The fifth rule was what he was bothered the most. Or Leo was just deluding himself to get appalled by the last rule, but in reality, he wanted to find out the truth inside their relationship, and not feed her with lies anymore.
Leo picked up the chopsticks, and stuffed in his mouth with Maki rolls.
Zella drank the alcohol in her shot glass for a while, looking at him skeptically.
His reaction weren't that odd. It's normal for a husband to get worried of their wife.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Zella queried. Leo munched in his bottom lip, gulped down the alcohol, and hissed. The alcohol burned every muscle of his throat.
Leo breathed, "Why can't you scrape off the last rule every time you remembered nothing?"
He picked up the beer, cranked it open, and puffed his cheeks. Zella observed his cheeks turning red.
"It was for you to tell me the truth. Are you afraid of losing me?" Zella didn't even know if it was supposed to be the first question. Leo must have caught it up quickly, frowning at first, before smiling wide. Sadness crossed his eyes while looking that lovely to her.
"Let's start with the rules right away. You're now asking me your first question," Leo smirked. Zella didn't know if she should snicker, but she couldn't help it. It was the bond they both have, and the understanding that no one would even predict.
Leo can read her mind. Zella could do it, too.
"You read me so well, Leo," Zella confessed. Would that be a proof that he's really her husband and no one can replace his spot? Maybe the doctor and her husband were right, that some of the days she remembered nothing, but rare days her memory was intact.
"The same for you, Laina, you can transcribe every emotion I had into words, like you watched every blink of my eye."
Those heartfelt words melted her body. Her knees have gone weak. The atmosphere tensed up, and her heart knocked on her chest, screaming to get out, to let the butterflies flew around them. Zella refused to stand up that quickly.
Leo is leading the conversation, and Zella was just following.
"Ask me that again, and I'll answer with utmost sincerity."
Zella couldn't take her eyes off of him. This man brought up every hesitation from her mind, every step backwards, every resistance she does in her life. Zella was holding the steering wheel, but the one stepping on the accelerator was Leo.
He's driving her forward to him.
Zella blinked. "Are you afraid of losing me?"
"Yes," Leo breathed. He didn't know the reason, but when he said that word, Leo's heart ache. He promised to bring her head to Jeremy, and all of their missions would come to an end, but here he was, dating the most wanted fugitive in all of Idris.
Not just dating, but he's tied around her wrist, and they're a married couple.
Leo couldn't even hoist out a dagger to slit her throat in secret.
Now that Zella is comfortable around him, will it be good to attack her on the back?
But there was fear. Leo was scared she'll find out about his lies, and in that way, he'll lose her. Zella would conclude that everything he said before was a lie, and it's not a real thing. That everything happened between them was just a scheme to catch and kill her.
No, Leo wouldn't think of the future. He should be focused on the present.
"I'm afraid of losing you because I know when I wake up, I'll lose my life. I testified in front of the altar to love you for eternity, Laina. I wanted to be yours and yours only."
The power of words to glue her in place, and it was bad for her heart.
"But why did you hesitate to spend the night with me a few days ago? I was…" Zella felt hopeless. She kept on asking about it. Did her body craved for it?
Zella didn't know how to put her desire into words. She felt hot suddenly.
"Was that the time you got bothered?"
"No! The night you kissed me… it was…"
Zella connected the dots. She acted odd whenever Leo touched her lips, or even letting her straddle him. Zella wanted it so badly that she made up excuses to vent out her anger. Whenever he hesitated, Zella felt like she's a dying flower needed to get revived.
Leo beamed. He put down his chopsticks, swallowing.
Zella didn't need to speak up about it. Her actions were louder than a few words.
Leo stood up, crossing the wooden table, and halted right beside her.
Zella couldn't ask it anymore. Leo does, too. He wanted to hold her waist, to tangle her hairs around the side of his face, and to sniff in her intoxicating scent. Zella just had to come near him, and he's turned on.
Leo sat down, close to her thigh. Zella shifted her eyes.
"Third rule: Prove to me it's the truth, and it's the lie."
Zella braced herself on what's coming next. Leo leaned slowly, holding each side of her neck, and closing the gap in between their lips. It's not the first time, but the heat was still present. Leo's soft met her cold ones, but he didn't bother at all.
He reeked of alcohol, but who cares?
Zella didn't respond for a bit, and Leo separated for a while.
He breathed, "Nothing of this would be a lie."
Zella's hands snaked around his neck as they kissed. He moved his lips slower than usual, turning her on. His hands snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Leo kissed her, nibbling on every corner of her mouth, and his cheeks burned.
Zella wrapped her arms around his hair, scraping her fingernails along the trail. Both of them tugging on each other's shirt, meeting each other's desires, and nothing exist in their minds but the kiss.
Leo moaned. He swirled his tongue inside her lips, and Zella bit it in.
Both of them laughed on each other's breath. Before they get too immersed, Leo put a distance, huffing, "Let's go to the bed, shall we?"
Zella doesn't know anything now but Leo's body. Even if it's hard to come by, Zella had to think of herself, and all the resistance she had lead on for a few months. She opened her eyes, drowsy in his kiss, whispering, "Let's go."
Before she can ever say further, Leo met her lips again. He kissed her some more. After that, he held her hand, entwining it, and tugging her out of the wooden cottage. Zella followed him through, right on foot.
He ran, and so did Zella.
Their knees might have gone weak, but their strong desires brought their feet to come to the safe destination where they could spend a night.
The two of them burst inside the mansion, and no one was there to welcome them.
Leo stomped on the staircase, reaching the top, and Zella giggled.
Being a naughty girl, Zella pushed Leo into the wall, and kissed him briefly.
Leo chuckled, saying, "Later, persistent woman."
They reached the corner, and Leo opened up the master's bedroom. Right after they came in, Leo pinned Zella on the wall adjacent to the door frame. He let go of her hands, held her waist with one hand, and lock the door with the other.
It's safe to say Zella is now his, at this moment.
Zella didn't retaliate. Leo kissed her passionately.