Practice

Jasper attempted to plead not guilty when asked about his attempted assault. In broad daylight, with actual footage and a gaggle of witnesses.

He even got dragged into the office because Lucian found his pace too slow.

I could cry and look scared, but no one would believe that with my black belts at home. But he really did try to hit me, and had he done that to some untrained woman, what would've happened?

Lucian called over his legal team, and Jasper said that it was nothing but an accident. Then he went about being the victim since Lucian injured his wrist.

But the security footage says no. Dumbass.

We let the Orwells beg for leniency as if we were seriously contemplating the punishment. But I've wanted it to go this way all along. Getting tried and jailed may look scarier, but as a relatively powerful family, they could just figure something out to erase the trace.

So, I went with staining his permanent educational record and suspension. We even got him forced into monitored community service. The busier he is, the better. And the Orwells would even feel like they owed me more. Not that their moral debt wasn't as big as a sinkhole already.

We left the lawyers to deal with the seething Jasper. They're not leaving until that record is done being officially tarnished.

"Where are we going? Are we already going to the new place?" The unfamiliar route prompted me to ask Lucian.

"Yeah, I had the things you packed delivered. But I told them not to touch it, so you can arrange them however you want." Or maybe he just wanted to punish me by making me clean.

"I'm hungry," I whined.

As if he expected it, he judged me. I know he fucking judged me. But then opened a compartment that revealed an array of snacks and drinks.

"Have you always been hiding this here?!" Frankly, I sounded a bit betrayed, but if he's been keeping that all this time then what the actual hell?

"No. Why would I keep something like this here? It's only because you're a bottomless pit."

If my eyes could kill, he'd be shredded by now. " Get real with me. How many times have you been slapped?" I had to ask because, with a personality like that, I'm surprised he's still alive.

"You say that after eating my food and using my body? What's next, my innocence?" He turned towards me with a look that said he had been wronged.

My blood pressure! I may die earlier than expected from this.

I wanted to throw something at him, but there was nothing but food, and it couldn't be food. Food must be respected.

"Innocence? We'd be lucky to find a single cell in your body that is still innocent! Who in their right mind would call their wife a bottomless pit?! Do you want to die?" 

This guy better watch his back when he sleeps.

"Forgive this first-time husband. I'm new, after all." Then he threw over a chocolate bar, which I ended up catching. Dammit!

The building was close to the campus, which was a shame because he managed to escape my clutches earlier than I would've wanted.

I glared at him until we got to the penthouse. The door unlocked, and the most beautiful part of the house came into view. The big baby Chester.

Ahhh, heal my soul, baby. I had been wronged the whole day. I hugged Chester as if my life depended on it.

"What are you doing?" Lucian questioned my life choices.

"Cleansing myself of evil vibes." I looked at him clearly indicating the source.

I didn't bring many things since I've never been one to own random items. Not that I didn't like shopping, but I only picked the items I really liked and those that I'd be able to use.

Because if my parents had a choice, I'd even end up owning Victorian dresses. Who needs those?

"Where do you think you're going?" I voiced at the escaping figure. After being such an ass, he better help with those boxes.

"I was going to cook. Unless you want to do that yourself, I can call an ambulance to stand by."

I would love to fight him about this, but the Lord regretfully decided that no one could be perfect, so I have always had questionable cooking skills.

Yes, cooking is a science, and yes, I can follow a recipe. But whenever I do, I can't seem to stop myself from experimenting somewhere in the middle, so the results may or may not be a bit extreme.

But Lucian had always preferred eating things he made. Well, eating things he'd deemed safe.

When we were much younger, a jealous kid tried putting sand on his food, so he'd been wary since then.

He's not exactly the nicest person on the block, so the list of people he's angered must be pretty long.

With Chester as my tour guide, I checked on the house. As expected, it looked like it had been taken from an architectural digest, but it lacked the feeling of having been lived in.

So, I proceeded to remedy that by putting my things where I liked. I was hauling my clothes before asking Lucian where to find my closet.

"There's only one room with a bed, the walk-in closet is there, and all empty spaces are yours."

Surprisingly, he gave me a lot of closet space. I thought he would make me suffer by giving me a cubby hole.

My back hurt a bit after unpacking. And I wondered if these were already signs of aging.

"Food is ready," Lucian called over, but with Chester running out so fast, I wondered if he meant human or dog food. But I went nonetheless because I've been hungry since earlier.

He made steak and salad, and the room smelled great. Chester was already eating his fill when I started gnawing at my food.

"Thanks. It's good." I thank him because that's the right thing to do. He's a prick, but at least he's a prick that could make good food.

He nodded before mentioning that helpers are scheduled to clean and prepare food daily. But since he's been big about not wanting too many people around him, the staff would all go home unless specially instructed to stay. 

I didn't mind as I lived alone for school, only coming home during the weekends. But it's good that someone could check on Chester when we're out.

"Did you really not tell the Chairman about our marriage?"

"I plan on informing him once we've handled your relatives. Ideally, by next week."

"What are you planning on doing with the recording you got earlier?" He reminded me of the video that I haven't sent to Rina.

"A little gift for Alexa. I've been feeling generous lately." I smiled at Lucian. 

