CHAPTER TWELVE
GRETEL woke up on her comfortable bed and warm blanket. She smiled as she rolled to her side, facing the window.
Then, her eyes flew open as she realized that was not supposed to happen. She was greeted by the view outside. She sat up, confused.
How could that be? She remembered falling asleep on Alexander’s shoulder. How could she return to her room if she did not wake up and walked by herself?
The door opened, and Javier came in, carrying a huge tray of food. She jumped, totally startled as if she had seen a ghost.
“Good morning, wife,” he greeted with a smile.
“H-huh?” She looked around her. “What am I doing here?”
“What do you mean? This is your room; you’re in our house,” Javier said in amusement as he put the try on the nightstand.
She ran a hand through her unruly hair.
“Do you mean how you got back here last night?” he asked as if he was able to read her mind.
Gretel stared.
“I checked you in your room last night, and I did not find you. I asked Mr. Martinez to help me search for you, and we found you in the forest.”
“What else did you find?” she asked in urgency. Javier could not have seen Alexander! She promised him that no one would know about their friendship.
“Black was beside you.”
She blinked.
“R-really?”
“You were leaning on the tree. You were asleep. And I felt bad that you have to sneak out into the night to eat your dinner because I could not join you.” Javier rolled to the side of the bed and sat beside her. “I’m sorry, Gretel.” He caught her hand and squeezed it.
“Y-you did not have to do that. I was just bored, and I thought of something else to do. You shouldn’t have bothered. Did you eat your dinner last night?”
“I did.” He leaned closer. “You’re a better cook than Mr. Martinez. And I appreciate it if you keep it as a secret.”
Gretel stared in disbelief. Javier smiled.
“I made you breakfast to make it up to you.”
“You did not have to…”
“You made me dinner last night, remember? The stew was the best I ever had.” He held her chin and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
Gretel swallowed. “I-I look horrible.”
“You look gorgeous even with that drool on the corner of your lips.”
Gretel wiped her mouth with the back of her hand at once. Javier chuckled.
“I’m just kidding. Let’s eat?”
GRETEL stared at the huge pile of papers on the garden table unenthusiastically. The documents contained the agreements between Javier and the customers renting spaces in the new market he was developing.
“What do I do with them?” she asked.
Javier laughed as he scratched his eyebrow. He was obviously making fun of her reaction.
“What kind of response is that?” Gretel asked again with a frown.
“You can read one and tell me if you think the terms were fair for both parties. Or you can watch me sign them.”
“All of these?” She motioned the papers. “Can I just be a full-time wife and mother?”
Javier threw his head back, laughing.
“Javier, we’re just starting. Do you think you’re being too hard on me? This is not the kind of stuff I want to read.”
“I know. But we agreed to this, remember?”
Gretel sighed and pouted.
“Come on, Gretel. I’m counting on you.”
GRETEL was relieved when their first session lasted for an hour. Javier had to leave for his daily inspection. That meant that she could continue reading books again.
When Javier went to his room to take a shower, Gretel stayed in the garden and decided to pick some fresh flowers. Javier’s room would look lovelier if she added more colors to it.
Gretel knocked as she held the daisies in her hand. It was already inside a porcelain vase.
“It’s me,” she said.
“Come in,” Javier replied.
She pushed the door carefully and looked around. Javier must be in his bedroom.
“I brought some flowers from the garden,” she informed. “It will make your office lovely.” She sauntered toward his table and put the vase at the center. She arranged the flowers to make them more appealing.
“Aren’t you going to take a shower?” Javier asked.
She could already feel his presence behind her.
“I’m about to. I’ll just have to finish this.”
“You can just join me.”
“What?” Gretel uttered with a laugh. She turned around and regretted it at once when she found him standing close to her.
Javier was already half-naked with only a white towel wrapped around his waist. She took a step backward, and she hit the table. It shook as her heart pounded.
Javier moved closer and put his hands on her either side, cornering her.
“I’m not kidding,” he whispered huskily, his hot breath fanning her face.
Gretel swallowed hard. She could feel the heat creeping through her veins as her navel tightened in arousal. Her desire for him was too strong that she was too weak to resist him.
She sighed and moaned as Javier claimed her lips into a slow, passionate kiss. She found her hands cupping his face as she arched her back.
Javier’s hand slipped under her dress and caressed her thighs.
“I want you, Gretel,” he confessed.
“Javier…” Gretel knew she was already red in the face. She closed her eyes and tilted her head. “Do what you want to do with me.”