“TIRED?” Joaquin asked Lara when he joined her on the veranda that night.
Her husband sat down next to her and then handed her a mug.
“Chamomile tea?” she asked looking at Joaquin with a smile.
Joaquin nodded then gave her a simple kiss on the forehead.
There was silence between them for a few moments before Lara decided to mention to Joaquin about Ramil's visit to her earlier.
"I have to tell you something," she began.
"Okay, what is it?" Joaquin asked her.
Lara took a sip of tea before she answered her spouse's question.
"Ramil came to see me earlier. Do you still remember the man I told you about before who was my suitor for a long time?" he said, reminding Joaquin of what she said.
Joaquin nodded before speaking. "Yeah, I remember him. Why? Does he still want to have you? Wants to take you away from me?” he even joke followed by a soft laugh.
Lara didn't know what was in Joaquin's words. But she also couldn't stop herself from blushing because of that. Something that did not escape the sight of her husband.
"And you are blushing, again," he said almost in a whisper.
Lara's cheeks got hotter because of that. That's why she decided to avert her eyes from Joaquin. But she failed to do so because the man grabbed her face and then looked her straight in the eyes.
"No one can take you and Callie away from me, Lara," Joaquin said in a low but firm voice.
His fragrant breath caressed his face. After that, she felt him take the mug she was holding from her and place it on the center table.
Lara's chest quickly felt nervous. But she still tried to calm herself even though she already knew where they were going.
"Answer me, Lara," Joaquin said again then placed a simple kiss on her neck.
A low growl immediately escaped Lara's lips.
That kiss was simple and small in fact, but she couldn't stop the heat that seemed to flare up in her body.
“N-No, the truth is that he said he was happy for me. To both of us," she said truthfully.
The veranda light was not on. They had only light from a pole and also the moon. But despite all that, she still clearly witnessed a beautiful, sweet and contented smile that broke her husband's lips.
"I missed you," Lara said when Joaquin remained silent and just stared at her face.
That is the truth.
All day her mind was occupied with nothing but him. She is busy working, but her mind is more occupied than her heart.
"Same here," said Joaquin who brought her closer.
Lara gasped when her husband did that. She didn't expect that. But apart from that, she was really eager to repeat the warm moments she and Joaquin shared when they were still on their honeymoon.
"Since we came back from Baguio, we haven't done anything but you know, on a diet with that thing," she said meaningfully.
Even if she was shy at that moment to say such things to Joaquin, that was the truth. And she just followed her feeling to have enough courage. She was able to do that.
Joaquin's loud laughter echoed all around because of that.
"Really? Is this your way of making me feel that I have neglected you and that I am not doing my duty as your spouse?" amusement is present in the tone of what he said.
Lara's face got even hotter because of that. In addition to that, the embarrassment she felt intensified.
"Hey stop laughing at me!" she told him.
That's when Joaquin became serious although she could still see the amusement in his eyes.
"I'm glad to hear that you don't like being on a diet," Joaquin said to her.
“Hey, that's not what I meant!” she was still aware of Joaquin's misunderstanding of what she said.
Joaquin smiled and then whispered to him.
"Tell me, which of the things we did on the honeymoon was your favorite?" he asked her.
Lara immediately caught her breath at that question. Then she looked Joaquin straight in the eyes as she opened her lips to speak.
"W-What kind of question is that? Of course, all of those are my favorites!” she said, not hiding the slight annoyance in her voice.
Again, a soft laugh escaped from Joaquin's throat. After that, he moved her again and she was effortlessly seated on his lap.
"I know, but I want you to pick one. Okay?” he asked then inserted his hand into the hem of her nightgown to caress her freely.
Lara's mind quickly worked its way back to the past. In the days that after all, she knew she would never forget.
But just like what her husband wants to happen, she has to choose only one. Even if it was against her will.
"W-Why does it have to be just one, after all, like I told you, all of them are my favorites," she insisted.
"So I know what to do with you, now," replied Joaquin then kissed her on the lips.
Lara quickly fell into that hot kiss. That's why she soon found herself responding to her husband's aggressiveness.
"Tell me," said Joaquin to her.
Lara nods breathlessly.
She felt that something was taken away from her because of Joaquin's resignation on her lips. That's why she preferred to give what was after all a simple thing he was asking for. But before that, she bowed down to her husband again for a passionate kiss.
This is what it feels like to stare.
It's been a few days since they returned from Baguio and she feels this way. She loses himself because of the intense desire on Joaquin's lips.
With his warm caresses and kisses.
She feels like she is a flower that has not been watered for a few days.
"I-I want all of that," was her breathless answer. "But since you want me to choose just one, I'd say the one on the table," she answered.
Lara couldn't be wrong because she saw that Joaquin's eyes seemed to be burning with fire at that moment.
"Thank you for answering my question, sweetheart," Joaquin pointed out before he once again kissed her sweetly on the lips.
"And also, I'd like to remind you that you still owe me," Lara once let go of Joaquin's kiss to remind her husband about that.
"I owe you what?" he asked.
The corner of Lara's lips lifted. This time she whispered to Joaquin.
"Remember you said you will make love to me on the stairs and also in the bay window?" she reminded.
A light chuckle once again travels on Joaquin's throat. "One thing that you have to remember about me is that I always keep my promise," he said looking at her meaningfully afterward.
Lara got what her husband meant by what he said. That's why she didn't protest anymore and once again started letting Joaquin do whatever he wanted to do with her body.
"Let's just call this an extension of our dinner," that's all, and Joaquin began to ignite the feelings of heat between the two of them.
As for Lara, she couldn't stop her mind from traveling back to the past. That's why the desire she feels is getting stronger.