"There's been some movement. The annual founding ball was moved forward. It's now the day before our supposed slot in the Bureau." Lucian informed while cleaning up the table.

"How convenient! I guess Dad agreed to the request to move it." I snickered at the audacity of those people.

"Go wash up. I'll take Chester out for a walk."

Upon hearing his name and the word walk, Chester perked up and ran over with his leash.

"Such as smart baby." I patted his head before deciding to wash off today's bad juju.

Lucian and Chester got out of the bathroom after washing up. Fresh from the walk, Chester seemed to know that he needed to get his paws washed first, which Lucian did for him.

They found me fiddling with the cabinets, trying to reach the top layers.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not that short. It's just that someone created this place with giants in mind.

Suddenly, I was lifted off the ground, my feet dangling, my arms flailing, and my shirt hiking up.

"What the!"

I realized that the said giant was hauling me up. I ended up flushed against his bare, damp chest—a freshly washed giant.

"Looking for something?" He asked, amused at my struggling effort but continued to hold me up.

I was so surprised that it took a while to register his question. "I'm looking for pillows. How could we sleep with just one each?!"

"I need pillows for my neck, arms, and legs," I explained to him. Then, upon thinking about it, he put me back on the floor, still locked in his hold.

"The staff has those stored elsewhere. I can call for it if you want them now."

"No, that's too much since it's late already. There's no need to bother them just for pillows. I'll just use Chester." I realized that's one great pillow.

Lucian pats my head, "He doesn't sleep on the bed. He'd shed all over it. I'll just sacrifice for now."

Sacrifice? I looked at him strangely. So he explained, "You just need something for your tentacles, right?"

Finally understanding what he meant by sacrificing, I attempted to step on his feet in anger.

"What, did you think I'd be shy and turn down the offer? Watch me strangle you in your sleep, you bastard." I glared at him while coiling myself since he wouldn't let go.

Latched to him like a koala, we flopped onto the bed. I'm so annoyed that I'm seriously putting pressure on my limbs.

The room went dark, with only a night lamp to cast a soft light in the direction of the bathroom. 

"And they said you were frigid? Look at how sticky you are." He drawled lazily, and I had to look up at him so that he could see my killing intent.

"Now sleep. Maybe you'll grow taller. We'll just practice some other time." And without a care for his life, the guy even patted my ass like a baby being comforted.

"Lucian, are you angering me on purpose?! What practice?!" Annoyed at his antics.

Then he flipped us over, with me pinned on the bed by his body. I typically sleep wearing a shirt and shorts, so being this close to him, I could definitely feel his defined muscles.

"Practice breathing from your nose. Who passes out from kissing because they couldn't breathe." He inched his face so close that if I just put my chin up, we'd smack our lips together, so I held my position while explaining angrily.

"I wasn't going to pass out! I'm not a child!" I wanted to do a stare-down, but my eyes would probably go cross instead, so I kept still.

"I'll be the judge of that." Then he lowered his head, with his arms enclosing my head.

I gasped in his mouth, surprised at his sudden movement. With my lips parted, he easily managed to enter. Exploring and taunting. I got out of my reverie and started clawing at his back, to which he responded by putting a hand behind my head and tilting slightly, giving him more access.

I don't know what he's trying to prove here, but maybe he's right because I'm getting lightheaded. So I rubbed up against him, hoping to distract him so I could breathe a little.

He chuckled upon noticing but kept kissing, only letting me off lightly. The room had always been cold, but it felt too hot right now, and it didn't help that he only gave me a few gaps to breathe, so I kept on clinging.

Lucian arched up a bit, and I could feel his other arm leaving my side, only to start touching my leg. But just as he slipped his hand up, his phone rang.

Suddenly hearing his phone ring, I regained my semblance of logic. To my surprise, Lucian ignored his phone. But just as he relaxed as the phone stopped ringing, it started up again. I had to tap him several times to force him to answer it this time.

Annoyed, he lifted his upper body to reach for the phone as I gasped for air under him. I'm glad the lights were off because I was flushed and panting while Lucian looked dandy.

"Oliver. Has the company gone bankrupt?" Lucian asked, sounding very annoyed and irritated.

I could hear Oliver's fearful response, given our proximity. "Sir, I apologize. I didn't want to call you this late, but we've figured out where the tail came from, and I thought you'd want to know."

"And?" Lucian suddenly bent down with a phone still by his ear. He nestled himself in the crook of my neck, and his hot breath made me shiver.

"Sir, He was sent by Lara. It took a while for us to break him. His son was being held as collateral for the job, so he was difficult to crack. He only spoke when we got confirmation that the kid had been extracted."

Lucian remained silent, and I suddenly felt nervous. Take a child as a hostage? Who the hell was this, Lara?

Probably noticing me squirming, Lucian kissed my neck before responding to Oliver. 

"Watch the Castors and form a team for Eli. Inform me of any attempt to leave the country."

Lucian threw aside his phone after speaking to Oliver. I wanted to ask him about what happened, but he said, "I'll tell you about it tomorrow. Sleep for now, and we'll continue to practice another day."

I wouldn't let it go, but he kept silent. In the end, I dozed off.