Chapter 23: Chapter 23

23

That week was the happiest for Kathleen, Derek spend as much time as possible with her, he always looked forward to coming back home from work, he always couldn't wait to be with her, they went out together to get ice cream, and on one occasion, she had a smear of ice cream on her nose and instead of Derek helping her to clean with his hand, he used his tongue to lick it off amidst the chuckles of passerby and Kathleen's face flamed. He seized every opportunity to touch her.

On one of those occasions, they had gone out for a drink, holding each other's hands, they both sat down, the waiter ran towards them immediately to take their order, and they each sip their drinks in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company. "What a coincidence to have met these lovebirds here" someone suddenly spoke from their side and they both turned to see Stefan standing above them, Derek eyes suddenly darkened with displeasure at his unwanted intrusion but Kathleen's gaze brightened at seeing him.

" Stefan, what are you doing here?" She asked, her voice sounded pleased, too pleased and Derek frowned at her. Stefan chuckled at her question, "isn't it obvious? This is a coffee shop"

"Oh", Kathleen blushed at her obvious question and then smiled when she heard him chuckled.

"Am I free to sit with you?" Stefan asked looking at both of them

"Of cause yes" Kathleen quickly answered just as Derek replied "no".

She glanced at Derek, "oh please, don't be like that" she chided and Derek turned stern gaze her way, "don't push your luck" his tone Brook no argument as he stood up and left, his unfinished coffee on the table. Kathleen cast Stefan an apologetic look before standing up and running after Derek. Stefan watched them leave, his gaze cold, how that husband of hers do behave like a proud king who sees the likes of him as servants, he would make sure he clipped his proud shoulders and humble him, she doesn't need a man like that in her life, he thought to himself, she in fact needed a man like him, who would treat her well, but for now, he had to lay low and do his thing, the day won't the long when she would forget about her husband and look up to him, he just has to be patient enough, the corner of his lips lifted as he sat down and ordered for his drink.

"Derek, he was just trying to be friendly" Kathleen tried to pacify him, walking and running behind him as his quick strides covered the short distance to their car, he whirled on her, his eyes an angry slit, " don't patronize me, Kath, if you so much want his friendship, then go ahead, he's still in there, sit with him and do whatever you wish for all I care".

Kathleen felt hurt by his words but held herself in check, "common Derek, why sounding this way?".

He made no reply as he simply opened the car door and got inside, he slammed the door shut starting the ignition and Kathleen quickly got in the passenger side, he quickly sped out the parking lot without sparing her a glance, his brow furrowed in an angry line.

"Why are you so furious, If you hate him so much, why then will you invite him to our party?" She asked as an afterthought, wondering at his anger, he spared her a glance, his jaw set, "it was important I invite my business associates and I didn't invite him personally, it was an open invitation to all" he paused and gazed at her for a while before turning his gaze to the road, " and I didn't invite him to start hitting on my wife or for my wife to be putting up with his advances".

Kathleen gasp at his insinuation, so that was it? He thought Stefan was hitting on her? And she was welcoming his advances.

"How cheap of you to think that way, that he wants to be my friend does not mean he's hitting on me and how could you say I was welcoming his advances? There are no advances made here in the first place".

He scoffed but made no reply to her and they drove the remaining part of the journey in silence.

"I'll do as you want, I'll stay away from him, just don't be upset anymore," Kathleen said to Derek following him inside the house, he had come down from the car immediately he drove home and without uttering a word, started going inside the house, he still made no reply to her as he opened the door and walked in, she touched his arm, "hold on please" she begged, pained that he was just ignoring her, he stopped at the plea in her voice but didn't turn around, she slowly walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, laying her head on his back, "please Derek, don't be like this anymore" she whispered to his back.

Derek closed his eyes and sighed as her small arms encircled him, he turned around facing her, studying her face and seeing the plea in her eyes, his heart melted and his anger faded, he wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on her forehead, "before I forgive you, I'll have to punish you"

She moved away from his embrace, "what?" She gasped, wide-eyed

"Oh, yes my darling wife, you'll spend the remaining part of the day in my bed as your punishment"

She smiled coyly, "won't you have mercy on me?"

He shook his head at her, "not at all". She sighed as if resigned to her fate, "I'll have no choice than to accept my punishment then, I'm trembling with fear already", he suddenly lifted her in his arms and she squealed, "your punishment starts right now", his quick strides ate up the distance to their room, she sighed, "on second thought, I think I'm gonna love this punishment".

He soon entered the room, locked the door, after depositing her on the bed, he went ahead and dealt with her properly.

Kathleen sighed with contentment some hours later as she snuggled in his arms, "I love the way you punish me Mr. Derek Deloux" she whispered to his chest "but I'll need more so that I can learn my lesson properly" Derek chuckled at her, they never seem to get satisfied with each other, he kissed her nose, "that, I'll gladly oblige but let's go for a break" he wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer and she sighed, loving this moment, they were yet to say how they feel about each other but Kathleen knew in her heart, she had fallen in love with her husband.