Chapter 18

The city blurred past us as I drove, the warm hues of the setting sun casting golden streaks over the buildings. Orm sat beside me, her eyes studying my face in the dimming light, her curiosity evident.

"You're really not going to tell me where we're going?" she asked, tilting her head.

I smirked, keeping my eyes on the road. "Nope."

She sighed, crossing her arms but not pressing further. I knew she liked surprises—she just wouldn't admit it.

A few days ago, she had taken me to her favorite food stand by the beach, sharing something personal, something intimate. Now it was my turn.

After about thirty minutes, I pulled off the main road and onto a narrow, hidden path that led up a hill. The city lights faded behind us as trees lined the road, their leaves rustling softly in the evening breeze.

Orm sat up straighter, looking around. "Are you kidnapping me?" she teased.

I chuckled. "If I were, I wouldn't take you somewhere this pretty."

Finally, I reached the spot—a secluded cliffside overlooking the city. The skyline stretched far into the distance, glittering against the darkening sky, while the ocean below reflected the last traces of sunlight. It was peaceful, untouched, a stark contrast to the chaos of our world.

I turned off the engine and glanced at Orm, waiting for her reaction.

She blinked, her lips parting slightly as she took in the view. "...Wow."

A satisfied smile tugged at my lips. "Worth the mystery?"

Orm exhaled, still staring at the scenery. "I'll admit—it's beautiful."

I got out of the car, walking around to open her door. "Come on."

She stepped out, the wind catching the edges of her dress, making her shiver slightly. I instinctively slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"This is where I come when I need to think," I murmured, my voice softer now. "It reminds me that no matter how much chaos there is... there's still beauty in the world."

Orm looked up at me then, her amber eyes catching the last of the light. "You brought me here because you wanted to share this with me?"

I nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You shared something special with me the other day. I wanted to do the same."

She was quiet for a moment before she smiled—a real, warm smile. "Thank you, Lingling."

I exhaled, relief washing over me. I wasn't sure why I cared so much about her liking this place, but I did.

The wind whispered around us, cool against my skin, but Orm's warmth was all I felt. Her scent, the soft rise and fall of her breath, the way the city lights reflected in her amber eyes—it was intoxicating.

I couldn't hold back anymore.

I leaned in, tilting my head slightly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. But she didn't. Instead, her lips parted just enough, her breath hitching in anticipation.

And then I kissed her.

Soft at first, teasing. My lips moved against hers like a slow dance, savoring every second, every shiver that ran through her. Then she sighed into my mouth, her hands gripping the lapels of my suit jacket, and that sound—God, that sound—sent a deep hunger through me.

I pressed closer, my hands sliding up her back, one settling at the nape of her neck. My fingers tangled in her hair as I deepened the kiss, coaxing her lips open, tasting her like I was meant to. Like she was mine.

Her body molded into me as if we were two pieces of the same whole. I felt the subtle hitch of her breath as my tongue met hers, the way her fingers curled into the fabric of my jacket.

This feeling... I would never trade this for anything.

Not power. Not revenge. Not even my pride.

I pulled back just enough to see her face, to see the dazed look in her eyes, the way her lips were slightly swollen from my kisses. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Her breath was uneven. "You—" She swallowed, her voice failing her for a second before she tried again. "You really do know how to kiss."

I smirked, brushing my thumb over her lower lip. "I only kiss like that when it matters."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. "Then I guess it matters a lot."

My heart clenched at her words, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I leaned in again, placing a softer, lingering kiss on her lips before whispering, "More than you know, baobei."

The night wrapped around us, the city glowing below, but all I could focus on was her—on this moment, on the way she made me feel.

And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about blood or war.

I was just thinking about her.

The moment I pulled Orm down with me, a surprised laugh escaped her lips, and we tumbled onto the cool grass together. She landed half on top of me, her head resting against my chest, her warmth seeping through the fabric of my suit.

