Her eyes feel strangely heavy, whether it was because she was exhausted, or because the pounding in her head triggered it. Anyway, she couldn't peered her eyes open. But after a few times struggling, she managed to open eyes. The first thing she saw was the white ceiling of her room. She got up slowly, sighed in relief when she didn't feel the burn she experiences earlier.
Memories of she latched herself to the prince and did something appropriate to him rushed in, making her whole face in fire, this time not in pain but in shame and humiliation. She couldn't believe she even did something like that! Never in her life, former or present, did she do something like that! She couldn't bear the thought of seeing him again....
Just as she busied herself with the new problem in her hands, only then did she realises there's another human in her room when she felt movement beside her. She looked down at her side, nearly screamed in terror when she saw fluffy black shining hair brushed against her bed mattress.
"!" She quickly put her hands against her mouth, blocking the sound of her voice. Damn, she never cursing so bad when she was still an empress. Usually, she could keep her calm facade, never waver. But, now.... no, this man. He is the reason she become like this.
Without even look at his face, she already know by the heart who is it. The man stirred a little, mumbling something incoherent, his voice muffled against the mattress.
She sighed in content. How could a man be this handsome? So lucky of her because he is her mate. Just look at those long, thick lashes, when it fluttered open and reveling a pain of golden eyes staring back at me. Ah.....
"Done checking me out?" he lifted one eyebrow.
Damn that perfect eyebrow!
Despite his bold words, he flushed a bit. His ears gave the slightest shade of pink, and his heart leaps. He swears if she notices it... Ah! He don't know what he will do! Run? The taint of pink deeper,as he thought, such a coward is he!
Daniella didn't notices his concern, when she have another problem herself. Her face flushes even deeper after she heard his words. Cliche as it may be, it still affects her as much for no one ever treated her like that.
She coughed. He cleared his throat.
"About earlier.." "About earlier.."
They look at each other.
"Ah, you speak first." he said.
"Umm, about earlier, could we forget it? It's not intentional! I didn't even use my brain earlier. As if my body has a mind of its own. Iā"
"Yes,i know." he cut her. "We'll do as you said." Though he said it, his face works against it as hurt flashes his eyes. But in an instant, he blinked and it was gone.
She didn't notices it.
She nodded. "Yeah.." her heart ached a bit. He didn't like it? She bit her lip.
Silence followed them as both of them occupied with their own thoughts.
"Xavia, I need to discuss something important with you." his face was serious.
She raised her eyebrows, saying 'go ahead' in a silent manner.
"Do you know what exactly happened to you earlier?"
She crunched her brows. When she still in her right mind earlier, she had heard he said something about heat or something like she was a human?
She raised her head and shook it.
"That thing you experienced earlier, was heat. The cycles of heat usually happen to female werewolves, in which they have a strong desire to..." he hesitated a bit, "mate." he finally said it. "But the problem here is, you are a human!And I didn't even changed you yet! Or even mark you! " he stressed out.
She was still processing the informations that came at once.
"Will it happen again?"
Her sad looks tore his heart. She must feels so scared about the traumatic event earlier.
"I'm sorry, Xavia. But I don't know." he said sadly. "Maybe it will happen again. And next time, maybe we couldn't do the liquid way again. It was very rare. I only have one, from my late mother."
Her face paled.
"Then, how am I going to endure it next time?" her lips quiver. She didn't want to experience that burn again! It hurts like hell! She feels like she nearly died before. Huhu.. Is this how she would die in her second life? She didn't even get to live her life that much yet!
Seeing her eyes widen in fear, he pulled her in his embrace. He caresses her hair gently, cooing her.
"There's another way, you know." his voice as smooth as silk, so gentle and warm. Yet held some unknown authority. "We have to.." cough, cough, "have," cough, "sex" cough.
She pulled herself from his embrace.
"What did you say?" her eyes so wide that she fears it will bulged out from it sockets. Did she heard it right? He said... sex? With him?
He cleared his throat. "You know... something like what you did to me earlier."
She nodded understandably. Her face instantly flushed again, so deep that the colour turned scarlet. Sure thing, she did have sex before, in her past life. But it was only once and it was out of love. She was purely fulfilled her duty as a wife and a queen.But now.... its different.
"Then, will you marry me?"he asked.
She coughed violently. Oh god, she could truly die if it continues like this! Ah! Her fragile heart couldn't take this!
He rushingly get a glass of water for her. "There, there.." he patted her back gently. After she calmed down again, he asked, "Are you okay?"
She nodded. But suddenly asked, "If I marry you, will the heat really can be healed? After we do... 'that'?"
He nodded.
She breathed shakily and thought hard. She weighed the pros and cons in marrying him. 'I don't wanna do 'it' before married.'she thought. As long as she didn't have to experience that dreaded event,heat, as he said, she couldn't care less. Doing something intimate with someone without any ties troubled her a lot. As she was raise to be a woman with dignity and respected, things like doing something intimate before a marriage really against her principles. And that was her habit that she couldn't really shake off.
