ERIC MAXWELL

Waking up with a sore body and burning pain in your butt as well legs that barely stand on the floor is not your best day. How these sex maniacs can stand right after do it every day? Damn, this after effect is not in my calculation at all.

"Stay at the bed first. I'd clean your body last night." The culprit didn't show any pain while wearing his black blazer.

"How long I need to stay at the bed?" I asked the stupid question.

"Until your legs can withstand your weight again, I guess." He stared at me. My face is burning with shame as the last night scene appeared in my mind.

"I don't know you're still a virgin until last night. I'd done my best to prevent your body from suffered the heavy pain. Put a salve on your back and it should easy it a little. " He pointed a greenish salve bottle beside the bed.

"Thank you.... sorry, my performance... well not good enough to serve you last night." I lower my head and apologize in stuttering.

"It should be expected from first timer and don't think I ever regret about last night, although my mind a bit fuzzy." I grabbed a blanket over my half naked body as the maid brings in the tray of food.

"See you later." What am I expecting? The cold man remained same not matter if we did joint the body or not. But it didn't dampen my mood as I knew my place here, and in his heart. I am merely same as these bed partners he had hidden from the public.

Shrugging my shoulder, I pushed myself to get up. There is no way I would eat breakfast without brushing my teeth first. After experiencing a life at the death's door, I knew better how to take care myself and give more attention in hygiene and healthy life. With jelly legs, I walked slowly to the bathroom.

Facing the mirror, I can take a good look around my upper body. The purplish marks scattered like blossom floor across my skin. Explaining why Claudia's face quite red when handing the tray a few minutes ago. I trace the marks causing the morning erect became worst. With no choice, I handled it by myself using the memories of the last night indecent scene.

After relived the desire, I get out from the bathroom. A fresh clothes lay on the bed. After dressing up, I eat the breakfast and forget to inform Mike about my absence today. Three miscalls appeared on the screen. I open the text message from Michael:

Hope you will get better soon, Lil bro. Don't worry and get enough rest. Russel had informed me about you so called little date had caused you contact the cold.

Since I had gotten a permission to get a better rest, why not I use it wisely. I meant other than sleep what else I can do in laid position. My bum still had a throbbing pain when I sit. So better sleep to forget the pain and rest my body.

Although, the pain is quite unbearable at first but I did not forget the euphoria feeling too. Him, how should I describe? Hmm, gentle? Thoughtful? Consideration? Or maybe an experience playboy. Argh whatever as long as I did not encounter first night life phobia experience. In short, I don't mind repeating last night action.

In fact, as a husband aren't that is one of my tasks? Our relation may consider as a collateral, master/slave or anything associated with it but still legally husband and husband. This case is better than spread my legs to stranger or one night stand.

The bored hit me when I can't sleep and fiddling with my phone. Some part of me interested to know a small part of my so called husband daily life. I find a business site and some tabloid and yes someone as hot as he won't free from any scandal.

One picture in these sites was him walked side by side with popular model, another an intimate gesture with actress as well dining with an unknown woman. In many photo decorated in these websites, I haven't found anything relate him to homosexual life. His reputation seems clean from that side.

Have I encountered another Frank type? I think while closing my eyes. Thinking from that side, seem like I had no luck with love or found my own Mr. Right. Maybe I was no good enough. I don't know the answer. Not now and maybe not in this lifetime too.

A cold hand forces me to open my heavy eyes. I groaned before fully open the eyes. A man in black turtleneck shirt patiently waiting me wipe the trace of drowsiness. I take my phone and damn it's almost 08:00 p.m.

"Have you felt better?" The masculine voice drift into my ears. Our eyes meet and a feeling of joy seeping into my heart.

"Guess so." The pain became dull and not restrict my legs anymore. "Have you eat dinner?"

"Not yet, let's dinner together." He invited me. I knew he had changed the clothes and bathed because the current clothes he wore right now was different from this morning.

"Okay, but I need to take a bath first." I get up from the bed after his nod. Why I feel a deep jealousy when thinking him with somebody else just now?