Above us, the city lights twinkled, but the stars—they were something else. Distant, silent, watching over us like they knew something we didn't.

Orm sighed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns over my collarbone. "You're comfortable," she murmured.

I chuckled, running my fingers through her hair. "You're the only person who gets to say that."

She hummed, shifting slightly to look up at the stars. The sight of her like this, peaceful, trusting, made something ache deep in my chest. A wound I didn't know how to name.

So I let the words fall from my lips, raw and unfiltered. "If your heart is a ruin, let me die among the wreckage."

Orm stilled against me. Her fingers stopped their lazy tracing. Then, she turned her head, resting her chin lightly on my chest, gazing at me with those amber eyes that had the power to undo me.

"If my heart is a ruin," she whispered, voice as soft as the wind around us, "then you are the moonlight seeping through the cracks, making it beautiful again."

My breath caught.

No one had ever spoken to me like this. No one had ever seen me like she did.

I swallowed hard, my arms tightening around her, as if holding her close could anchor me in this moment. In this feeling.

The stars above seemed to burn brighter. Or maybe it was just her.

Orm's smile was the kind that could ruin me completely. It wasn't just on her lips—it was in her eyes, in the way she looked at me like I was something worth admiring.

She reached up, her fingers barely brushing against my cheek, tracing the beauty mark near my cheekbone. Her touch was so delicate, so reverent, that I almost forgot how stained my hands were.

"You're staring," I murmured, smirking.

Orm hummed, tilting her head. "Maybe I like looking at you."

I let out a breath of amusement, running my thumb over the back of her hand where it rested against my face. "That so?"

She only smiled wider.

For a while, we just lay there, the wind cool against our skin, the city below us humming with life. But I had a question lingering at the edge of my mind, one I wasn't sure I wanted the answer to.

I ran my fingers down her arm, casually, like I wasn't about to ask something that had the potential to destroy me. "How are you with your family?"

Orm blinked, a bit surprised by the shift in conversation. "My family?"

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "Yeah. You don't talk about them much."

She exhaled, looking up at the sky, her fingers still playing with the edge of my collar. "I'm close with my mom and my brother. It was always the three of us growing up. My father..." She hesitated, her brows knitting together for just a second before she relaxed again. "He left when I was young."

Something twisted in my stomach.

I knew the truth.

He hadn't just left. He had abandoned them. And now, years later, he had sent men to hurt her—to put a blade to his own daughter's face, and for what? To send me a message?

I kept my expression calm, unreadable, even as rage burned slow and deep in my chest. "You ever think about reaching out to him?" I asked, carefully.

Orm let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "No. He made his choice. I don't need to understand it."

Her voice was steady, but there was something in her eyes—something that told me a part of her had once wondered why he hadn't stayed.

I swallowed hard, my grip on her tightening just slightly.

Would she hate me if she knew?

Would she still look at me like this, with warmth, with trust, if she knew I had been plotting to kill the man who had once called her 'daughter'?

I forced a smirk, pushing the thought down, burying it deep. "Guess that makes sense. A man like that doesn't deserve you."

Orm smiled again, softer this time, and leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to my jaw.

I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring it, even as my mind spun with what I was going to do next.

Orm sighed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on my chest. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough," she murmured. "For my patients, for my family, for myself... I see so much pain every day, and no matter how much I try to fix things, there's always more."

I watched her, taking in the way her brows furrowed, the slight frown on her lips. She was always carrying so much weight on her shoulders, yet she still smiled like she wasn't breaking under it.

I reached up, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Orm, you are a star that even the pitch cannot cover."

Orm stilled, her amber eyes flicking up to meet mine. "That was poetic," she teased, a small smile breaking through the storm in her eyes.

I smirked. "I have my moments."

She shook her head, amused, but then her expression softened. "You always know what to say," she admitted, her fingers slipping down to lace with mine. "Like you see right through me."

I squeezed her hand, my voice quieter now. "Maybe I do."

