With a faint smile on his lips, Jason watched as Estre ate the snack. “What are you looking at me


    for? Next time, I’ll take you out for a bite, easy as that.”


    Jason chuckled. After theughter subsided, he rosenguidly from the couch. “Come on, let’s go see


    if Mom can school me on how to properly dote on my wife.”


    Instead of tending to pressing matters, he hade home only to be lectured all evening by Kristin,


    while Estre seemed to be enjoying the show.


    “I’m not hungry,” Estre dered. But no sooner had she finished speaking than Jason scooped her


    up and headed for the dining room, seating her at the table.


    Kristin, sensing a moment brewing, quickly followed them.


    Jason then served up a heaping bowl of sweet dessert soup for Estre and piled her te with a hefty


    serving of ate-night snack. “Eat up,” hemanded, before turning to Kristin with a questioning look.


    “Is this how Korey takes care of her?”


    Kristin shook her head vehemently, convinced that her son was being too forceful, almost beyond


    redemption. This wasn’t tender care. It felt more like a threat.


    Estre, sensing Jason’s irritation and his intent to tease her, gave his leg a not-too-gentle kick. “Cut it


    out,” she protested.


    Jason shot her a cold re. “Estre, if you don’t finish that, don’t bothering back to bed.” If she


    had such a good time out with others, she could surely eat a bit more back


    home.


    Estre just threw a nut shell at him.


    Kristin, noting Jason’s mood, spoke up displeased. “Have my words all evening been in vain? I told you


    to treat Estre nicely, not to threaten her. Son, if you keep this up, you might just lose your wife for


    good one day.”


    As Kristin’s words hung in the air and Estre, barefoot, made to leave, Jason’s hand shot out to grab


    her arm. “Where do you think you’re going without shoes?”


    He softened his tone then. “I haven’t had my dinner yet. You can at least keep mepany while I eat,


    can’t you?”


    With that, Jason scooped a spoonful of the dessert soup and brought it to Estre’s lips.


    Estre nced at the bowl filled to the brim. Jason kept persuading her, “I’ll eat. You don’t have to


    finish it.”


    Only then did Estre grace him with an open mouth.


    Kristin finally cracked a smile and advised, “Jason, once you and Estre are done, make


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    sure to get some rest early. I’m off to keep your fatherpany.”


    08.14


    Humming a tune, Kristin left the room.


    Once Kristin was gone, Jason still hadn’t fully processed her words. So, when they returned to the


    bedroom, he began to undress, saying, “Estre, we can have a good life. Anything you want, I can


    provide. Don’t make things difficult.”


    “Why didn’t you say that in front of your mom? Estre countered.


    Jason wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Stay away from Korey.”


    “Sure…” Estre drawled, not finishing her sentence before Jason’s lips descended on hers, cutting off


    her words.


    Estre’s brows furrowed-again?


    Pushing against his chest, she wasn’t in the mood, and besides, maybe Kristin was right. She might


    already be pregnant, just without the symptoms.


    After a heated kiss, Estre pped Jason’s chest twice. “I’ve already agreed to keep my distance.


    What are you fussing about? Did you settlest night’s bill?”


    Reflecting on the past, Estre’s dissatisfaction grew, considering they hadn’t even had a proper


    wedding in their two years of marriage. That was why she was so lukewarm with him just now.


    “We are family,” Jason began, but Estre quickly rolled off the bed, feigning sleep. “I’m tired. Let’s talk


    next time.”


    Seeing Estre y possum, Jason rolled up his sleeves, gave her a nudge, and said, “Estre, are


    you so sure you got pregnant on the first shot? Don’t you want a couple more tries to make sure?”


    Estre turned on the bed, ring at Jason, who was unbuckling his belt. She scrambled up and


    dragged him toward the bathroom. Stumbling after her, Jason steadied himself and asked, “What’s this


    about?”


    “I need to take a shoper first,” Estre retorted,


    They had already had sex. If she wasn’t pregnant, it would feel like a waste. Better to be


    sure first.


    With the bathroom door closed, Jason looked down at Estre and chuckled without malice. “Can you


    be any more practical?” he asked, half in admiration, half in jest. Her no-nonsense, quid-pro-quo nature


    left him in awe-if he didn’t provoke her, she might have already fallen asleep.


    Ignoring his bemusement, Estre wrapped her arms around his neck. “Tonight, the pleasure’s on me.


    Don’t be shy.”


    Jason simply gazed at her for a long moment, then scooped her up and headed for the shower.


    09.14


    From the bathroom to the bedroom, they made love until well past midnight. When Estre could no


    longer keep up, she pushed Jason away, murmuring enough. After a final push and release, he let her


    go.


    As he sat up in bed, the moonlight poured in through the window. Jason nced at the tangled sheets,


    swept Estre’s hair aside gently, and asked, “Mind if I smoke?”


    Estre, lying motionless, half-opened her eyes and murmured, “Go ahead.”


    The smoke soon filled the room as he watched her. “Satisfied with tonight?” he asked.


    Estre had invited Jason to spend the night, and he was anything but in a hurry. Hevished her with


    an extensive and satisfying forey, bringing her to bliss twice before they even got to the main act.


    Initially, Estre, having enjoyed herself thoroughly, was almost reluctant to go further, but Jason’s


    persuasive charm and promise of even greater pleasure eventually swayed her. As the night unfolded,


    Estre’s reaction was as genuine as it gets-she was almost in tears by the intensity of their


    lovemaking.


    Jason was quite proud of his performance that evening. His philosophy was simple: go big or go home.


    He aimed to make such an impression on Estre that she wouldn’t even consider anyone else.


    Estre, half-asleep, reached for two coins from the bedside table and handed them to him, saying,


    “Not bad, here’s your tip.’


    Staring at the two bucks that Estre had stuffed in his direction, Jason’s face darkened. “I pour my


    heart out for over two hours, and you think two measly bucks is enough?”


    Estre looked up, her gaze sharp. “What else did you expect? You think you’re worth


    more?”


    That struck a nerve. Jason extinguished the cigarette in his hand, flipped Estre’s covers off, and


    slipped under them with her.


    Estre, who was almost asleep, lost any hope of rest as she tried to fend him off. “Can’t you just quit


    while you’re ahead? Besides, I’m probably all swollen by now.”


    Jason was undeterred. “Let’s have a look,” he insisted.


    08.14