Chapter 20

Nari

I decided that I loved cooking in Tae's kitchen. My mum's kitchen was hers, and it was difficult to get to cook in it because she always took over. Overall, I was impressed by what I had created. It helped that my music blared beneath my headphones. I picked up the wooden spoon, held it close to my mouth, and began to sing as the chorus came on. No one was here to tell me to keep it down so I could belt it out.

"I fell in love with the devil, and now I'm in trouble. I fell in love with the DEVIL. I'm underneath his spell. Someone send me an ANGEL…"

I opened my eyes to see Tae standing before me, and my heart almost exploded in fright. The spoon fell from my hands to clatter on the floor. Since I was in my mid-twirl, my legs were tangled, and I began to fall back. He caught me by my waist and pushed me against the counter. He wore his dark navy suit with a pale blue shirt from earlier, so he must have just gotten home. I pulled the headphones off until they rested on the back of my neck.

"You scared me," I said with my heart still pounding.

"Interesting song, baby. Should I be worried?" he murmured against my neck before he sniffed me.

"Ugh, don't. I probably smell like onions and garlic."

"My favourite," he said as he traced his tongue up my neck.

This is what he did to me. One kiss or a neck lick, and I was so damn horny, but he still wouldn't give me what I really needed.

"Stop toying with me and go get changed," I grumbled, thoroughly embarrassed that he had caught me dancing and screaming from the top of my lungs.

"So temperamental," he said with a grin, but he released me.

I turned the music down to stop it from blasting out of the headphones.

"It's all your fault for driving me crazy," I shouted to his retreating back before I picked up the wooden spoon from the floor.

When he returned, my apron was off, and the table was set.

"Woah, you made all this?" he asked as he eagerly sat down.

I nodded with a smile as he picked up the silver chopsticks.

"They are a gift from my mum. She gave us a full set," I said, nodding towards the soup spoon.

I'd made rice, oxtail soup, omelette rolls, salad, and a few other shop-bought side sauces.

"Tell her I said thank you," he said with a smile. "And thank you for cooking dinner for us tonight."

"You're welcome," I said with a grin.

"Do I get a song and dance with dinner?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with delight.

"No, it's only one per night," I said in a prim and proper voice. "Eat before it gets cold."

It wasn't until we had finished eating that Tae told me that his Dad came to his office. I simply listened when he told me what was said.

"Do you think your mum will come to the wedding?" I asked.

"I doubt it," he said as he looked down at the table, avoiding my eyes.

Our fathers were polar opposites, but I didn't see it getting any better with his dad when he insisted on escalating matters. I watched as Tae began to clear the table. Tae wouldn't speak about his past, so I didn't push him, but it made me wonder what his father had done to them. All I could try to do was keep our home as harmonious as possible. It worked for my parents because I don't remember them ever arguing other than the cute bickering they did.

◆◆◆

My phone vibrated as I groaned and rubbed my belly as if that would ease the cramps away. The painkillers were useless today. My period wasn't usually this bad or as heavy. I grabbed my phone and lay on my bed. Tae's bed was more comfortable, but I didn't want to be around him just now when I felt terrible.

My Lover: I just got your message. Why are you still at home?

Me: I told you I felt a little under the weather today.

My phone lit up, and I paused before answering it because I just wanted to lie in the silent, dark room.

"Hey," I said in a fake cheerful voice.

"What's the matter? You are ill?" he said so quickly his words jumbled together.

"Uh, it's just some stomach cramps," I said with a cringe. I don't know why I was being sheepish about my period.

"What do you mean stomach cramps? Is it food poisoning?"

I stifled a groan at his insistence.

Why wouldn't he leave it alone?

"I'm on my period, okay? I get miserable, tearful, and angry. Along with a dose of cramps, headaches and sometimes back pain. But right now, I have a headache and cramps, so I need to lie down."

He was silent for a moment before he spoke. "You go through all this every month?"

"It's not usually this bad. Maybe you dicked me too hard last weekend," I said with a smile.

"My dick didn't go near your pussy," he said indignantly.

"Exactly, maybe this is why I'm cramping so much now. I needed your dick, and you didn't give it to me," I moaned.

He said nothing.

"It was worth a try," I huffed. "I don't think I'm coming over this weekend."

"No. I'm coming over," he said.

I began to protest and saw he had hung up on me. I put my phone under the pillow and closed my eyes. I'd made it till late afternoon before I came home early. Warren was understanding and a gem of a guy. I'd been in the dental hospital, and other dental surgeries, but the atmosphere in his practice was the best. I sighed and stretched my stiff back before rolling onto my side and tucking my hands under my head.