We lay there for a moment, the world around us distant, insignificant. The stars above seemed dim compared to the glow in her eyes.

Then Orm shifted, propping herself up on one elbow. "Lingling," she started, her tone more serious now. "Do you ever wish for something more?"

I tilted my head. "More?"

"Something beyond this life. Beyond... all of this." She gestured vaguely, as if she meant the whole underworld, the violence, the bloodshed.

I exhaled slowly, thinking. "I never used to."

Orm's eyes searched mine, waiting.

I reached up, tracing the curve of her cheek with my knuckles. "But then I met you."

Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching.

I smirked. "And now you're making me rethink everything."

She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

I pulled her down, brushing my lips over hers, barely there, just enough to make her shiver. "And yet, here you are," I murmured.

Orm smiled against my lips. "Yeah," she whispered. "Here I am."

I smirked against her lips, pulling back just as she leaned in for more. Orm let out a small, frustrated noise, her brows furrowing in the most adorable way.

"You—" she started, but I cut her off by ghosting my lips over hers again, barely touching, teasing.

Orm exhaled sharply, her grip tightening on my suit. "Lingling."

I hummed in response, my fingers tracing slow circles on the small of her back. "What is it, baobei?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Stop teasing."

I chuckled, tilting my head. "But you look so cute when you're desperate."

Orm huffed, pushing at my shoulder, but I caught her wrist, flipping her onto her back so I was hovering over her now. The grass beneath us was cool, but her body was warm against mine.

I leaned down, brushing my nose against hers, my lips a breath away. "Tell me what you want," I whispered.

Her amber eyes darkened, her chest rising and falling a little faster. "You."

The word sent heat coursing through me, but I still held back, smirking. "How badly?"

Orm groaned, her patience clearly running thin. She grabbed my tie, pulling me down, and this time, she was the one who kissed me—hungrily, possessively, as if punishing me for teasing.

I laughed into the kiss, but quickly melted into it, deepening it, savoring the way she tasted.

Maybe I loved teasing her. But I loved giving in even more.

The kiss deepened, the world around us disappearing as I let myself sink into her warmth. Orm had always kissed with intention, but this time, there was something more—something raw, something that made my chest ache in a way I wasn't used to.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling slightly, just enough to make me groan against her lips. I retaliated by gripping her waist, pressing her firmly against me as if I could fuse us together. The cool night air contrasted with the heat between us, the scent of grass and her perfume mixing into something intoxicating.

When we finally pulled away, our breaths mingling in the space between us, Orm's lips were swollen, her amber eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite name. I traced my thumb along her lower lip, smirking. "I should tease you more often if this is how you make it up to me."

Orm let out a soft laugh before resting her head against my chest again, sighing contentedly. I held her close, my fingers absentmindedly running through her hair as we stared up at the stars together.

For a moment, everything was quiet. Peaceful.

Then, softly, Orm spoke. "Lingling... what are we?"

The question sent a strange jolt through me. I knew what I wanted to say—I wanted to tell her that she was mine, that I was hers, that whatever this was, it had already gone beyond anything I'd ever expected to feel. But the words got stuck in my throat.

Orm lifted her head slightly, looking at me, waiting.

I exhaled slowly, my fingers brushing over the back of her hand. "We're whatever you want us to be, baobei."

She studied me, as if searching for something in my expression. Then, she smiled—a small, knowing smile, as if she understood me better than I understood myself.

"Then I want us to be real," she said, her voice steady, certain.

Something in my chest clenched. Real. I had never had something real before.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, holding her tighter. "Then real it is."

Orm smiled, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns on my arm. The night breeze swept through us, cool against our flushed skin. I wanted to stay like this forever—her warmth against me, the weight of her head on my chest, the sound of her steady breathing blending with the rustling leaves.

But my mind wouldn't rest.

Real. She wanted us to be real.

And yet, there was a storm brewing inside me, a war between love and revenge, between my past and my future.

Orm's voice pulled me back. "You're thinking too much."