I took the quick bath, dressing up and head to the dining room after that. I found Russel had been there while engrossed in his smartphone. I took the seat opposite him. I had noticed all the food I eat here actually is in a healthy category.

"Sorry." I greet him when he seems like didn't notice me.

"It's okay." He said. Claudia serves us and disappear once we begin eating. The dinner goes in silent mood.

"I have something to discuss with you" Russel used the napkin, wiping his lips. My heart is drumming aloud.

"What is it you want to talk?" I trailed behind him.

"I want you to work at my office?" He put down the fork.

"Ugh? What? No, I can't. My brother still needs me to manage our company. I can't let him alone shoulder the weight."

"You have made a big sacrifice to save the company. I give you two months as preparation to move to my company." Russel sternly locked his eyes with me.

"But, I hate getting a position without my own effort." I tried to give a reasonable excuse.

"You think I would grant you an upper echelon position? Nope, I won't not." A hint of tease hidden in his tone.

"Then what is position you want me to apply." I am playing with my own fingers.

"The secretarial department currently short a staff. So, I would put you in there." Russel orbs slowly out from sternly zone.

"More than a thousand people willing to line up to enter a big empire like you. Why not you just take one of them to fill the position."

"Don't ask too much. Remember, I am your current master and you're a collateral goods here." Russel eyes hardened again, sending a chill in my bone marrow.

"Aye." I involuntary agree. He shoves me an iPad with his company homepage.

"Fill it." Like a strict instructor, he stands near me as I filled up the job application form. "Remember the first day in third months, I want you step in my company." I curled my lips in protestant

This man is a worse than a cruel tyrant or dictator. When I am still in sulking, out of nowhere his lips land on me. The anticipant and joy mixing together making my mind confuses. A soft moan escape my lips when he glides his tongue inside me.

Damn, he is about to devour me again. His ashen orbs become darken with misty desire in it. The shuddered run across my skin as his hand crawling under the shirt, finding the half hardened nipples. My breath becomes hitching when his fingers begin fondling the nipples.

"Ah... Russel... stop it." My mouth begged his mercy.

"Your other head seem have a different idea though." A red shade maybe have decorated my face when he cupped my private member, fondling and slowly stroke it.

"You see... last night... my virgin...." I was stuttering while trying to explain.

"Never imagine I would be your first man." I rolled at the maniac statement.

"Not fully right." I defend myself.

"Whatever, since you're my husband so I had a very right to taste my wife." My shirt quickly left my body. This man had become a sex monster. Shit! I had married the horny beast.

"Damn it." I said before succumbing to his need. Last night scene repeating again as he devoured my body like a wild beast, adding more marks or doubling the existence marks. He only let me go after a couple of hours.

With sweating and throbbing pain, he led me into the bedroom where we took the bath together. In one night I had taken two times bathes. Oh Joy! I rolled my eyes seeing the reflection in the mirror. The beast didn't leave any empty space. The most annoyed when I spotted him smirked behind me. I shook my head followed him from behind as well changing into fresh clothes.

Russel tossed the tainted bedsheet at one corner caused me frown. The illness had made me developed some symptom of cleanliness standard. With twitching eyebrow, I walked passed him, gathering all dirty clothes along the bedsheet and bring them to washing machine.

Our relation is rather in ambiguous state. One time he was so caring that I forgot we only shared it for a while. Another time, he completely acted like a total arrogant jerk as if I didn't exist in his eyes. It would be lying if I said that not hurt me.

In all honesty, this is a first time I encountered the man like him. I am clueless how I wanted to view our relation and how to treat him better. Deep inside, a nagging whisper warned me from handover my heart to this man. Because in reality, he only viewed me no more than his collateral goods.

That's why I don't want to touch the topic and just going along with the flow. I had tasted a bitter relation and unbearable pain over the failed relationship. The shit gave me a valuable lesson to guard my heart properly. I don't want to take this relationship seriously due fear the pain I would face later. As people said, once was enough for me.

Throwing the dirty sheet into the washing machine, I returned to our bedroom. He is not in any of my sight. I shrugged and plopped down onto the mattress, my front and back is killing me. Damn! Maybe I should top him once in a while.

