She hugged him from behind and he sighed, kissing her arms. "Are you done?"

"Almost; I'm just having problems with this Kink client," he replied.

"Is Francine still giving you trouble?" she asked, coming around to lean on the table.

"Yeah. Xav may be cold in how he conducts business, but he knows how to put her in her place. The last thing I want is to bother him with this," he explained.

"But can you handle it? I know you don't want to burden him, but you know how he gets when things don't go according to plan," she pointed out.

"That's just the thing babe, I want to prove myself to him. I know he sees me as his equal but what you just said is exactly why I need to sort this out on my own. This is the first time he's left everything up to me, and I'm not about to show him that I can't handle it. I'm starting to see why he works as hard as he does, but I still want to prove to myself that I can do it," he countered.

She smiled. "I totally get what you're saying, and I'm proud of you. However, just like Xavier doesn't get anywhere by himself, neither will you, so tell me what you need done and I'll do it."

"Do you happen to know a way of bribing Francine?" he asked.

"No, but I can definitely find out. Her assistant is known to be just as much a pitbull as she is, but I'm pretty sure that I can find a way in. Is Francine the only pain in your ass? I want to call it a day already," she said.

"Yeah. I guess we'll come up with a game plan tomorrow. Sounding time with you sounds more my speed right now," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I don't remember inviting you to come with me," she teased.

He scoffed. "I don't remember needing an invite. I'm practically a part of the furniture."

"Is it?" she giggled.

"Half your stuff is at my place woman. You may as well be a part of my furniture too," he joked.

Their relationship was going exceptionally. Much like with her, Everett's dating history showed just how much his job affected, given that the one reason his exes broke up with him was his lack of attention to the relationship.

With Emery it worked well because they work together. They come to work together and leave together, and she understands his schedule and the demands it sometimes has, and vice versa. They have an understanding of each other and their dynamic.

"Then let's move in together," she said.

His eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?"

She nodded. "I am. I don't know about you, but you're it for me Rett. If this doesn't work out between us, then I'm becoming a cat lady because there's no one else who's going to understand and put up with me like you do."

He looked thoughtful for a few seconds before smiling widely, pulling her onto his lap as she squeaked. "Being stuck with you doesn't sound so bad."

"Putting it like that takes the romance out of it, just by the way," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Like you'd have me any other way," he said knowingly.

She tapped her chin. "I think I take my suggestion back."

"Nah uh! You can't do that. We're going to start looking for houses during the weekend," he informed.

"Houses?" she asked.

"Well yeah. I don't exactly see myself raising a family in an apartment," he pointed out.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Everett Ryan Holmes, what exactly are you saying?"

He looked for something he could use on his desk, and the only thing that made sense was a keyring, so he grabbed it from his keys and took her left hand. "I'm saying Emery Irene Applegate that you're it for me too. If we're it for each other, then I hear wedding bells. Not soon, but they're in our future. On that note, will you be my future wife so that I can annoy you for the rest of our lives? I promise to work late, never put my dishes in the sink like you want me to, never pick up my socks and definitely steal your food every time we go out because you know, I love you and that's what lovers do."

She was in tears, both from happiness and laughing. "You are the worst proposer ever and this thing doesn't even fit!"

"First of all, who cares if it fits? Secondly, your statement suggests that being a proposer is a thing, which I doubt and lastly, you sound like you know a lot of them," he argued. She could only laugh harder before pulling him in for a kiss.

"The cosmos must be screaming at me right now to stop me from saying yes because even they know that I'm risking my sanity here," she teased.

He smirked. "All I took from that was yes, so I don't care what the cosmos say."

She laughed. "I love you too my nut job."

Diamond had been speaking for a while, rambling even, and she didn't realize it until her husband snorted beside her. She looked over at him and he was fast asleep. She rolled her eyes and managed to leave his arms without waking him up. She headed to the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth without waking him up.

"Aren't you supposed to be asleep or something?" Emery asked as she answered her phone.

"It's half eight in the morning," Diamond countered.

Emery laughed. "Oh right. Why are you calling me then?"

"That stupid man fell asleep while I was talking to him," Diamond complained, heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

"Gee Diamond. I had no idea you were that boring," Everett teased her. Emery smacked him.

"Am I on loud speaker?" Diamond asked.

"The phone is connected to the car and we're only heading home now," Emery replied.

"What time is it over there anyway? I was taking a chance when I called," Diamond questioned.

"It's seven in the evening," the couple replied.