I glanced down at her, my fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Am I?"

She hummed in response, shifting to prop herself up on her elbow, looking at me with those sharp, amber eyes that seemed to see through every mask I had ever worn. "You get this look when you're lost in your head. Like you're fighting something."

I smirked, but it didn't quite reach my eyes. "And what do I look like now?"

Orm studied me for a moment before her expression softened. "Like someone who doesn't know whether to hold on or let go."

My breath hitched.

She was right.

I had spent years clawing my way through blood and fire, driven by the need to destroy the man who had taken everything from me. And now... now I had Orm. The one person who made me forget the weight of my own rage.

But what would happen when she found out the truth?

That the man I had sworn to kill was her father? That the blood feud I had spent my life chasing ran through her veins?

I wanted to tell her. I wanted to let the words spill from my lips and be done with it. But I knew better. Orm was sharp—too sharp. She would start asking questions, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for the answers.

So instead, I cupped her face and pulled her down into another kiss—slower this time, less desperate, more reverent. If this was all I could have for now, I would take it.

Orm melted into me, her lips warm and sure. When she finally pulled back, she let out a small, content sigh. "Let's stay like this a little longer."

I tightened my arms around her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Yes, baobei," I murmured. "A little longer."

Even if I knew that soon, the truth would rip this peace away from us.

I felt it—Orm's small shiver against me, the way her body instinctively curled closer for warmth. The night air had grown colder, the breeze no longer just a soft whisper but a sharper caress against our skin.

I tightened my hold around her, rubbing my hands up and down her arms to generate some heat. "You're cold," I murmured, my lips brushing against her hair.

Orm chuckled softly, her breath warm against my neck. "I didn't realize until now."

I exhaled, shifting beneath her. "Let's get you somewhere warm before you turn into an icicle."

She groaned in protest, nuzzling into my chest. "But I'm comfortable."

I smirked, amused by how stubborn she could be. "And you'll be even more comfortable when you're not freezing, baobei."

I sat up, taking her with me. She let out a small whine but didn't resist, instead leaning into me as I helped her stand. The wind tousled her hair, and she looked up at me with that sleepy, affectionate gaze that made my chest tighten.

"You really are a softie, aren't you?" she teased, poking my side.

I scoffed. "Don't let that get around."

Orm laughed, slipping her fingers between mine, intertwining them like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Your secret's safe with me, Lingling."

I led her back to the G-Wagon, opening the door for her. She slid in, still holding my hand until the very last moment. I walked around to the driver's seat, stealing a glance at her as I started the engine. Her fingers were rubbing at the faint marks I had left on her neck, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"You okay?" I asked, watching her through the rearview mirror as I pulled onto the road.

She turned to me with a smile, a little softer than before. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

"About?"

Orm shrugged, her eyes flickering toward me. "How I never expected this."

I raised a brow. "This?"

She smirked. "You."

Something warm and dangerous bloomed in my chest. I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, trying to steady the feeling. "Guess we're both full of surprises."

She hummed, leaning her head against the window. "That we are."

I drove us through the dimly lit streets, the city alive with neon lights and distant sounds. But inside the car, it was just us—just our hands occasionally brushing, just her presence grounding me in a way nothing else ever had.

And for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, we could stay like this.

As I drove, the dim glow of the streetlights occasionally illuminated Orm's face, highlighting the faint bruises on her neck. My marks. A slow smirk tugged at my lips.

"You know," I started, stealing a quick glance at her, "those hickeys look really good on you, baobei."

Orm groaned, covering her neck with her hand. "Lingling..."

I chuckled, reaching over with one hand to gently tug hers away. "What? It's true. You wear them so well." My fingers brushed against the sensitive skin just beneath her jaw, feeling the warmth of her blush even in the cool night air.

She swatted at my hand. "You're annoying."

"I prefer the term irresistible," I teased, my smirk deepening.

Orm rolled her eyes, but the small smile tugging at her lips gave her away. "I had to layer my makeup three times this morning because of you."