The thought sends a sliver of shuddering under my skin. There is no way in a million I can top the beast. More or less to tame it. With the tiredness and throbbing pain I surrendered to sleep. Next, I awoke when hearing the blasting alarm from my clock. I gently get up, minding the man sleep beside me.

"Good Morning, Claudia." The sorry woman jumped when I suddenly greet him.

"You almost make me lose another second of my life. Good morning Eric." Claudia caressed her chest. She had dropped any suffix to my name after I forcefully her only called me by my name.

"Sorry." I apologized.

"Going to jog again?" She asked me.

"Yeah, as a youth, I need to exercise myself a lot." I winked at him, blocking my ears with song tracks. Hiding my face with the hoodie, I start jogging around the residential area and breathing the fresh air.

I always did this exercise and yoga to keep myself healthy. This is like a compulsory ritual to clean my in and out as I scared to face with the same situation again. After running around for almost one and half an hour, I am back to the home. Claudia's food has already caused me salivating.

"Be careful." A strict voice sound when I was running upstairs.

"Okay." I said when meets Russel in the middle of the flight of stairs.

Half an hour later, I am sitting at the table, watching Russel still with his old man habit. He was reading the newspaper while sipping the black coal coffee.

"This is for you." Claudia winked her eyes while handing me a glass of milk.

"Thank you, Claudia." She nodded and disappear into the kitchen.

"Will you back late today?" I put a syrup on the pancake.

"Maybe, I have some banquet to attend it." All of a sudden my body got tense. It was like my heart can't get along with this man party habit.

"May I stay at my old apartment? I have something to settle." I asked his permission.

"Why not settle it in here." Russel put down the newspaper.

"All my thing is still in there. And, I need a quiet and isolate myself from others. Likely to sink into my own world."

"If you feel uncomfortable doing it in this house, you can take the vacant studio."

"Studio house?"

"Yes." He said, "Jamie, please show him the vacant house when he is free. For now, I want you to neat the house and throw away everything in there."

"Yes, sir." Jamie said.

"Just tell them whenever you want to see the house. I won't disturb you inside there and the house only has one key. Jamie will give the key once they neat it." He kissed my forehead before going to work. I feel dumfounded by his spontaneous action. I touched the faint mark of his kiss, slowly dragged myself to the office.

"Boss, told us, you have moved to a new place. Is it comfortable?" Jess teased me.

"More or less." I rolled my eyes. Brother has diverted them with not entirely false excuse.

"Why are you dispirited this early morning?" Because I got a lot protein last night. I said it inwardly.

"Nothing... have the boss got the fund?" I stupidly ask. If we follow the logic, I should be the first know about it.

"Speaking of it, boss had called back all the former workers and also clean up all pending staff wages. Apparently, the previous uninvited chairman has helped us out from shitty zone." Jess smile sweetly.

"Oh, I see." I rolled my eyes. She didn't know all the fund come from me, the man selling himself to save the company from bankruptcy.

When lunch hour coming, brother asked me to accompany him eat with the client. The client quite a pervert in my eyes, checking me like a piece of delicious meat. I felt uncomfortable but can't be rude due the old man considered as a big name too.

People with money never felt a slight fear if the indecent rumour blowing upon their images. That is because they can buy anything and restraint the news from spread on the newspaper chest. I quite amazed how they wasted the money to cover the dirt of their darkest secret.

Brother had noticed the lewd sign from the man but I pressed his hand from flick on the customer. With the gritted teeth and thinner patience we are able to close the deal without any problem. Brother sighed along in driving back but said nothing. Honestly, it is really uncomfortable sitting with my brother when he was in anger. One wrong word, you may see the death reaper next to you when open the eyes. Unless like me, Mike was equipped with a self-defend. Amelia too.

"Mike, I need to tell you something." I look outside the car window, arranging my mind to discuss about resigning.

"What?" Mike takes the left turn.

"I would like to resign in next two months." I take a deep breathing in and out.

"Why? Did the pay not enough?"

"No, it's just Russel wanted me working at his company. He sort of lack a staff in secretarial department."

