July 15, 20xx

Sarandë, Albania

*

Slowly, he rubbed her stomach as he made a circular motion on it.

The tingling buzz was making her whimper in pleasure fully mingling with his throaty groans.

She just wanted to feel yet, there was that alarm call in the morning reminding her to wake up. They needed to stop. If not, her body would give in.

"Nick s--top" even her voice was weak and croaky.

However, he played deaf and continued what he was doing. The hand that supported her head was now on her back, unhooking the straps. Somehow, relief flooded her when the two were freed from constriction. Then his hand slowly made its way to one of her peaks.

Her toes curled in response when his a finger touched the pink bud.

'No, stop it.' a weak voice inside her brain screamed.

They can't.

Gathering the last ounce of her wits, she pushed him and faced those eyes, dark with passion.

"We can't," she said and ran out of the room.

**

Yan Shi scolded herself inside the bathroom.

'That was close.'

It came to her head that if she didn't stop him, it would have led somewhere else.

'Stupid hormones.' she scolded.

Embarrassment inundated her. Obviously, she enjoyed it. But with the circumstances they are in, she can't. She's not ready.

****

She was caught off guard when his strong arms enfolded her from behind.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She stayed quiet. In fact, there was nothing for him to apologize for. They both acted out what their endorphins wanted.

"I won't do it again unless you allow it. I promise."

He might have taken her silence as anger so he said the next sentence "wife, don't be angry, huh?"

However, she remained unmoved and didn't say anything to refute him.

She thought, let him misunderstood. There are only 3 days before they reach Athens. She will talk to him after the wedding.

It will be safer like this. There's a possibility that if he does it again, she's certain her body will be weak to say no.

He let her go after the deafening silence.

A box on the bedside table managed to get her attention. She eyed him suspiciously.

"It's your birthday gift."

The rustling sound of wrapper and box being opened was heard the next second.

A black graphic design tablet met her excited look. It was the same unit she intended to buy.

"I think this is better because you keep on losing your things."

Emphasizing on the last word as he shook his head.

She planned to get one once they're in Athens. Because it is really more convenient than sketchpads. Most of the time, she wastes too much paper. She had to admit, she's contributing to global warming.

With this, you can save, delete and send without worrying much. Furthermore, she's now becoming a hoarder because she keeps on buying new sets of color pens every time. One or two would always go missing for reasons she can't understand.

"Thank you. I'll use it well." she mouthed, looking pleased.

**********

July 17, 20xx

Delphi, Greece

*

Yan Shi put down the tablet and stared at her drawing. Unhappy with it, she clicked the erase button. Then, she started running the stylus pen on the screen in her nth attempt but it resulted in nothing.

In frustration, she puffed out air, redirecting the air-flow upwards. It slightly pushed out the long bangs that escaped from her bun.

She was so close to completing the five sets of designs. She just needed one more. The first presentation for that designing competition would be at the beginning of August. It meant all of it should have been finished by now. So that she can send them to the sample makers. Letting experts make the clothes is more efficient.

The problem was, for the last two days, her brain appeared to have run out of ideas. Nothing was working out. But she suspected it's more of lacking concentration.

Her two major organs are agitated. After that night, the man put on a distance to her. He never came and bothered her every minute like he'd normally do. Before, he followed her anywhere inside the yacht. If she's reading on the shaded lounge, he was there simply staring. If she's busy drawing, he's on his laptop and was working closeby. And if she's gazing at the sky at night, he would sit next to her and tell her about his escapades. From this, she learned he'd been to more than 90 countries already. There was jealousy in her for she'd only been to 30 countries so far and there are more places she'd like to see. Or if she's lazing under the sea breeze, he'd be there annoying her. At times, he would parade his body in swimming trunks making her blush most of the time.

Now, this badgering human being who likes to ogle her chest never appeared in front of her unless it's meal time. And when they dined, only the sound of moving utensils can be heard. The silence was deafening. Then he'd leave her to her own accord.

At night, he never slept on the sofa in the bedroom. She wondered if he dozes off in the study or in one of the three empty cabins in this 40-meter yacht.

She wracked her brain for possible answers but the only decent thing she can come up with was because she refused him.

However, she's really not ready for it.

In the end, she relied on the chair's back for support and bit her bottom lip in contemplation.

****

Li Jie rubbed his throbbing temples and rested his tired body on the swivel chair. The last two days were torture. He didn't intentionally ignore her. He just wanted to give her space.

Maybe by giving her time to process her emotions, she'd be ready to admit. That she likes him too.

At the same time, he's also afraid to ask. What if his summation was wrong? That it's the opposite.

Since they left Paris, he'd said his feelings in different ways but he never got a reply from her.

He recalled their conversation back at the airport in Paris.

****Flashback****

"Why no L words?" He was referencing to Clause # 4 in their 'contract.' ( No mentioning of the word love.)

" Because the word LOVE is the most overused word in the world but only a few can actually grasp its importance. The often you say it, it loses its real meaning. A cheater can whisper I love you but turns to another woman the next day. A one night stand can start with 'I love your eyes. Or not, I love your smile.' but the relationship ends after a night of rolling on the sheets."

"Such a cynical belief."

"No, based on facts, people can easily utter it without sincerity."

"But, I'm different from most people."

"Of course you are. But, it's better not to say it when you really don't mean it. In addition, the word itself carries a special meaning to me. Every time I hear it, I would be reminded of my mother's painful life experiences."

****end of flashback****

Due to this, he held himself from saying it. He didn't want to trigger memories that she wanted to bury.

'But what should I do now? I vowed to myself to let her fall within two weeks.'

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The only progress they have was at least she never avoided his hugs or stolen kisses. Her constant rebuttal of his words has greatly diminished too.

'What now?' he questioned himself.

Standing in front of the window in his study, he slipped his hands into his pocket and gazed into the distance with a faraway expression.

****

Yan Shi heard the approaching footsteps and a slow smile rose her lips.

'It worked.' she murmured.

She spun around and found the man a few steps away from her.

"You wanted to talk to me?" he asked skeptically.

This is the first time she initiated to speak to him as per the fact that it was always him who pestered her. Two minutes ago, he saw the note she slipped under the door when he was leaving the room with the intention to see her. Momentarily, there were both confusion and excitement in him.

====================================

Extra:

LJ: ???? ???? stop torturing us!!!

TC: ???????? Isn't it great?

YS: ????????No, it's not.

TC: Wow! the two of you are ganging up on me now huh? ????????

YS +LJ : (in unison) YES!!!!!

TC: ???????????? Very good. Wait till you read the next chapter. ????????

LJ : ????????????

YS: ????????????