“You’re not on your period, are you?” Max sighed as he pushed his wife into a room.
“Are you crazy? We’re on your brother’s engagement party!”
“There are still a few minutes before the peak event. Before that, I have to get to the climax first. I’ll go crazy if I hold it in any longer.”
A sigh of disbelief spontaneously escaped from Gabriella’s mouth. “Are you admitting that you just want my body?”
“I do want your body,” Max said as he walked over to the pile of chairs. After putting the coat there, he turned back to his wife, unbuttoning the buttons below his neck. “But, a more appropriate sentence would be … I want whole of you.”
In just an instant, the sound of muffled shrieks began to heat up the atmosphere. Gabriella quickly covered her mouth with a fist, afraid that an ear behind the door would hear.
Knowing that his wife was overwhelmed, instead of slowing down, the man picked up speed. He didn’t care if Gabriella’s vocal cords were getting squeezed. His heart yearned too much for the crazy beat.
“Max ….”
The man got rid of his wife’s hand then covered the trembling lips with tenderness. The woman who was originally furrowing her brows also closed her eyes.
“Why am I weak again?” Gabriella thought as she gripped her husband’s shirt.
“Do you still deny that your body is happy to welcome me?” Max whispered, suddenly regaining his wife’s sight.
“I’m not happy,” Gabriella argued between sighs.
The corner of the man’s lips automatically lifted lightly. “Is that so? But you seem to enjoy it.”
“You’re hallucinating,” the woman said while struggling to keep a straight face. “I can’t possibly enjoy being used like this.”
Suddenly, Max made a jolt. Gabriella spontaneously groaned and tightened her grip. “You’re crazy!”
Unexpectedly, a small laugh escaped the man’s mouth. “I’ve been crazy about you, Gaby,” Max admitted, successfully inviting the woman’s head to shake.
“Nonsense,” Gabriella sighed, refusing to believe. She wanted to beat her heart that fluttered at the convincing statement.
“I’m serious,” the man said as he caught his wife’s attention. “I love your shady eyes, your sweet lips, and your sexy voice. Everything about you makes me happy.”
“Stop bragging,” Gabriella pleaded in a broken voice. She was worried that her defense would get weaker.
A second later, Max shook his head briefly. “Whether you want to believe it or not, you’re driving me insane, Gaby. Two days without you, I’m like a living corpse.”
“That’s because you can’t get rid of your desire. Look what you’re doing now.”
“No,” the man shook his head quickly. “I was fine before meeting you. Because of knowing you, I finally know the true happiness. And, every time you walk away, that pleasant feeling leaves me too.”
A little more, Gabriella could fall to her knees at Max’s sweet words. “Stop seducing me! You make me want to throw up.”
Max’s laughter sounded faint again. “Does that mean … you don’t want me to stop doing this?” A second later, the man thrusted deeper. Another shrill voice escaped from Gabriella’s mouth.
“Max,” she moaned, unable to continue.
“You should know, Gaby, I don’t want another woman in my life. Only you can be by my side.”
The woman could no longer utter a word. She was too busy breathing through her mouth. Even, when Max tickled her neck, there was no protest or resistance. Gabriella had been caught in doubt.
“No, Gabby. Don’t give up on love. This could be a trick. This man doesn’t really want you,” the woman thought as she closed her eyes tightly.
“Believe me, I don’t want to be apart from you,” the man whispered while breathing heavily. “If a child can prevent you from leaving, then I will.”
After a while, no words were spoken. Max and Gabriella seemed to communicate through the sound of their breaths. The closer they were to the climax, the more tension between them faded.
When the couple hit the highest point, no more lies were guarded. Warm and longing eyes finally greeted each other.
“This man … can I continue with him? Should I give my heart to him?” Gabriella thought, ignoring Amber’s instigation which had always been shadowing her feeling lately.
After a moment of silence, the woman finally let out a smile.
