My whole body stiffened as held my breath.

    Junathan’s calloused hand rested lightly on my waist, gently tracing along it.

    “Don’t be so tense, bRx/b,” he murmured right next to my ear.

    1 shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

    Momentster, I felt pressure around my waist as Jonathan palled me into his arms.

    He sighed band /bskily asked, “Taking it?”

    I stayed silent.

    He brushed the hair back from my ear and pressed ba /bsoft loss there, but did nothing more.

    T

    The next morning, I opened my eyes to see Jonathan sitting on the edge of the bed, buttoning up his bshirt /bwith his back tumed toward me. An idea popped into my head.

    “My stomach hurts…” I suddenly said, putting on a pained expression as I stared silently at him. “When Gabrielleester, tell her to take me straight to the bospital

    Jonathan paused, frowning as he looked at me. He reached over and ced ba /bhand on my forehead.

    “Howe your stomach suddenly harts?”

    “I don’t know. [probably ate something bad,” I said.

    tis expression darkened. “I’ll have the kitchen staff recedb./b”

    Tquickly bgrabbed /bhis arm. “No, no, that’s not necessary!

    If any lie cost someone their job, that would be too much.

    “It’s probably just me. Maybe it’s some mild food intolerance.” I stammered..

    Jonathan frowned, “Food intolerance? You’ve been staying here bfor /bdays. Why would that suddenly be a problem now?”

    He sounded suspicious. I pulled my bhand /baway and turned my back to him, sulking. Fine, then let me suffer alone.” Jonathan bced /bba /bhand on my shoulder, gently trying to lum me over. I jerked my shoulder and pushed his bhand /bawayb, /b“Elise, stop making a scene,” he hoarsely said.

    I shouted, “I’m not making a soenal just go to work!”

    I faced the wall, refusing to look at him once. “It’s just a stomachache. I can bear it.”

    Time passed in silece

    just as I thought he had really lett, J tuned baround /band met his dark, probing eyes There was a restrained worry in them.

    “I’m calling the family doctor,” he said.

    I hesitated, then bshook /bmy head quiddy.

    “No! | teel temible! I want to go to the hospital for a checlup!”

    “Get Greased, I’ll take you there,” he said.

    I didn’t want fun to take me. I was already nning bto /bmeet Frederick, and if bJonathan /bfound out, he might bnot /blet me leave at all,

    “Aire’l you supposed to go to work?” I basked/bb. /b

    “It’s bon /bthe way,” licirplied “Filluve Hob reschedule the meeting ”

    Fijuieldy waved my hands “Holt’s nothing serious. I can go on my own!”

    Suddenlyb, /bJonathan brated his ams on either side of me, trapping me beneath Balony with thi

    **You just said byou /bwere in so much pain you could die, and now it’s no big deal?”

    My eyes darted nervously, and i pushed at bhis /bbchest/b, trying to get lum to back oft

    Jonatan leaned in race you lying to me?

    heavy stare.

    My Jace went pair. I flopped to the side, burying my face in the pillow. “I’m embarassed! I feel like I’m about to have dianthea and don’t want you to see it! Can You not look at me and let me go to the hospital myself

    Hearsted his hand on my back, and as if believing bthe/bb, /bbe clucided softly. “We’ve been married for so long. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”

    He flipped me over and pressed his ann palmi against my stomach, gently rubbing inslow circles.

    “I’ve seen every inch of you,” he murmured.

    Then, he suddenly paused, bas /bit hesitating to bmove /bhis bhand /bfrom my stomach bdownward /b