Branch One Hundred and Fifty Two
Jessica melted into Xavier’s hands and she loved the way it felt. “Have I ever told you?” she murmured into his chest.
“That?”
“Your scent is one of the most memorable scents ever. I am able to identify it from a mile away. I love it, it’s unique to you and I can go on sniffing it all day”
“I’m glad”
“Why?”
“That way you can easily find me in a big crowd”
“You sure do have a way with words don’t you?”
“Let us go to bed” he said changing the topic and patting her slightly on the arm.
She snuggled closer to him and buried her nose in his chest. “I am going to take it all in,” she said after a few minutes. Her voice was dropping as it was obvious she was exhausted from the day’s activity.
As usual, Jessica was awake early. Sometimes her body alarm was a blessing other times it seemed like a curse to her. Why did she have to be awake so very early?
She tried to stretch when she realized a hand was holding her firmly. She looked up at his sleeping features and smiled. A flood of the happenings of yesterday came back to her mind and the smile grew bigger.
She had never expected such a confession from him. She thought about confessing her love to him but thought it wise to do so when she was leaving the house that way he wouldn’t have an obligation to try and love her back.
She plopped her chin over one of her hands and her back was elevated so she could see his face very clearly. “So handsome” she murmured as she gently traced his jawline.
She started a few more minutes before she tried to push herself off the bed. His strong hands pulled her back down and a shriek left her mouth.
“I want you to be the first person I see every morning” he murmured as his eyes fluttered open. “I mean you stared at me for a very long time now didn’t you?” he asked smirking.
“Well I did but I have to go clean up and then do a little exercise before I head down for breakfast preparation”
“Can’t you stay a little longer? The staff would prepare breakfast”
“I thought you wanted me to pay you back with my meals?” she asked as she watched him try to keep his eyes open.
“That was just a way of saying let’s stay together longer than we intended”
“I still need to make breakfast” she muttered.
“I felt so warm having you sleep so closely beside me. I loved it” he continued with a sleepy voice.
“And you are still sleepy, don’t let me keep you awake. Why don’t you sleep and then I can go make breakfast ready?”
“I slept well because you were beside me and you were warm,” he tells her again.
“Come on Xavier loosen your grip” she demanded.
“No,” he said and then closed his eyes.
“I never knew you were this clingy. You act all independent and mighty but you love to cuddle?”
“Yes,” he said without missing a beat. “I love to hold you, I just realized it is my second favorite thing in the world.
“What is your first?” she asked shocked. She was pretty high on the list.
“You”
“Me?” she asked shocked again.
“Yes you”
How is that possible?”
“I should be asking what you did to me. I always think about you, no matter the situation. It seems like you are always in my mind”
“I have never heard something so cheesy before” she giggled.
“I have never said something so cheesy either” he snickered and both of them burst into laughter.
“Okay I have to get up now,” she said again.
“Okay fine, I will let you go because you have asked so much”
Jessica felt his grip loosen and she raised her head to his cheek and planted a short kid on it before she hurried out of bed.
“If you do things like this I am afraid it might be difficult for me to let you go next time” he yells after her as she enters the closet.
“Then do not”
“Good morning, Young lady” Roselle greeted Jessica as she entered the kitchen. “I did not expect to see you in here so early,”
“We came back very late last night, it was hard to get out of bed” she lied.
“Why were you both back so late? I was worried because I did not see you both but I had to retire to bed. I am an old woman who needs rest”
“We were out on a date,” Jessica said causally. She wanted to see her reaction to the new information, she knew about her feelings for Xavier anyway.
“Even if you were out on a date you ought to call….” she trailed off when her mind finally processed what she was saying.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
“You were out on a date? A real one? Not one to dispel scandalous rumors?” she asked happily like a high school teenage girl waiting to be given the latest tea.
“Yes,” Jessica said nodding.
“How did this happen?” Roselle asked. She was quick to gather herself together to prevent her from squealing so happily in front of her lady.
“Xavier suddenly suggested that we go steady like a real couple,” she told her and Roselle gasped in awe.
“So what you are trying to say is that young master made the first move and not you?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I am trying to say,” Jessica said nodding her head.
“The young master?”
“Yes, Xavier”
“He is not like what the blogs say after all” Jessica added.
“I am so happy, I need to tell the chairman immediately,” Roselle said skipping out to go get her phone. She stopped by the door frame and turned back to face Jessica. “It is okay if I tell the chairman right?” she asked.
“I think,” she said shrugging.
“Because both of us have been planning how to bring you two closer. I think the honeymoon at Aurora Haven did do the trick” she said and left the kitchen without waiting for a response.
“Congratulations” she heard a voice from behind her.
She felt like someone who just got a wedding proposal. The happiness and excitement in the faces of the people around her made her more comfortable and confident in saying it.
“Did you overhear the whole conversation?” she asked Genevieve who entered the kitchen and began to walk towards the refrigerator.
“Not everything but most of it. I was able to tell that things are going well with you and Xavier?” she asked as she pulled out milk.
“Yeah,” she responded shyly. “What is the milk for?” she asked.
“It is for cereal”
“Why would you have cereals when I am about to make the most extravagant three-course breakfast?” she asked.
“I can barely keep anything down these days,” Genevieve said truthfully.
Jessica already knew, in fact, the whole house was aware of the situation so there was no need for her to hide.
“Why did you not say anything earlier?” Jessica asked concerned as she walked towards her.
“It was a celebratory event I did not want to dampen the mood with my sickness. I bought this upon myself so I should bear it alone shouldn’t I?”
“Come one Genevieve, I am sure the reason you came back was to have a family to lean on. If you don’t want to tell Xavier or Dawson anything you can tell me anytime. I will always be willing to hear you out” Jessica said massaging her shoulders slightly.
“Thank you, I feel more at ease because of you,” Genevieve said.
“Let me help you get a bowl for that cereal then,” Jessica said walking to the plate drawer rack and opening it up.
“We will go see Dawson today, you should come with us,” Jessica said out of the blue.
“Are you sure he would appreciate my presence?”
“Yes and I am a hundred percent sure of it”
“I don’t know about that” she trailed off as she thought of the discomfort she must have caused the family before this time. Nobody shunned her but she still did not feel welcome as the guilt was eating her up.
“While we are there, you should see the doctor”
“No, I can’t”
“Just do this for me”
“Please”