I hummed, feigning innocence. "Not my fault you look so good when I get carried away."

Her face turned even redder, and I took full advantage of it, leaning slightly toward her as we hit a red light. "If it makes you feel better, I could always give you more. Even them out, maybe?"

She gasped, shoving at my shoulder. "Lingling!"

I laughed, catching her hand before she could retreat. I pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles, my lips lingering just a second too long. "Relax, baobei. I'm just admiring my work."

She huffed but didn't pull away, letting me trace idle patterns against her palm as I started driving again. "You're too much."

I smirked, squeezing her hand. "You love it."

Orm glanced at me from the corner of her eye, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Maybe."

That one word sent a rush of heat through me. I tightened my grip on the wheel, biting back a grin. Damn, she was something else.

I let my thumb stroke over the back of her hand, content with the warmth between us, knowing that teasing her was only half the fun—watching her fall for it was the best part.

As the city lights flickered past us, I kept my grip firm on the wheel, stealing glances at Orm every now and then. The way she looked at me—soft, amused, yet utterly captivated—made me want to wreck myself for her.

"I'm taking you to my place," I said casually, shifting gears smoothly.

Orm raised a brow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Oh? And what exactly are we doing there?"

"Having dinner." I shot her a look, my smirk mirroring hers. "I'll cook."

Orm let out a soft laugh. "You, cooking? Twice in a row?"

I placed a hand over my heart dramatically. "Baobei, I'm offended. You doubt my culinary skills?"

"It's not that." She tilted her head, watching me intently. "It's just... I never thought I'd see the day Lingling Kwong would be making dinner for someone."

I chuckled, taking a turn down the familiar route to my penthouse. "Maybe you're a little special."

Orm's smile softened, but I could see the warmth in her amber eyes, the way they held something deeper, something that made my chest tighten in ways I wasn't used to.

By the time we pulled into the underground parking lot of my building, the teasing had settled into something quieter, more intimate. I got out first, walking over to her side to open the door like I always did. As she stepped out, I let my fingers linger against hers just a little longer than necessary.

We rode the elevator up in comfortable silence, our hands brushing but never fully intertwining. When we reached the penthouse, I gestured toward the couch.

"Get comfortable. I'll handle the food."

Orm lifted a brow. "I don't mind helping—"

"Nope." I shot her a playful look as I shrugged off my suit jacket, tossing it over the back of a chair. "You cooked for me that one time. Now it's my turn."

She sighed in defeat but smiled as she walked further into the space, letting herself sink into the couch.

I rolled up my sleeves and stepped into the kitchen, already mentally preparing the meal. As I grabbed ingredients, I couldn't help but glance back at Orm, who had tucked her legs beneath her and was watching me with quiet admiration.

Yeah. Maybe she really was a little special.

...

As I stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, preparing the marinade for the chicken, I felt Orm's gaze on me. She sat on the counter now, one leg tucked beneath her, her chin resting on her hand as she watched me move.

"You know," I said without looking up, "if you stare any harder, I might just burn the rice."

Orm smirked. "I'm just wondering how the infamous Lingling Kwong looks so domestic right now."

I let out a low chuckle as I grabbed the bag of flour from the shelf. "Guess I have layers, baobei."

She was about to say something back, but before she could, I flicked a light dusting of flour at her.

Her eyes widened as she looked down at the powder on her black dress. "Did you just—?"

I smirked. "Oops."

Orm narrowed her eyes, sliding off the counter, and before I could react, she grabbed a handful of flour and threw it right at me, hitting me square on the chest.

I coughed, half-laughing, half-surprised. "Oh, you wanna play like that?"

She grinned, stepping back cautiously, already knowing she had started a war.

I grabbed more flour and tossed it at her again, catching her on her shoulder. She let out a playful gasp and lunged for the bag, but I held it out of reach, laughing as she tried to grab it.

"You're cheating!" she accused, trying to snatch it from my hand.

