"I personally picked the black fitted dress, Mrs. Laina Luciano." Leo's voice emerged right at the door frame. The stylists bowed their head down as Leo went inside the wardrobe. The lights were on, so it reflected her glassy skin. Zella stared at his reflection, waiting for him to greet her.
Instead, he ordered, "You can finish styling her up. We still have time. Lend me 10 minutes to be with my wife."
Leo slipped his hands inside his slacks. The stylists went out of the room, and Zella's left alone with her husband. She sighed, wearing the gloves, waiting for Leo to say something. He leaned his buttocks right at the counter, asking, "Did you scare Vincent earlier?"
Zella turned to him with innocent eyes. "What?"
She fixed the edges, and observed the jewelry box, pretending to find some earrings to add to her style. Zella was still wearing the red one, but Leo wanted to have the black one, so she might need to change later. Leo smirked, confessing, "Vincent got afraid of you the moment you ask something. His tongue tied right at that moment."
Zella tilted one corner of her lip. "Don't you, too?"
Leo's smile disappeared. Zella's feisty eyes came back. Both of them stared, not backing down from the contest. Zella further queried, "Don't you feel scared when I'm around?"
Leo would lie to himself if he said no. From the very first time Zella went inside their mansion, he got frightened. Knowing his guts, they're never wrong. And until the day he found out Zella is a Telamur citizen, it made him crumble. Leo's mind raced, asking how to handle this kind of situation, and how he can hide this woman away from the head sectors and the rest of Idris.
"Why would I be? You're my wife. I'll never get scared of you." Leo's cheeks heated. Zella's eyes didn't change its reaction. She waited for Leo's mouth to twitch, but she didn't. Zella stood up from the chair, slid it inside the counter, and stood in front of him. The gap weren't even that close, yet, Leo's eyes landed on her lips.
Those same pair of lips who kissed him a week ago, those same pair of lips who stir something inside his heart he couldn't explain. Zella smiled lovely, rotating around Leo.
"What do you think? Do you still want me to change the dress?" Zella asked. Leo watched her closely, observing every crease of her eyebrows, and even the blink of her eyes. Zella stood there, waiting for Leo's answer. But then, he didn't speak up what are his thoughts. Instead, he retrieved a pearl necklace in the jewelry box.
Zella scrutinized his every move. His hands became steady now.
Like the way he held her waist that night in the bedroom…
Zella widened her eyes, shook her head a little, knowing the kiss comes back inside her mind, like she's craving for more. As Leo stood up from the chair, he muttered, "Turn around. I'll put this pearl necklace on you."
Leo closed the gap by an inch, but Zella doesn't bother. It happened several times, and the first time they sealed it was that night. Not at all intentional, or wanted, it's all an accident. Zella turned around. She brushed her hair on the side, and Leo stared at her flawless back.
He swallowed, tempted to touch and caress it, but no… he didn't go inside the wardrobe to make out with her. Leo wore the pearl necklace, and secured the hook. Zella was aware of the feather touch Leo made in her back, it made her stimulated. She wanted to turn around, slam herself on him, kissed him like there's no tomorrow.
What was the explanation of her growing desires to be in one bed and sleep together?
There must be a reason, but she couldn't point it out.
As the silence ensued, Zella waited for Leo to finally remove his hands from her back. Right after he's done, Zella decided to cover her back with her wavy hair, but then, her plan backfired. That moment on, Leo couldn't resist it anymore. He touched her shoulder with the back of her hand, down to her spine, and whispered, "I miss your beautiful back."
Those words tickled her right on the bone. He continued to caress it, like he's been doing it for years. Maybe… he's doing it while she remembers, but now, her mind was blank. Things have gotten right, even though her memory have lapses, her body can still act the way it usually did.
His fingers came back to her neck, and held onto her hair. Leo covered her bare back with her wavy hair, and she stood there, stunned by his touch. Zella caught her breath. She doesn't have the strength to turn around, because if she did, she wouldn't be able to control it anymore.
Leo knew the effect it has on her. But she…. she also had that charm on him.
As soon as Leo placed his hand down, he reached for her waist, holding it gently. Zella let out a breath, and closed her eyes. Leo didn't pull her or anything. He just touched her, like what he did back on the garden. Zella liked his steady hands, and swallowed. She asked, "Will we not be late?"
Zella stammered, and couldn't straighten out the words because of Leo's touch. Leo licked his lips, leaned forward right on her ear, asking, "Can we skip it?"
His breath egged her.
Zella sighed, turning her head to his direction, closing the gap and met his lips in a sudden way no one can resist. Leo didn't pull back in a surprise, because… he wanted it. He pulled her closer, kissing her slowly, and held her waist steadily. Zella turned around, tiptoed her feet, and slung her arms over her shoulders.
Zella indulged in that moment. All she could think about was his lips on hers. Leo pushed gently, and she bended a little. She found herself staggering in every step, and when her back met the wall, Zella held onto his hair. Leo clasped on her waist, kissed her deeply, and she responded with the same energy back.
Before they can even meet their tongues on each other, the door burst open, and the stylist saw the scene. She gaped, immediately turned around, but the moment is ruined. The two of them still stood, catching their breaths, and Leo watched the stylist's back.
"What…"
"Hey! You don't know how to knock?" Leo's hands fixed on his waist. Zella's hands lowered down his shoulders, and got humiliated. The stylist turned around, tears brimming in her eyes, and knelt down, begging.
"Spare my life, Mr. Luciano. Spare my life, Mr. Luciano." It made Zella turned to the stylist, wondering why she's saying that. Leo sighed, unclasped, and approached the stylist. Zella witnessed as the scene unraveled.
"The next time you'll barge in the room, have some decency and knock." Leo's voice changed after a second. Zella raised her eyebrows. The stylist bowed down her head, and touched her leather shoes, but Leo wouldn't allow his arrogance to show off in front of Zella.
"Spare my life, Mr. Luciano."
Before Leo could even say anything, Zella walked past ahead of her husband, hunkered down, and touched her shoulders, ordering, "Stand up. It's alright. Nothing is ruined."
Leo creased his forehead. Zella helped the stylist up from the floor, and soothed her hair. She's crying…
Why would she cry for just banging inside the door?