, with those smile of him. This uncomfortable feeling clashed with a calm feeling he shared through our intertwined hands.

"I think we also already agreed to make the most of it," still looking at me, he brought our hand together and kissed the back of my hand.

"Mika, I know we were together because of our predecessor's agreement. But, I too want to learn how to love you. Take today as my first attempt to get to know you more. And seduce you, as well," he chuckled. The furrowed of my eyebrow made him stop laughing.

"What if it really works, and we both eventually fall for each other?" I asked him quietly.

"Then, the 3 years contract could be forgotten. It would revoked," his eyes spoke more than his words. He really meant it.

"Okay," I pulled my hand from his grasp and gave him chopsticks.

We ate our breakfast in silence.

I did the dishes when Shikamaru went into shower. I tried to calm myself.

I didn't put myself into this arranged marriage with the clan head to be with those thought at first. I knew Shikamaru got a lot of admirers. Even I heard about him dating a girl from neighbor's town and whispers about how they were lucky to have each other.

When first told that the spouse of mine already chosen, I just blanked out. I didn't realize it would be this quick. It surprised me a lot when I was told that I would marry Shikamaru. Whispers again came to my ears, talked about how mean I was to separate two lovebirds to what a shame for an Advisor to marry an early retired ninja now a regular doctor.

That's why, I proposed to him to just bore it for 3 years. I would file a divorce on him or he would divorce me for any scandalous act. That would save him from people scorns because he was a head clan. I already resigned from my fate to got hate once the news about us getting married wide spread, so why not helped him more to kept his position high as ever.

Suddenly, a cold thing stack to my back. I startled out when a pair of now naked arms circled my waist and the right hand of him went to the tap to turned it off.

"What are you thinking so hard till you didn't realize the water still flowing?" his deep smooth voice rang in my ears. I blinked myself back to reality and turned in his arms to face him.

What shocked me more was he was hugging me with only wearing a towel, below. His still wet hair and face that much more refreshed, and his smell good bare chest in front of my nose, everything clouded my mind as I just stared at his eyes and chest back and forth. My heart rate picked up fast. I thought he realized it as well because then he loosened his embrace and looked at me gently.

We were married a month ago, but never did we share any bare skin to each other since then. No kisses, no hugs, not even holding hands while we both went to work. Even when slept in the same bed, there would be gap between us which fit for another adult people. Once or twice I would wake up in his loose embrace, but because we both didn't mean it, I just let it go. Today really a surprising day for me, watching him went bold with all of this.

His eyes leveled mine. I dared myself to looked at him. Damn those smile. The warmth's back and now crept up to my face. I couldn't imagine how red my face because he swallowed the chuckle. Carefully, his hands on my back traveled to my arms and finally found its way to both of my cheeks. I closed my eyes tight when his face came closer. His wet lips landed on my forehead. So gentle I could melt right away. His hands went back to circled me and he brought me to another hug. A tight hug that my face contacted to his bare chest directly. I felt his lips kiss my temple and trailed down to the outside of my ears, and lastly he landed on the crook of my neck. He stayed there for a while until I hugged him back. If hug would crash you for good, I would like to be hugged like this. It was like he confessed through his action that he would never leave me, I felt safe and sound.

We stayed like that for another minutes.

Shikamaru finally said, "even though I would like to stay like this a whole day, we have works waiting for us," he reluctantly loosened his hug.

Still trapped in his arms, I looked at his now hooded eyes. I swore I could see the desire in his pupils. When I shifted in attempt to looked at him better, I felt something poked my lower belly. He looked distressed and brought me to his embrace again. I bet he was embarrassed. I let out a heartful laugh at him.

"We didn't even kissed, Shikamaru," I whispered right to his left ear which suddenly turned red.

"I like your smell, really," he mumbled. I patted his back before broke free form his hug.

"I think you need another cold shower," I laughed at him who looked defeated.

My heart pounding fast after slight intimacy with him. I excused myself to made out our bed but actually I needed time to calm my heart as well.

"You can join me if you want, little wife," I heard him shouted before I entered our bedroom.

After we both got ready to work, Shikamaru happily brought my hand into his. We walked to Grand Hospital while holding hands. I kept lowering my gaze. It was embarrassing to share PDA like this. I was not someone who could express myself openly.

"Mika, we're here." I didn't realize we arrived at my working place. He kept my hand in his and faced me. His damned smile was there again. He kissed the back of my hand, then proceed to kiss my forehead lightly.

"I don't have any urgent meeting today. I'll pick you up at 6," he said. We parted ways as I walked inside Grand Hospital, conscious with many eyes following my steps.

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(1,319 words count).