Diamond knew something was up. "And you're only leaving the office now?"

"I was dealing with a problematic client," Everett told her.

"But you can't tell Xavier," Emery added.

"I won't, but which client is this?" Diamond asked.

"Francine Schulz," Everett informed.

"Actually, I just thought of something. Do you know a way around her? Her PA is hard to get around, which means she's hard to get around to. Xavier normally deals with her personally," Emery asked her.

"Funny enough, I do know a way around her. Her PA is a bitch, but I met her once when she was at the mall. I helped her pick out a pair of shoes, and before I knew it, she was taking me everywhere with her to choose stuff for her. What exactly is the problem?" Diamond questioned.

"Before you left, she and Xavier were working together on a project. I don't know how Xav handles her, but she's being a pain in my ass right now. She turns down everything I say, and she called me an errand boy," Everett complained.

"Sounds a lot like Francine. I don't really know how I can help, except for may providing intel on her movements. Since it's a Tuesday where you are, then she'll be at a hair appointment at nine in the morning tomorrow. You can devise a plan around that. I'll send you the details, as well as the information on her hairstylist Devon. He's very good at listening to her problems and giving her advice. She listens to him a lot, so I'll try and talk to him as well. If you can convince him to convince her to go with what you want when she brings it up, then she might just cooperate," Diamond suggested.

"It sounds complicated, but fitting for a complicated person. Besides, at this point, I'll try anything that doesn't involve calling on Xav," Everett replied.

"He's proud to have you as his partner Rett, despite the pressure he's putting on you," she told him.

He sighed. "I know, but Dee, your husband is a machine. I had no idea just how much he deals with. It's borderline ridiculous."

"He's got you and Emery, just like you have her and I right now. I won't tell him about this, but definitely keep me looped in. I want to prove to him that I can also use my connections to help him. I don't think he knows what he's getting himself into by agreeing to let me be his PA, so I want to show him," she replied.

"I'm so proud of you both," Emery commented.

"How's Macy doing? Is she getting things down?" Diamond asked.

"She is for the most part, but I'm not depending on her too much just as yet. Emery's still doing a lot of the heavy work because she understands me better, but with Xavier's load, it's too much for Macy to take on now. She should fully ease into it once you guys come back," Everett replied.

"Speaking of, Ree, I'm going to need to train with you so that I understand Xavier better. I don't want to be his wife at work. I actually want him to even forget that I'm exactly that whenever we're at the office," Diamond said.

Everett laughed. "I highly doubt that he's going to switch like that, but sure, I'd love to see that go down."

"I don't know. I think she has it in her to remind him. Remember how scary she can be?" Emery argued.

"I'm still on the line," Diamond reminded.

"Oh, you know you can be scary," Emery replied.

Diamond laughed. "Whatever! You get what I'm saying so yeah. Just train me and we'll all be fine."

"Alright! Listen, we've arrived and we need to crash since we need to be back at the office in four hours," Emery told her.

"Ok! Don't forget to keep me posted about the Francine situation. I love you guys," Diamond told them.

"We won't. We're engaged and we love you too," Emery said quickly.

The line went dead before Diamond could respond.

"What's with the look on your face?" Xavier asked sleepily as he walked into the kitchen.

"I'm pretty sure Emery just told me that she and Everett are engaged," she responded.

Xavier smirked, nodding in approval. "My man!"

"Look at you being happy after sleeping on me," she mocked.

"I did?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"Right in the middle of my touching story about the time Kenny got me a goldfish," she replied.

He scowled. "Kenny got you a goldfish?"

"No, but it just proves my point about how attentive you were to me," she teased.

He laughed, going around to wrap his arms around her. "I'm sorry love of my life. How can I make it up to you?"

"Well, I was about to make us breakfast, but now being spoiled sounds more appealing," she said in thought.

"Being spoiled or me kissing ass?" he asked.

She laughed. "Look at it whichever way makes you feel better."

"You are a very mean wife," he commented.

She raised an eyebrow. "Says the one who slept while I was speaking,"

"So do pancakes sound good?" he asked, making her laugh.

They ended up making the breakfast together, and it involved a flour fight. They ate while they were in the kitchen, making chicken and knock-knock jokes. When they were done, they cleaned up the kitchen before deciding that they would be heading out for the afternoon.

"We can head to the market and then maybe the beach later. Whichever one you want to start with," he commented as they walked into the room. They were staying at a resort that had the option for self-service, hence them cooking for themselves.