Her lips curl upwards in a half smile, "Then, we have a deal." she decided.
_________________________________
They agreed not to have any wedding ceremony, just straight to register their marriage certificate for the reason of her name as a CEO. She didn't want the world know about her marriage and he agreed with her conditions. She didn't want the trouble of have to face the reporters thus she gets a quite life, she had hopes.
Daniel greatly objected this decision. He was strongly against it. But after thinking about his sister's possible coming 'heat', he agreed for he did not want his sister to suffer. Bad enough he couldn't help lessen her misery, he didn't want to become another obstacle to her happiness.
The night has come, and the moon was high in the sky. The dim moonlight shine through her dim light room, for she only switched open her bed lamp, ready to sleep. Not that she would be able to sleep that easily. Yeah, what do you expect? She is married now! But she had made a request to not sleep in the same room for a while until she moves to Xavier's house. She looks at the ring on her ring finger, the dim moonlight shines on its diamond, making an indescribable beauty. It's glittering in the dark, reminding her of herself in her past life, shined among others, but still alone. Thank god she at least have a brother here.
Knock. Knock.
"Yes?" she said without looking at the door.
"Can I come in?" Daniel.
"Yeah, of course. Come, come." she said.
The door creaked open, and she could hear her brother calm footsteps, nearing her bed before the bed dipped with his weight.
She turned her body toward Daniel, looking and waiting for him to speak.
"Xav, how do you feel?"
"Hmm?" Weird. Why did he ask something like that? "I feel okay. Why?"
"You know," he put his palms on the bed behind him, supporting his weight while he stares at the night sky through her floor to ceiling window,connecting with their balcony. "I sometimes feel like there's supposed to be more with us. I don't know. Maybe because our parents' absence. I don't know." he shrugged one shoulder carelessly.
Then he looks at her. "But I know I have you in this world. And for now, only you." he smiled affectionately. "I care for you, Xav. You're my only sister. If anything, you would tell me, right?"
She smiled. And then moves to plopped herself on him, her hand hugging his side. "Of course, Xan. You're the first person I would tell if something will happen."
She just could imagine him smiling his brother-like smile right now.
After a moment of silence, he speaks again.
"Eh, did you wash your hair or not? It stinks."he crunched his face in disgust.
" Of course, I am! You liar! I just washed it earlier. "she shouted playfully.
" Eh, really? Still, yuck. "he crunched his nose.
"You... "she took a pillow and started to hit him with it. He was laughing his ass off while defended himself with his arms.
She managed to hit him square in his face. He froze.
And she is giggling right now." Serves you right. "she said before come her turn to laugh maniacally because he tackled her and tickling her sides, causing tears to form in her eyes.
" Ah, ah!! Okay, okay! Xan!! Stop!! Hahahaha!!!! "he tickled her mercilessly, ignoring her pleading.
" Xan! Pleasee!!!! "
She knows he didn't mean what he said earlier. He just said that because he didn't like to be an emotional wreck. He knows she will start crying.He just didn't want her to cry, as he had once said when they were kids, "Never crying again. You waste your tears for something worthless. "when she cried because she fell on the rough road and cause her kneecap to bleed. He hates her tears. She just knows all of that.
She knows her brother.
___________________________________
"Ezequiel."
The said man moves his eyes on the road to glance at his boss through the back mirror. "Yes, mistress?" his boss aloof and charming face came into sight. Today his boss looks as startlingly beautiful as usual with her white blouse and black pencil skirt as her outfit for office today. A ribbon with same color as her blouse wrapped around her long and fair neck, making her looks elegant and sophisticated. Ah, if he was in other situation right now, maybe as another CEO and not her assistant, he would surely try to woo her!But he knows he is not on any level her and he realised his place. That's why instead of trying to hit on her, he admires her very much. As a boss and as a woman, she shined superbly in both position. And he swears he would protect her no matter what.
Daniella who was oblivious with this existence of another fanboy,continues to speak, "I heard Brilliant Company was in the verge of bankrupt. And they want to sell the Dazzling Mall. Is it true?"
"Yes, miss. In fact, they want to sell all of their mall, included the one in America." he informed.
"Is it?" she drummed her fingers on the arm seat as she thought. "Then, buy the Dazzling Mall and the one in America. Another else, I don't need it."
"Yes, miss." he responded. "Oh, yes, miss. I forgot to tell you. Jr Company too want to purchase the mall in America and they already signed the contract. Do you still want it, miss?"
"Jr Company?" she asked.
"Yes, miss. You remember Cynthia, the girl who splashed americano in your face a year ago because her boyfriend hit on you?" Ouch. She remember that. "She's the daughter of Jr CEO, Mr Brown and she is the one who purchased the mall in America."
"Oh, interesting."She smiled suddenly, the smile looked wicked and cunning.Ezequiel catched a sight of his boss smile, and shiver ran down his spine. That Cynthia is a dead meat. He know how awfully the situation can be for the other party when she smiled like that.
Poor that Cynthia. Who told her to mess with someone big and magnificent as his boss.