Chapter 77 - Play Cupid

Raine felt her throat dry, but as usual, she quickly recovered as a devious grin escaped her lips. Tyrone sounded interested in her dreams, so she might as well have fun telling him all about them.

"No nightmare this time. It's just a wet dream, darling," Raine mischievously scoffed with a wink.

Tyrone coughed at her bold words as he almost choked on his own coffee. He didn't know what came over him when he brought up her dreams again. Maybe because he was interested in knowing what she had in her head? Also, who was the freaking man that she had just dreamt off?! 

Her words, 'I want you…' escaping her lips at that vulnerable moment had tormented him throughout the whole night. Just the thought of her wanting any man was killing him, and yet he still managed to control himself despite the conflicted emotions roiling painfully inside him. He had to fight a constant battle with his inner self.

"I'm sure you're curious about that erotic dream. I can tell you more if you want me to," Raine teased some more. She just loved the way he looked so flustered.

Tyrone, as always, already knew how shameless and tactless Raine could get. And yet here he was again, wondering when he could get used to all of her… herness.

"I'll be going out to have a walk around the beach. Just call me when you're ready to leave," Tyrone tersely answered as he stood up. It was like a game to Raine, but not to him. He could always just refuse to play.

"Who told you you could leave me? Just wait here. I won't take long to take a shower," Raine practically commanded. "Just wait for me by the balcony and enjoy the sight… of the view outside, at least… But if you prefer the view here, then I won't mind giving you a show," she insinuated with a wink. She was teasing him nonstop.

Tyrone shook his head, "I think I'll just stick with the view outside, Boss."

Raine watched him quickly walk to the balcony and sit on the chair there. Shrugging, she gave the video one more glance and whispered, "Are you really Nathaniel? Or are you just a decoy like that booklist… trying to mislead me?" She then turned her gaze turned to Tyrone outside, letting out a deep frustrated sigh from the bottom of her lungs.

After finishing her sandwich and coffee, she quickly went to the bathroom to take a brief shower. She said she wouldn't bother anymore about her speculations. However, she still couldn't help it as her mind started to wander again, eventually hovering on the ever-eternal topics that were Nathaniel and Tyrone. 

As soon as Raine was ready, the two prepared to leave the resort. Packing their bags, Raine and Tyrone were already inside their car when the former received a video call alert from the hide-out. Answering the call, Aire's face greeted her on the screen of her mobile phone.

"Mommy!" the little girt excitedly greeted, a broad smile adorning her face.

Raine chuckled, "Ah, did Levi allow you to use a phone?"

"I've been a good girl, Mommy. It's why Uncle Levi always does what I tell him to," Aire cheerfully replied as she stared closely at her screen. "You're in a car?" 

"Yup. I'm already traveling back to the Capital City of Country D," Raine answered her daughter with an equally cheerful smile. "By the way,  I watched the videos that Mia sent, and I'm in awe seeing how well you're doing with your shapeshifting. As soon as I come back, we'll go out and have some fun." She couldn't stop smiling throughout the call. Her little girl was just simply too adorable and cute for her not to feel happiness just by looking at her.

"Who are you with, Mommy?" Aire suddenly asked with knitted eyebrows.

Instead of giving her a straight reply, Raine focused the camera on Tyrone and told him, "Say hello to my daughter."

Tyrone took a quick glance at the screen before smiling at the camera, "Hello." It was all he said before turning his gaze back on the road. He was still driving, after all.

"Oh, you're with Daddy!" Aire enthusiastically burst out, her eyes sparkling with youthful cheer.

At her daughter's words, Raine coughed while Tyrone almost slammed on the breaks at that instant. It was way too unexpected of a comment coming from the little girl.

"Oh, dear. You got it all wrong. He's not your daddy," Raine corrected with a grin. "His name is Tyrone. He's Mommy's, right-hand man." 

"Right-hand man? But he's Daddy," Aire insisted, knowing that the man could also hear her. "How are you, Daddy Tyrone? I hope you and Mommy won't fight too often." 

Raine held an awkward smile as she quickly glanced at Tyrone. Good thing the man seemed to be unaffected and was quite focused on keeping his eyes on the road.

"Stop that, dear. You'll make Tyrone uncomfortable. How about you just call him Uncle too like your Uncle Levi?" she gently suggested, ignoring the fact that her daughter just tried to play cupid with her. "Didn't I make myself clear last time that I'm also your daddy since I'm a solo parent?" This was troublesome. Was the girl trying to pair her up with him already?

Aire pouted as she mumbled, "But he's not my uncle, Mommy. He's my Daddy, so I will call him Daddy." She insisted before seemingly looking at something not within her camera's view. "Oh. I guess I have to go now, Mommy. Uncle Levi promised to teach me how to swim in the pool. I can't wait to see you guys again. Have fun, Mommy and Daddy! Bye!"

Raine shook her head as Aire quickly ended the call.

"She's cute," Tyrone commented. "Lyne told me about her… about how she was the first mutant you ever spared. I'm glad you let her live. You even gave her shelter and a new family. She had a tough time, and she's lucky that you're taking good care of her." 

"It wasn't an easy decision, but it was him… Nathaniel… who stopped me," Raine admitted.

"I'm sure you would've done the same thing even if Nathaniel wasn't there," Tyrone casually and confidently said.

"I'm not so sure about that," Raine hauntingly replied. "Well, before Aire… I already killed many…" She was not proud of what she'd done. 

"The past is the past. What matters now is that you're sparing innocent lives," Tyrone comforted her.

Raine turned to look at him. His eyes were on the road, still focused on driving.

'I really hope you're not Nathaniel,' she silently prayed. She didn't know how she would handle the situation if Tyrone ended up being that man.

Sighing, she turned her gaze back to the window instead.