"Diamond?" he said, turning to face her since she wasn't saying anything.

"Hmm?" she said, lost in thought.

He walked up to caress her cheek. "What's wrong?"

"I want to do something, but I don't know how to verbalize it to you," she replied.

"Then don't. Show me instead," he suggested.

She bit her lip, unsure, but she nodded anyway. She took a deep breath in before surprising him by putting her hands under his t-shirt. Her hands were warm, but it was her pushing the t-shirt that had him stunned.

He wasn't sure where she was going with what she was doing, so he didn't say anything. She pulled his pyjama pants down too, leaving him in his briefs. By now he was truly curious, especially when she took off her nightdress, leaving her in just her underwear.

It was the first time he was seeing her bare chest.

He still didn't say anything as she took his hand in hers, leading them to the bathroom. She went and started the shower water before turning to face him while the water got hot. The bathroom was gradually steaming up when she reached for her the sides of her underwear, slowly pulling them down. She was the very epitome of perfect in his eyes.

She stepped into the shower, keeping her eyes on him, and the invitation was clear in her eyes.

Join me.

He took off his briefs before joining her under the water. She looked up at him and he could see that she wasn't just physically bare to him. She was emotionally open, as vulnerable as she could possibly be. He leaned down and claimed her lips in a passionate kiss.

In the midst of their kiss, she took one of his hands and placed it on the bullet wound on her stomach. His other hand travelled on its own to the bullet wound at the top of her back, gradually moving down to the one slightly in the middle.

"This is how much I love you Xander. I would give my life for yours," she said lowly.

"You never have to because there's no way you're ever leaving me," he replied before claiming her lips again.

He picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as she moaned into his mouth. He gently squeezed her butt, and an unfamiliar feeling of arousal simmered within her. Her heart was beating faster, and she gasped when she came into contact with his length.

He groaned, pulling away. "We have to stop now before I completely lose it."

"I don't want to stop," she admitted.

"You're not ready Diamond," he said seriously, putting her down.

"Then let's start small," she suggested.

He looked down at her and he could tell that she meant her words. He knew that a part of her was doing this for him, but he also knew that she wanted to know that he wasn't going to completely ignore her sexually.

He grabbed the shampoo behind her before squirting some into his hand. He ran it through her hair and she closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his fingers on her scalp. He washed through her hair and let the water run through it while squirting some more shampoo onto his hand.

He ran his hands down her back, all the way to her buttocks, before squeezing them, kneading them. She thought she would convulse when he pulled her flush against him, making him feel her against her most intimate part. He pulled away to squirt some more shampoo onto his hand.

He turned her around, drawing her against him. He put his hands together, rubbing the shampoo on them before rubbing it from her neck, down to her shoulders. She closed her eyes once more, this time her breath quickening.

Her nipples were hard by the time he brushed past them with his palms. She squeaked a little when he pinched them, but she was moaning just seconds later as he gently twisted them. He cupped her breasts before squeezing them. He was kneading, squeezing, twisting.

Driving her crazy.

He got more shampoo into his hand before moving onto her stomach. She felt ticklish, squirming a little every time he reached the lowest part of her stomach. When the soap had more or less washed away, he took a risk and took his hand lower.

She gasped at his touch.

"Stop me if it gets too much for you," he said.

She couldn't speak, so she settled for nodding. He wasn't quick about his movements. He was slow, seductively slow. He went with different strokes and she didn't stop herself from articulating her pleasure. He worked her, skilfully at that, and she felt like she was touching the heavens.

While her eyes were closed, he expertly moved from behind her to kneel before her. Her eyes briefly opened to look down when she felt her leg being unexpectedly lifted, only for her to throw her head back, closing them and moaning loudly at the new assault.

She couldn't form a coherent word and all thoughts flew out of her mind. She was solely focused on what her husband was doing to her, the places he was taking her. She balanced on the wall when she could feel herself losing feeling in her legs.

He only held her in place as he continued.

She could see stars dancing behind her eyes, the very organs threatening to roll back as she reached a high she didn't know existed. He kissed his way back up her stomach before stopping at her breasts, bringing her a new kind of pleasure.

"Oh God," she cried out.

Tears of joy, of pleasure, rushed to her eyes as he kissed up her neck all the way to her neck. "You are a goddess Diamond Lisa Kingston. You are the Queen of my heart and I will never want another but you."