"Oh, does he know about your treatment? Would he grant the permission for you to take a leave anytime?" Russel doesn't know about my illness. Truthfully, it's better if I continue working here because all the staffs knew my condition. So when I took the leave they never question anything.

"Yeah, he knew. That was a reason he wants to keep me near him." I turned around, facing my brother to show I am honest. Inwardly, my stomach churned due the lie I put again.

"Such a loving husband, I see. The company already out from the red zone and taking a baby step to stand up again. So, you didn't need to worry about it." Mike patted my shoulder.

"Hmm, thank you, Mike." I said once he dropped me at the car basement parking.

"It's nothing, Lil bro. Take a good care and Alesia really miss you lately." I rolled my eyes hearing it. We just met a couple of weeks ago but she claimed I had gone too long. Opening the car door, I started the engine. I sighed and driving back home.

"Have Russel back?" I ask Jamie at the front door.

"Mr. Hendricks has a business trip for two weeks. He forgot to tell you."

"Oh, I see. Jamie, is the small house ready to use?" I asked Jamie as curiosity eat me from inside.

"Yeah, this is the key." Jamie gives me a silver key. I thanked him before going to my room.

The room seemed so spacious when the owner not around. Two weeks I would be on my own. I shrugged and just taking a bath, dressed in fresh clothes and eat a dinner. Thankfully, tomorrow is a weekend so I can get an enough rest.

The next day, after eating the breakfast, I decided to peek the small house. Bringing the key, I nod at Jamie in middle washing the car. I found the small studio like house. Getting inside I only spotted a white boring wall, a table, a chair and single bed along a small bathroom.

According to Claudia, the house was built for previous gardener. I ignore the plain sight because it really doesn't matter. Otherwise, I only used this house as my mini own studio as Russel disliked me spent too much at my apartment.

After closing the door back, I drive the Chevrolet Spark, the car I only bought for transporting matter. I don't really care much for car as long as it can make me easy to move around. I am not some car fanatic. So, when I saw the price and the good shape I was immediately bought it. Brother always made fun on my taste upon this car matter.

Compared to Russel, my car only a humble one and it may also not qualified to enter this residual area. Like I care because Russel, the richest man around this area is my husband and he forced me to stay here too. So, who cares is I drove the cheapest car in their standard around this residential area.

A creepy smile hung on my lips as I think about the funny fact. The automatic gate spread open when my car in front it. I drove the car back to my apartment, deciding to stay here because one it close to brother's company. Second, here I felt a little sense of belonging than the big house. Third, because he not around. I gave a short call to inform Claudia about my plan. In case if Russel ever call them to inquire anything about me.

Which I feel the most stupid wild thinking. Because I was a merely a collateral deed and his bed partner. Else, he won't even to spare any glance over me. I could feel how much the heartless and cold he was. Because we only have a little time together, I was unable studied him further.

My knowledge only about his favourite designer, colour and his little habit. Other than that is a zero. We rarely speak more than one topic for brief time. The man was like a ticking bomb. One time I detected the gentleness in his ashen eyes. Another time, he was a container fully with vicious darkness.

The way he spoke or gestures send a frozen over myself. Strangely, I never get angry or bash his skull on the hard tiles. What I felt at the time only sadness and guilt. Analysing over the case caused uneasiness biting my heart as I was thinking about the future.

I knew this was a wrong decision marrying him out of love. My decision almost like I have disrespected toward God and religion. The penalty of this sham married consequence is something I never wanted to think about. But what option I had to save my family company back then. Nothing! Nay!

At the moment, I think can endure this consequence as the man respect my pace even sometime he had some overbearing attitude. Argh, Whatever! As long as I know the boundary in this sham relationship, I can prevent the pain later.

Opening the door, I grinned seeing the family decoration inside the house. A good restarting point after I got the heartbroken. I also painted family portrait on the wall. Damn, no other home can compare to this one.

Mike also let me resign earlier than my supposed dateline. According to him, this is the only time I can have enough rest because working at the big company meant I would face a great pressure as well lack of the rest. Brother still convinced me that the idea is not suitable for myself.

A/N

Hope you would enjoy this chapter as well. See you next weekend. J