“Are you stupid?” Gabriella said haltingly. “If you want a child, do it during the fertility window.”
Max’s lips suddenly curled into a wide arc. He had received a positive signal from his wife. “Does it mean, you are willing to welcome me at that time?”
“Only if you stop treating me as a doll.”
The man’s breath suddenly turned into laughter. He did not expect that his wife was finally willing to give her trust.
“You’re the only one for me, Gaby,” Max whispered before embracing the woman who smiled faintly.
“I hope my decision is right,” Gabriella thought as she couldn’t deny that her heart was touched. What had just happened was proof that she didn’t want to be separated either. Ignoring the loved ones would only bring suffering.
“I wish you’re not lying,” the woman whispered before putting her hands behind his husband’s back.
“Your wish has come true, Mrs. Evans. Now, an important task awaits us.”
Gabriella’s eyebrows rose spontaneously. “What kind of task?”
While fixing his wife’s clothes, Max began to describe. “I was planning to reveal our status tonight.”
The woman immediately stared. “Tonight? What about Amber and Julian? It’s their show, Max.”
“It is okay. We will announce at the end of their session. It will not interfere with the main event.” The CEO shrugged carelessly.
A sigh suddenly escaped from the woman’s mouth. Tension had just crept into her heart. “Will they believe it?” she muttered with furrowed brows.
“Of course. Don’t you know that lately, Quebracha’s employees have been talking about our compatibility?”
Getting such a response, Gabriella wanted to raise the corners of her lips. However, doubts still weighed on her mind.
“But, what about Mr. Herbert? It seems, he will be very surprised to hear the news about our marriage. Your father doesn’t like me, Max.”
Without thinking, the man lifted his wife’s chin. “Not hating you, but hating me. His treatment of you earlier was based on his dislike for me. So, don’t sweat it. Understand?”
After taking a deep breath, Gabriella bit her lip and nodded slowly. “I hope this plan goes well.”
Witnessing his wife’s sweet attitude, Max’s feeling got lighter. “Then, are you ready? Let’s go down now,” the man said while holding Gabriella’s hand.
“Wait a minute.”
A second later, the woman took out a small comb from her bag and began to brush her husband’s hair. “I grabbed you too hard,” she muttered.
“I like your grip. I also like your punch that feels like a massage.”
“Stop seducing me!”
After laughing out loud, Max brought his wife back to the party. There was no distance between them. Gabriella had broken down the great wall that previously confined her.
***
“Why are you looking at Julian like that?” the CEO whispered when he saw the sad look on his wife’s face.
“Don’t you feel sorry for him? He loves Amber very much, but that woman loves you,” Gabriella replied in a voice that was also low.
After raising his eyebrows for a moment, the man shook his head. “He will marry the woman he loves. You shouldn’t feel sorry.”
“Isn’t that torturing? Marrying someone who doesn’t love us?”
The corner of Max’s lips tugged at the cheek. “For a selfish person like Julian, it’s much better than marrying someone he doesn’t love.”
Gabriella’s eyes were cornered in various directions. After a moment, she shook her head to get rid of the confusion. “Both of them are equally unhappy.”
“Yes, indeed. But you needn’t worry, Gaby. We are a happy couple, and soon, everyone will know.”
The woman’s lips curled up again. “When are you going to announce it?”
“After this song ends,” Max said, holding up his index finger.
Gabriella’s mouth spontaneously exhaled quickly. Her heart was racing again.
“Hey, don’t be nervous. Everything will be fine,” Max said while holding his wife’s hand.
Just as the woman nodded, the lights suddenly dimmed. The only bright light came from the large screen. Everyone in the audience spontaneously whispered commenting on the little girl playing the piano in the video, except Gabriella and the CEO. The two of them were transfixed with their eyes wide open.
“Isn’t that you?” Max sighed in disbelief.
“Yes. Why are they playing my video?” the woman asked with pinched vocal cords. A bad feeling had invaded her mind.