She was still coming down from her high when he squirted more shampoo onto his hands. He squatted and ran it down her legs, washing them both, before his hands left her completely. She was wondering why until she opened her eyes and found him putting the shampoo in his hair.

She didn't say anything, couldn't say anything, and he didn't expect her to. Instead she silently watched him washing his body. Her arousal wasn't diminishing and he could see it in her eyes, but he wasn't going to do anything about it.

When he was done, he turned off the water and brought her into his arms. She held onto him, digging her fingers into him. She needed this intimacy between them, and she was grateful that he understood that.

"You are my everything Diamond, and I will do everything in my power to help you heal and to make you happy. You are my only reason for living right now," he told her.

"You truly mean that?" she asked, looking up at him.

"With all my heart," he smiled.

"Then I believe you," she said before kissing him.

They left the shower and he went to brush his teeth while she went to pick out their outfits for the day. It was only ten in the morning. They'd woken up around eight and stayed cuddling in bed before he'd fallen asleep again.

When they were dressed and ready, they headed out. It was her first time seeing where they were staying, and she was excited to explore the place. She wanted to walk around instead of taking a car, so Xavier asked the receptionist to give them some kind of head start. She did and she even gave them a map.

"I don't know about the map. I like the idea of getting lost with you," she commented when they got outside.

"I don't like the idea of getting lost, but something tells me you're going to persuade me not to use the map," he said knowingly.

She laughed. "Just look at it this way- if we get lost, at least we'll have a map."

"Very funny Mrs Kingston," he said, mock glaring at her.

She smiled. "I thought so too."

He shook his head, laughing, and they headed out. The map was folded and in her purse as they walked the streets hand in hand. He'd been to Bangkok before, but it still intrigued him every time. Her fascination was that of a first time seer.

They walked around for hours, and for Xavier it was worth it seeing his wife so happy. She was more outgoing than he'd ever seen her, but then he remembered that this was his first time seeing her outside of their circle.

Even so, he knew that she wasn't as free as she was being in that moment.

She was communicating freely with anyone who listened to her and they tried out new things together. If she liked something, he bought it for her. For the first time in her life, Diamond was more than happy to have money spent on her like this.

"What do you think of this one?" she asked, referring to the sunhat on her head.

"I definitely love it more than the green one," he replied.

"Then I'm getting this one," she said before telling the seller.

While the woman was packing it away for her, she turned to her husband lovingly. "I'm having the best time ever. I want to travel more with you."

"Well, we do have two weeks on our hands. We can stay here for a couple of days and then you can pick a new place for us to go to," he offered.

"Really? You wouldn't even mind if I picked more than one place?" she asked.

He nodded. "As long as you can fit it into these two weeks, then we can go anywhere you want."

She squealed before kissing him. "I have the best husband in the whole universe."

"And let's never forget those words if you're ever mad at him," he joked.

She giggled. "Yeah no, those words jump right out the window if you make me mad to begin with."

"I love you Mrs Kingston," he said happily.

"I love you too Mr Kingston," she replied before kissing him.

The woman selling Diamond her hat waited patiently for them simply because she was in awe of such a passionate love. It was clear in how they looked at each other, and she didn't want to ruin their moment.

After paying for the hat, they kept things moving. They stopped at a cute little restaurant for lunch, and Diamond wanted them to be adventurous with the menu they didn't understand. They simply pointed to something and the waiter took it down.

"You're risking our stomachs here woman," he pointed out.

"Live a little Kingston. Don't be so boring," she teased.

"Fine, I'll go with the flow. It's not like I'm allergic to anything, or at least I hope this isn't how I find out," he joked.

She smiled. "I'm so happy to see you so loose."

"Well my wife is just as free and I don't want to ruin our honeymoon for her," he replied, holding her hand.

"I am, aren't I?" she asked.

He nodded. "I'm seeing different sides to you and I love you even more."

"If the food doesn't kill you, all this sweetness directed my way will," she taunted.

He chuckled before kissing her hand. "You truly are one of a kind Mrs Kingston."

"A one of a kind woman for a one of a kind man. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're a match made in heaven," she said, using a high pitched voice.

"Now who's being the sweet one?" he asked, laughing.

Their food arrived and it was more delicious than they'd both expected it to be. They even ordered dessert and she made him admit that it was a great idea to choose things that they didn't know on the menu.

He sighed as they left the restaurant. "Must you always be right?"

"You know what they say about a happy wife..." she trailed off, making him roll his eyes while smiling. He was about to reply when someone called his name.

"Xavier? Is that really you?"