I took advantage of her focus and smeared a little flour onto her cheek with my free hand. "I'm just winning."

Orm let out a dramatic sigh, rubbing at her face, but her smile gave her away. "You're impossible."

I shrugged. "And yet, you're still here."

She shook her head, stepping closer. "Yeah, I am."

For a moment, we just stood there, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her skin, the scent of her lingering perfume mixing with the spices in the air. Her eyes flickered to my lips, and for a second, I thought she was going to kiss me.

Instead, she smirked. "Now, finish cooking before I starve."

I laughed, shaking my head as I turned back to the stove. "Fine, fine. But you're helping clean up this mess."

Orm hopped back onto the counter, watching me with a satisfied look. "We'll see."

...

As the laughter settled and the scent of the seasoned chicken filled the kitchen, I glanced over at Orm, who was still sitting on the counter, swinging her legs slightly. Her dress had streaks of flour on it, her cheek was still dusted white, and yet, she looked more beautiful than ever.

The way she watched me, eyes warm and soft, made something in my chest tighten.

I plated the chicken and rice, drizzling the sauce over it with precision, before sliding a plate toward her. "Alright, baobei. Time to see if you'll survive off my cooking."

Orm picked up her chopsticks, glancing at me teasingly. "If I die, I'm haunting you."

I smirked, leaning on the counter across from her. "I'd expect nothing less."

She took her first bite, chewing slowly as she analyzed the flavors. Her expression remained unreadable for a moment, and I felt something strange—was I actually nervous?

Then, she swallowed and grinned. "Damn, this is good."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "Told you."

Orm hummed in satisfaction, taking another bite. "You know, you keep doing things like this, and people are going to think you're not scary at all."

I tilted my head, amused. "You are scared of me, doctor?"

Orm leaned in slightly, her smirk playful, but her voice was soft. "Not even a little."

Something about the way she said it made my heartbeat slow, then speed up again.

We continued eating, falling into comfortable conversation, teasing each other, talking about nonsense. I asked about her day at the clinic, and she asked about mine—though I kept my answers vague, avoiding the weight of my earlier thoughts. Tonight wasn't the time for that.

For a moment, it felt like we were just...normal. Like we weren't two people tangled in a world of danger and blood.

When we finished eating, I stood up, collecting the plates. Orm raised an eyebrow. "You cooked, and you're cleaning too?"

I shrugged. "You made the mess worse."

She gasped, placing a hand on her chest in mock offense. "I did not."

I shot her a look, glancing at the flour-covered counter and floor.

Orm laughed, sliding off the counter. "Fine, fine. I'll help."

As we washed the dishes together, side by side, our shoulders brushing every so often, I found myself wishing—just for a second—that moments like this could last forever.

But I knew better.

Because as much as I loved Orm, as much as I wanted this, the truth still sat heavy in my mind.

Her father.

My enemy.

The war I'd sworn to finish.

And the impossible choice I would have to make.

As the last dish was set aside to dry, I turned to Orm, stepping between her legs as she sat on the counter. My hands found her thighs instinctively, fingers trailing the soft fabric of her dress as I looked up at her.

God, she was so beautiful.

Her amber eyes held a warmth I never thought I'd deserve, her lips curled in that soft, knowing smile that made my chest ache. I rested my hands on her waist, pulling her closer, feeling the heat of her against me.

"You look like you're thinking too hard again," Orm murmured, running her fingers through my hair, her touch gentle. "That's dangerous for you."

I huffed a small laugh, tilting my head into her touch. "You wound me, baobei."

Orm smirked, but her fingers still trailed down to cup my face, thumb brushing over my cheek. "What's on your mind?"

I stared at her for a long moment, then smirked. "You. As my wife."

Orm choked on air, her eyes widening slightly. "Excuse me?"

I chuckled, leaning in until our noses nearly touched. "What? You'd make a very cute Mrs. Kwong."

