Edward walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist, with some beads of water on his fair skin. Due to exercise, his body was a perfect inverted triangle, fit and slim.
He casually grabbed a towel and dried his sopping hair. Lips tightened, he paced to the bed. Daisy seemed to be in a sound sleep. After standing at her bedside and gazing lovingly for a while, he sighed and bent over to tuck her in. Before he stood up again, he couldn't help pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
While Edward did that, Daisy held her breath, wondering what he was going to do next. She lay there motionless like a statue, afraid to make any move. She knew what might be coming next.
"Going to keep pretending? You're not asleep," Edward asked with a grin as he tore off his towel. Naked, he walked to the wardrobe and pulled on a pair of briefs. He did it so naturally that there was no trace of embarrassment on his face.
Daisy knew that she'd been found out. She didn't feel like doing anything, though. Without the slightest intention of talking to Edward, she bit her lip a bit and continued to pretend to be sleeping.
I guess you're really asleep. So you won't mind all the dirty things we're going to do together." Edward returned to the bed and looked intensely at her, wondering how long she could keep this up. She was good, but not that good.
Hearing this, Daisy pulled the quilt up, covering herself more. This assured Edward that she had been pretending. 'This game's gone on long enough,' he thought, and promptly threw himself on her.
You asshole!" Daisy had no choice but to open her eyes, burning with anger.
"Well, I know you're mad, but I'm still not going to say sorry. So how do we settle this?" Edward lifted a lock of her hair and coiled it around his fingers playfully. He was enjoying this greatly.
"I don't care what you do. Just leave me alone. I need my beauty sleep." Her mouth was still thick with fatigue, and somewhat dry from actually sleeping. Daisy gnawed her lips with a straight face. At this moment, she seemed estranged and indifferent and didn't appreciate Edward's sprightly attitude.
"Okay then. Remember what you just said. I can do whatever I want." The smirk on his face spread. Even the look in his eyes had put on a cunning color.
"Wait. When did I say that? Edward, I'm warning you. Don't use that sly business crap on me. Don't piss me off. Remember how hard I kick?" Daisy looked at him coldly and pushed him away. Her mouth remained a tight line. She seemed quite serious about what she had said. Edward was pushing this to the thin red line.
"Really? You really want a rematch? Remember the last time? You had a hard time walking afterwards." Still wearing that smirk, Edward stole a kiss, planting one right on her cheek.
Stay away from me, you sex maniac!" Daisy sounded really ticked off. When she touched his perfect body, she blushed involuntarily. No one had a right to look this good!
Why do you want me to stay away from you? Are you hot? Don't worry, honey. I'll turn the temperature down." As if he truly believed that was what Daisy meant, Edward fetched the air-conditioner remote and turned the temperature down. He was highly amused by his antics. He knew that playing dumb was the best way to cool her off, regardless of whatever the real temperature was in the room.
Daisy's lips trembled. She was so angry her mind refused to form a reply. How could she have missed that this man was so childish?
Honey, how do you feel now? Any cooler?" Edward gave a fawning grin. Even he loathed himself right now.
"You're just doing this to piss me off, aren't you? You're like a child on Christmas. You're actually enjoying this!" Suddenly, Daisy's eyes reddened as she said these words. Very soon, tears came.
"You weren't speaking to me. I was anxious. There, there..." He took her in his arms and comforted her. If he didn't do this, he was afraid that Daisy would refuse to speak to him the whole night. He had ulterior motives behind everything he did. This time was no exception.
"I'm not even a person to you. Let me go! You know deep down I'm just a stupid dog, and you can just kick me and command me like any master!" Daisy got even more upset. The tears in her eyes rolled down her face, dripping on his goosebumps. He was cold from the combination of the air conditioner and his damp skin.
"Huh? Who would say something like that? A dog? I'll kick his ass!" Edward continued to play dumb. He didn't have the heart to upset her, but he was a proud man with a temper. Much as he spoiled her, sometimes his feelings got hurt too. He would put up with her most of the time, but today he snapped.
"You're a dog! Your whole family is a pack of mangy dogs!" Daisy was out of her mind with rage. She'd forgotten that she was part of his family, as was Justin.
There you go. You're family too. You're calling yourself a dog?" Edward stroked her back to let her temper cool as he tried to suppress his laughter.
"Don't talk to me. I'm not in a forgiving mood today." Convinced that Edward wasn't sincerely comforting her but was trying to aggravate her further, Daisy shoved his hand away.
You really can't forgive me? Even though I did everything for your own good?" The smile on Edward's face disappeared. The look in his eyes darkened and became fathomless.
"No I can't forgive you! Not now, not ever! My own good? So throwing me out of the car was for my own good? Help me out here -- I don't see the logic in that." Daisy glanced at Edward disdainfully, gritting her teeth.
"Guess whom I saw this evening. You'll never figure it out..." Edward gave a resigned smile. The moment he saw that picture, he had suspected that it was Jessica. She had been with Edward for so many years it would be impossible not to know. He wasn't sure at first -- she'd changed so much from the woman he once knew. When Daisy got into the car, Edward had noticed the mole on her neck and it had struck him that Jessica had a dark red mole on her arm and the woman in the picture seemed to have an identical one. To confirm his theory, he had to figure this out. No one knew why Jessica had changed her appearance. To protect his wife from potential danger, he had started an argument with her deliberately back when they were on the road just to make sure she wouldn't come along and get involved.
Someone I don't know, so I couldn't care less." Daisy's interest was aroused, but she pretended she didn't care.
"No. It's someone you know." Edward was amused and ran a finger down her nose. He didn't want to upset her. Everything he did was to protect her. Before figuring out Jessica's agenda, he had to keep Daisy away from the matter. Although she was a powerful colonel, she was only a woman in his eyes, and it was his responsibility to protect her from danger.
OK, I'll bite. Who was it?" Once again, Daisy was led by the nose. It was one of her weaknesses. Edward knew about it and was using it to ease the tension in the room.
"Honey, have you forgiven me?" Edward didn't answer her question. This was another reason he loved her. She was a sensible woman, simple and forgiving.