LOVE RESTART

PLAYFUL BANTER

She felt Matthew’s breath fanning her ear, sending goosebumps to her body. She swallowed and then nodded silently.

“In case of having children, Party A shall wait until Party B is ready to conceive them.”

Allison felt even more embarrassed when Matthew read the texts allowed. She covered her face with her hands. Matthew let out a hearty laugh, then whispered to her ears.

“How many children do you want to have?” He seriously asked, placing the tablet on top of his abs and resting his interlaced hands on Allison’s waist.

“Just one,” Allison answered shyly.

“I want two.” He casually said, surprising Allison with a kiss on her forehead.

Did we ever get this close in the past? Was he always this sweet to me?

Allison closed her eyes and wondered. She focused on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and breathing.

“Allie, do you really mean everything you put in this contract?”

Allison answered with a short uh-huh. When Matthew did not answer, she added, “I am now married to you. I am determined to make our marriage work. Like you, I am no longer interested in other men either.”

Matthew picked up the tablet again, “Then I want to add just one more provision to the contract. Allison watched the stylus move as Matthew wrote, “This contract takes effect starting 16th of April 2023, and may only be terminated upon mutual consent of both parties.”

A long silence had passed. Allison thought he had fallen asleep. But when she lifted her head, she saw Matthew staring at the ceiling.

“Matthew, may I ask you a question?” she shifted her position and rested her chin on his chest.

“Sure.”

“Why did you buy me for ten billion dollars?”

Instead of giving her an answer, Matthew turned Allison on her back and climbed on top of her. He claimed her lips before she could even say anything. The kiss was warm and passionate, hungry but giving. Allison gasped for breath when Matthew let go of her lips.

He cupped Allison’s face with her hands before he slowly sank her face into her neck. He nibbled her earlobe and asked, “Do you want to sleep with me?”

Allison let out a nervous laugh. She cleared her throat and said, “I told you I am not ready to have babies yet. I have a lot of things I wanted to do before I devote myself to motherhood.”

Allison put her hands between their chests and refused to meet his stare. Matthew tucked the hair that fell on her face behind her ears, exposing the skin of her shoulder. She shivered when he started planting small kisses on her neck. Allison instinctively placed her hands on his shoulders.

“I heard you. No babies. But do you want to sleep with me?” Matthew whispered again.

Allison is naive. It took her seconds before she understood what he meant. She began to panic and gathered all her strength to push him away. “N-- no. I’m sorry. I am not ready for this…yet.”

Matthew watched the color rise to her cheeks and found her reaction amusing. He sat at the foot of the couch and offered his hand to help Allison sit up. He handed the tablet back to her.

“Take this. And go back to your room before I change my mind.”

Allison did as he said. She felt so embarrassed she did not know how she got to her room. She had a long day, but Allison hardly got to sleep. Her life took a hundred eighty-degree turn overnight, and it was overwhelming.

Once she was in her room, her thoughts shifted to Marco and Yvonne again. Before she knew it, a clever plan started brewing in her head.