She scoffed, but I could see the warmth creeping up her neck, the way her fingers curled slightly against my skin. "That's a bold statement, Lingling Kwong."

I shrugged, running my hands up her waist. "I don't do things halfway, Orm Kornnaphat."

Orm bit her lip, as if holding back a smile. "And what kind of wife would I be?"

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Oh, you'd definitely be spoiled. Have me wrapped around your little finger."

Orm hummed, amused. "I already do."

"True." I smirked, pressing a slow, teasing kiss to her jaw. "But I'd make sure you never forget it."

She shivered slightly, but I felt her arms tighten around my shoulders. "Lingling, you are impossible."

I grinned, kissing the corner of her mouth. "Don't you love me for it?"

Orm shook her head, but she was smiling, her fingers playing with the back of my hair. "Maybe."

I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, my hands framing her face. "Just maybe?"

She held my gaze, her voice softer now. "You already know the answer."

And that? That was enough to make me forget the war waiting outside these walls.

Orm's fingers traced slow, lazy circles at the nape of my neck, her touch sending a shiver down my spine. I swayed closer, my forehead resting against hers, our breaths mingling in the space between us.

"You're too sweet to me," she murmured, her lips barely brushing mine as she spoke.

I smirked, my hands squeezing her waist gently. "You say that as if you don't deserve it."

She tilted her head, her eyes searching mine. "And what exactly do I deserve, Ling?"

I let my fingers drift higher, tracing the curve of her ribs, the rise and fall of her breath beneath my touch. "Everything."

Orm let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as if she didn't believe me, but the way she leaned into me told me otherwise.

"Sweet talker," she accused, but there was no real bite to it.

I grinned, pressing a slow kiss to her cheek, then another to her jaw, trailing my lips down to the side of her neck. She exhaled softly, her fingers tightening in my hair.

"Only for you, baobei."

She hummed, her hands sliding down to my shoulders. "You really want me as your wife, huh?"

I pulled back just enough to look at her, my smirk softening. "I don't want anyone else."

Her lips parted slightly, as if she had something to say, but instead, she just pulled me in, her mouth meeting mine in a slow, deep kiss. I felt her sigh against me, melting into my arms as I wrapped them tighter around her.

We stayed like that for a while, kissing like we had all the time in the world, as if nothing outside this moment mattered. The warmth of her, the taste of her—it was intoxicating.

When we finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine again, a small, content smile playing at her lips. "You're dangerous, Lingling."

I laughed, my heart feeling too full, too light. "You're stuck with me, baobei."

Her fingers played with the collar of my suit, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I think I can live with that."

I watched as Orm's eyes lit up with excitement, her fingers lightly drumming against my shoulders.

"I feel like making dessert," she declared, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Something sweet. I think my period is close."

I raised a brow, a smirk playing on my lips. "Oh? So my fierce little doctor has cravings?"

Orm rolled her eyes but grinned, playfully tapping my nose. "Yes, and if you love me, you'll help."

I chuckled, stepping back just enough to let her hop off the counter. "Alright, baobei. What are we making?"

She hummed, walking toward the fridge and scanning its contents. "Something chocolatey... or maybe mango sticky rice? I can't decide."

I leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "You want both, don't you?"

Orm turned to me, her lips curling into a sheepish smile. "Maybe..."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're lucky I'm in love with you."

"I know," she said, tossing me a wink before grabbing some ingredients. "Now, get over here and help before I change my mind and just eat chocolate straight from the bar."

I rolled up my sleeves again, stepping beside her. "Yes, ma'am."

She gasped, nudging me with her hip. "That's 'doctor' to you."

I leaned in, whispering against her ear, "Whatever you say, Doctor Kornnaphat."

Her breath hitched, but she quickly recovered, pushing a bowl into my hands. "Start mixing."

I smirked but obeyed, enjoying the way she bit her lip as she concentrated.

Cooking with Orm had quickly become one of my favorite things. Not just because of the food—but because of moments like this. Playful. Domestic. Ours.