"Mmph..."
Raeleigh made a sound as she was kissed to the point of pain. Only then did Jepherson slowly let her go, his heart thumped at the sight of her teary face. He took his hands from underneath her skirt, twisted his body aside and let out a breath. He then loosened his collar, took off his coat, tossed it carelessly to the ground and strode off in the direction of the bathroom, Raeleigh's handbag taken with him.
Raeleigh watched as the lounge door shut behind his back and went to pick up Jepherson's coat. She shuffled over to the bed, put his clothes down and turned around to study the inside of the room.
Nothing had changed compared to when she was here three years ago.
Jepherson stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of purple pajamas as she studied the room.
Raeleigh asked, "How is Santiago?"
"Won't you care about anyone else other than Santiago?" he countered.
"You seem to live here all the time, so who is taking care of him?" Jepherson walked towards Raeleigh from the bathroom. He stopped and waited for Raeleigh's response. "I can only give you my heartfelt blessings." she eventually said.
"I don't want it. I want you!"
Jepherson turned to one side of the room and brought out a pair of pajamas to give to Raeleigh. "Change."
Raeleigh followed Jepherson's trek across the room, then stared at the sleepwear in his hands. "I can't do this."
"Then I won't let Cynthia go."
"In that case, will you let her go if I put this on?"
"Not necessarily, but don't even think about mentioning it if you don't change."
Jepherson put the pajamas aside and headed for the bed. He pulled down the quilt and sat on the bed, his eyes fixed on Raeleigh as he laid down.
Raeleigh turned her back on Jepherson, a little embarrassed. She looked at the pajamas but didn't change into them. Instead, she walked over to the sofa and sat down.
Jepherson waited and waited, but Raeleigh never came over even until the night fell.
Unable to sleep, he blinked open his eyes to see Raeleigh. She was curled up on the sofa like a pitiful child; with her face cushioned in her hands and her eyes squeezed tight, her legs crossed and huddled against her thin body, her feet bare to the open air.
Jepherson crouched down and stared at Raeleigh. He raised his hand to touch her face, but withdrew it at the last moment.
Then he carried her in his arms as he got up, startling her awake.
"What, you never got carried before?"
Jepherson's husky baritone voice penetrated through her bones and reached deep into her heart. She went motionless in bewilderment, which gave him the chance to bring her to the bed.
Raeleigh quickly scooched to the side as Jepherson laid down beside her on his back. He closed his eyes and mumbled, "Go to sleep."
Raeleigh silently looked at the man at her side before she flipped over to get out of bed. An arm snapped out to pull her back but stopped when Raeleigh flicked a glance back at him, "I need to go to the bathroom."
Jepherson let her go. Raeleigh got up and went to the bathroom as she said. Jepherson tidied up the sheets and lay down again. When Raeleigh came out, she returned to her side of the bed and settled
back down.
However, neither of them could fall asleep. They just lay there and stared unblinkingly into space.
A long while later, Jepherson asked Raeleigh, "Does he treat you well?"
Raeleigh's heart went sour, and her words got stuck in her throat.
Jepherson turned to look at her. "He's not treating you well?"
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