CHAPTER NINE

He didn't know how long he had been staring at her, but it felt like ages. As he look at her still in the water he remembered when he'd first entered their house and found people in their living room. The first thing that came to him was his wife.

He entered in time when he heard one said "Turn the house upside down, tear it down, bring the lady to me." He didn't want to know who it was and why they were in their house, he felt like tearing something down, them.

One by one, he beat them to pulp and threw them out of the house and watched them run for their dare lives, leaving the most wounded behind.

He returned into the house and looked for her, but couldn't found her. He almost cried when he couldn't find her at first. This made him realize how much he had bonded with her lately.

He didn't want to admit it to himself before, be no matter what he did, he was still in love with her. When he found her crawled up behind the couch, he felt better.

Opening his eyes, he looked at her. She was still in the water. It made him wonder if that was her specialty, staying in water. But can she breath well enough to be fine? Still he waited for her.

It was more than an hour later that she opened her eyes but didn't come out then. She smiled at him.

"I guess you're alright." He said.

She nodded her head.

"Can I join you?" He asked. When she nodded, he entered without removing his clothes.

He didn't see any problem with that since, she was already in the tub with her clothes.

She moved to create space for him for him to stay.

When he was settled, he lifted her head and brought her closer to him. He kept her head on his shoulders. He tried to hold his breath but failed, he gave up and surfaced.

"You're really trying staying in there, I can't do that." He said. After he had catch his breath.

"Well, you were beating yourself to stay in the water, not the other way round." She said as she surfaced as well. "I've been during this since I was a little girl."

"I see. I have to start practicing then." He smiled as he looked at her.

He really felt better. Better that she was okay and beside him. Better that she wasn't hurt. Better that she was not alone. Better that he knew and understand that no matter lies he'll tell her, he can never keep her safe with them. Truth is the surest way to keep her alive.

"I'm sorry, for everything." He said quietly.

"It's okay, thanks to you." She replied.

"But still to me, you were almost hurt today." He closed his eyes and his muscles tensed.

"Hey, take it easy. I'm fine now, you kept me. That's enough, you are enough for me. Take it easy, my love." She should have felt hurt that he and Felix almost got her hurt today, but she was rather happy that he was here. She now know that she's never alone.

"Do you trust me?" He asked suddenly.

"Yes," She replied. She placed her hands on his checks and straddle him. She lifted his face to hers and continued, "with my life."

"What if…"

"What if you don't?" She interrupted him. "I don't go about running on assurances. I run on what I can get. I have you, I trust to keep me by your side not as a bodyguard, but as my husband."

"I love you, Ellie." He said as his hands moved lightly on her back.

"I know you do and I love you too." She replied.

"I can't always keep you safe. I think it's better if we split, you'll be safer with you family." He suggested.

"Well then, my family must have done a great job today if I was raped or brutalize. The sooner you get that we're here, the better. We only have each other to keep. No one else can keep us except ourselves. You are enough for me. You are enough for us and I love you." She replied.

"I'm scared of loosing you, I have never been scared before." He said as he put his head back and laid it on the tub.

"There's a first time for everything, you know. Thinking about it, don't be scared we'll be fine. You have my back and I have your back." She said joyfully.

"I won't bet on that." He smiled.

"Oh but I have already." She said as she lifted herself up and kissed him. He always makes her hot, why? It's not fair, she decided. She wonders if she makes him hot too.

When her lips touched his, he left afloat. She has a different kind of effect on him that no other woman have. She makes him feel warm all over again.

He didn't want to let it go, he kissed her back. He sat upright still kissing her. One of his hand came up and kept her lips to his.

When their lips parted, they were both breathing hard. He wanted her, but with the issue on ground, he didn't want another with the others.

"Should we stop?" She asked as if she'd read his mind.

"I don't know." He replied still holding fast to her.

"Then let's figure it out." She said crushing her lips on his.

He kissed her back with the same ardor she kiss him with. But all he knew is that, he wanted her.

"Maybe this is not a good idea." She murmured.

"Yeah, but it's the best so far." He murmured back.

"In the midst of trouble?" She asked.

"In the midst of trouble." He replied.

There in the bathtub, he made love to her wholeheartedly. In that single act of love, he opened himself to her. Showing her all the pain, and happiness attached to him. The trouble and peace in come. The violence and harmony with him. His suffering and joy. All he let it out easy going, till it was done.

When stayed back in the tub tiredly. The silence was a welcomed one, so no one spoke.

Minutes later, he took her to the shower and bath her thoroughly. He dressed her up and laid her on the bed. He laid beside her. He watched her long, sleep was far away from him. He was thinking of what to do to Felix.

Salvador was very sure she'd called him for help, since she knew that he can hear her thoughts. But he never came for her. He left her alone with those men, had he been a minute late….

Ella felt asleep after he laid her on the bed. She woke up feeling weird again. Startled, she look around for him and found him lost in thoughts.

She looked angry and ready to kill. The look her feel more weird than she already felt. She reached out and touched his face.

Salvador opened his eyes and found Ella looking him worriedly."What's wrong?" He asked as he rise on an elbow, facing her.

"Nothing, but I was about to ask you the same question. You don't look well." She said worriedly.

"I'm fine." He assured her.

"I thought we were trying to build bridges, not to break them?" She asked amused.

"I don't understand, wifey." He said confused. He don't understand what the change of subject was.

"You want me to trust – I trust you alright – if you tell me what's on your mind. What you feel and the truth." She replied.

"Well, I was thinking about what I'll do to Felix." He admitted.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm sure you called him for help and he never came. So I want to punish him, just a little to make sure that that mistake doesn't surface again. That is what I was thinking about." He cleared.

"Husband, do you want to kill him for me?" She asked worried.

"No, just a little punishment, not a death penalty. Don't worry, I won't kill him." He said closing his eyes and lying back on the bed.

"On that note hubby, I'm hungry. Can you make me something to eat?" She said looking at him intently.

"What do you care for, wifey?" He asked with a smile still not opening his eyes.

"Well, it depend on what you're offering, hubby." She replied.

He took a deep breath, opens his eyes and sat up. He was thinking of something. He remained like that for a minute or two.

She looked at him and wonders what he was thinking about. Because if it was what to cook that was making him think this much, then there is a problem somewhere if he was asked to do something a bit complex in the house.

He stood up and got down from the bed and pulled her legs, bringing her closer to him, he lifted her up in his arms and took her down to the kitchen. He made her something nice to eat.