Chapter 287 - We are One

Vaughn woke up earlier than Zenia, who was hugging him tightly. He was already in trouble so early in the morning. The lower part of his body reacted, even more, when he recalled what happened last night. The wine affected him so much, but he knew what he was doing. 

He wanted to push Zenia away from him but couldn't. He hugged her back and wished that she would wake up soon. He had no idea whether there was a written rule about doing it early in the morning or doing it to his wife to wake her up. If he only knew that he would be facing such a dilemma later, he should've listened to what the Casanovas in their class during his time in the academy were discussing.

Even the book that he read once did not mention anything about it. The book also failed to mention that doing it once was clearly not enough. He did not want to be hated, and he decided that he should discuss it with Zenia. She once told him to be honest anyway. He also wanted to know her thoughts.

Zenia did not know for how long she could pretend to be sleeping. She woke up when Vaughn hugged her tightly. She was already aware of the reaction in his body from that time, but she did not want to do it again. It was more painful than pleasurable. She wanted to put on her clothes already, but that would only tell Vaughn that she was already awake. She had no idea how she would be able to refuse without offending him.

According to the book that she read before, men have a stronger urge than women. In most men, it was especially strong in the morning. She was guessing that her husband was one of those men who experience erection early in the morning. She could feel the burning sensation on her cheeks just by thinking about it.

After a while, Zenia could feel Vaughn's even breathing. She knew that he had fallen back to sleep. She slowly and carefully detached herself from him to avoid waking him up. She went quickly behind the partition that served as the changing room and got dressed.

When she got out of the changing room, she saw their scattered clothes and sighed. It reminded her of the passionate night that she shared with her husband. She blushed but was no longer feeling shy. She looked at Vaughn's sleeping face and wanted to kiss him, but she did not want to wake up the beast in him. She restrained herself and went out of the room.

Vaughn was truly sleeping soundly. He was having a wonderful dream that he and Zenia finally had their first child. He could not see the face of the child and was confused about whether the child was a girl or a boy. He laughed while dreaming because he remembered how Zenia loved to disguise herself as a man. He knew that Zenia would often appear as Zekiah when they were little. Everyone in Ishelon even thought that the Anisens had twin boys.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Madam, Chief Elder told us to bring you some fresh meat and vegetables to cook," the Lead Maid came together with a few maidservants bringing the ingredients.

At first, the Lead Maid refused Chief Elder's suggestion because she was afraid that Zenia would not know how to cook. She looked so young and seemed like a pampered young miss of her family. But, Chief Elder told her that it would be fine.

"Tell the Madam that I would like to sample her cooking."

The Lead Maid shook her head when she recalled Chief Elder's order.

Zenia accepted them gladly, "Thank you so much."

The Lead Maid was surprised when she saw Zenia's glowing face. It had only been a day – to be precise, a night – that she did not see her but the Madam before her was even more beautiful than her wedding day.

"I-If you need some help preparing the dish, we can help you," the Lead Maid offered.

"That won't be necessary. I know how to cook and thank you for your concern."

The Lead Maid was hesitating whether she should tell Zenia about Chief Elder's request. 

Zenia noticed it immediately and asked, "Is there anything else, Lead Maid?"

"It's quite embarrassing, Madam, but Chief Elder told me to bring him a sample of your dish. If it's not possible…"

Zenia cut her off by saying, "I will gladly send him some. You can wait here for a while."

Zenia gathered the ingredients and went to the kitchen. The Lead Maid was puzzled but followed her instruction. They sat on the couch and waited, although she was thinking about the chores that they still need to finish. In her estimate, they must wait there for two hours to finish the dish.

They could hear the chopping and clacking sounds in the kitchen. She couldn't see Zenia, but she knew that that the Madam was moving so fast. She could not imagine what kind of dish she was cooking.

After some time, a scrumptious aroma filled the air and assaulted their nostrils. The fragrance alone was enough to tell them that it was something delicious. The maids that went along with the Lead Maid started to drool.

Vaughn's eyebrow twitched when the appetizing fragrance reached his nose. He smiled and knew that it was Zenia who was cooking. He did not get up, and he could tell that there were other people in their house. He was guessing that they were the maidservants. They probably brought the ingredients that Zenia used for her dish.

After half an hour, Zenia came out with two bowls of dishes that she prepared. The Lead Maid couldn't believe that it was cooked in thirty minutes – that was fast!

Zenia put the two bowls on the table in the receiving area, "Please sample it and see if it's to Chief Elder's liking."

The maids went to the kitchen to get themselves some spoons and saucers to sample the dish. They even got a set for the Lead Maid.

The women sat down and helped themselves. They knew that it was delicious, but when they finally tasted it, they found out that their assumption was wrong. The dish could only be described as something heavenly. The meat was tender and succulent. All the ingredients that they brought with them were used and not a single one was wasted. 

The Lead Maid even racked her brains out in thinking about the kind of dish that could be made from the ingredients that the Chief Elder had told them to bring.

"Madam, this is the most delicious dish that I have tasted in all my life. The meat is tender and the vegetables are still crunchy and flavorful. I never thought that I will be able to get such a wonderful treat."

Zenia smiled, "Then I guess Chief Elder will like it."

She already felt some movements inside their bedroom. She knew that Vaughn was already awake. He was probably hungry. She did not want him to wait further.

Zenia picked up the remaining bowl of the dish and handed it to the Lead Maid.

"Please thank Chief Elder for me for everything he had done for us."

The Lead Maid accepted the bowl and bowed, "We shall take our leave, Madam."

Zenia closed the door and went to the kitchen to prepare their lunch. It was already late for it to be called breakfast. 

At first, she thought to bring it inside the room but remembered that something might happen again. She set the table and went to the room to get Vaughn.

She opened the door and found Vaughn already dressed appropriately. Shew went to him and gave him a kiss.

"Let's eat!"

Zenia pulled Vaughn's hand and did not give him a chance to toss her onto the bed. He could read her thoughts, and he grinned. He would let her off this time but not again.

"Is this a new dish? What do you call it?"

Zenia looked at him blankly, "I don't know. Why don't you give it a name?"

"Are you sure?" Vaughn asked teasingly.

After experiencing such a passionate night, he became more brazen and definitely naughty.

Zenia had no idea what he was thinking, but she had a feeling that it was not something good.

"Then don't! Let's just call it Meat with Veggies."

"Veggies?"

"Veggies as in vegetables."

"Okay," he put some pieces of meat on her plate and continued, "Eat now, and let's go out after this."

Zenia did not expect that Vaughn would say something like that. She was preparing to refuse his suggestion of going back to bed and continuing from where they left off last night.

"Not going back to bed?" She asked without thinking properly.

Vaughn sneered and leaned closer to her, "Going back to bed and continuing to where we left off last night is also fine with me."

Zenia pushed him away from her, "That's not what I mean!"

Vaughn saw that she turned red from anger and, perhaps, embarrassment. He knew he went too far. He wanted her even more after that fiery episode last night, but he also knew that she was still in pain. It took him longer than what the book described.

"Okay, okay. I'm just teasing you. I know that it must have hurt a lot for you."

Zenia fell silent and stopped eating.

"Vaughn," she called out softly.

"Yes?" Vaughn was smiling impishly.

Zenia knew that her husband was still teasing her. She read once that men feel proud whenever they conquer something or someone. She knew that she should say it right then and there to avoid any misunderstanding between them.  

"Can we not do it again?"

"What?!"