SPA PART 1-E

Freshly showered, her mind much clearer she opened her room door to see Ace leaning by the hallway in khaki shorts and white polo shirt, unbuttoned exposing bits of his tattoos.

`Hungry?' he held her hands and she nodded.

`Feeling better?' she kissed him just under his ears and sucked his skin there, leaving a faint pink mark.

`Good answer', he replied huskily.

`Ace. Listen, I am sorry for-', Ace cut her short and put his index finger on her lips. Why is she apologizing for not making love? This is so wrong.

`I am not. Baby, we make love the you are ready. Do not ever, ever apologize baby', he smirked, and she pushed his shoulder playfully.

He stopped in front of Hadwin's room and knocked before opening it.

`Is he a heavy sleeper? I mean his alarm is probably louder than a Boeing jet ad he is sleeping like a log.', Astrid closed the alarm and Ace instructed a maid to open the curtains.

Astrid decided to torment him. She sat by his side and took ends of her hair and slowly brushed his nose. Hadwin wiggled his nose and turned his face to his left. Astrid pestered him again and this time her hair brushed the length of his face, stopping right below his nostrils. This time Hadwin caught her hair and groggily opened his eyes.

`Booo', Astrid spoke close to his ears, startling him. Hadwin's eyes opened widely and to see Ace glaring and Astrid smiling at him. He gave Astrid a bear hug and pecked her cheek.

`Ewwww. That stinks', she wiped her cheek and pushed him off the bed.

`So what is the plan for today?', Hadwin yawned loudly and lazily walked to the bathroom.

`Well, I am planning for a trip to the new spa centre. I think it is called Bliss Spa. Abigail said it had all these amnesties for men and women.', Ace kissed the tip of Astrid's nose as soon as they got alone.

Astrid had been meaning to ask Ace about their relationship the entire morning. She found the sneaking out fun, but she wanted him to be a permanent fixture in her life and be able to express accordingly.

`Why can't we tell our relationship to your family members or anyone else? I mean my family and friends knows but none of yours know about us. I can see Hadwin is latching on me. I don't want to give him the wrong idea', Astrid spoke her mind.

`You have no idea how much I want to, but I care about your safety more than anything. I don't have a huge circle of friend to begin with. Trust me your friends are vetted by me, so no issues there', he immediately regretted the last part because his statement hit her nerve and silenced her. She refused to see him in the eyes after those words flew out of his mouth.

Astrid kept her mouth shut after that, storming out of the room and running down the stairs, skipping two steps at a time. Butler Lionel saw Astrid and interrupted her. `Ms. Astrid, breakfast is served in the Rose Gazebo',

`Why, thank you Mr. Lionel. Did Mr Ace Wagner here vetted you before accepting you to work here?', she asked sarcastically.

`Mr Jacques Wagner did', he replied gobsmacked by her weird question.

Astrid simple rolled her eyes, with Ace trailing beside her, trying to cajole her. She was livid with anger. Who is he to check on my friends? He had yet to ask me to be his official girlfriend and yet he goes around vetting people out. Maybe he was worried of me or my friends leeching off him! Ha, as if that could ever happen.

Ace knew she would not agree to listen to him easily, so he stopped her from walking and picked her up from the ground, putting her over his shoulder like a potato sack.

`Put me down, Ace! You are unbelievably obnoxious, and you don't trust me to choose my friends at all. Tell me. Did you do a check on me as well?', she punched his back until he reached the gazebo.

`Astrid. I am going to put you down. You'd better calm down and we can talk okay', he tried to reason with her.

`Why should I? I thought you were different. But you men are-',

`Enough. Sit. Eat. We talk', Ace's voiced bellowed and cut her short mid-sentence. He had never raised his voice, but today he did. And Astrid was upset by now. Her lips were downturned in sadness. Not wanting to create a scene, she obliged.

Astrid complied and ate breakfast silently with Ace. His hawk eye monitored her and made sure she ate well to her fill. By the time she finished her breakfast, Hadwin joined them.

`Why do I smell tension in the air?',Hadwin plopped down on a chair and started filling his plate with food.

Astrid decided to ask Hadwin. `Hadwin. Do you guys do background checks of all the people you meet? Including friends and family?'

Hadwin swallowed his food gingerly, and from the stare Ace and Astrid were giving each other, he knew his answer was the tip of the iceberg, waiting it to be tilted in either one's direction.

He held Astrid's left hand in his, breaking her stare to look at him curiously. `I'm not sure if you know how it is with our lives. We are well to do financially, richer than most people Astrid. We do background checks on everyone. It is the norm for us. It is also a norm for others who has the means to do it as well'.

`I know you wonder why, but no one wants to take a risk by allowing their self to be served on a silver platter to dangerous people or their associates. I am sure Ace did a check on you, pissing you off. But it was done in the best interest of both parties', he spoke softly to her and squeezed her hand.

Astrid listened to him and her mind started churning thoughts. Why would Ace go beyond checking me? Did he worry my friends could harm me? But I am not a rich person. Wait. She possesses something more than money. Her elements! Oh dear,she forgot to factor that in.

She looked up to see Ace eyeing her cautiously. She saw him swallowing hard, waiting for her to speak. Astrid turned to Hadwin who continued eating, his hand still squeezing hers. She placed a chaste kiss on his cheeks and thanked him before glaring at Ace again.

`We need to talk', she crossed her arms and stood up jutting her chin at Ace.

`This way, ma'am', he held his arm for her to take, but she ignored him and trailed him.

Hadwin merely shook his head and continued his breakfast. Ace walked in silence with Astrid, moving towards the orchard.

`Am I forgiven?', he asked tentatively. Her silence was killing him.

`No. But I don't condone it. Give me one good reason why my tiny circle of friends need a background check?', she stopped walking and faced him.

Ace hugged her, but she did not hug back, her arms limp on her sides. `When I heard about Miller, I flipped. I just could not believe it happened to you, love. I would never put you in a position that could endanger your life, after knowing you.'

Astrid tried to talk but he did not allow it. `Let me talk, love. I cannot fathom the thought of another man seeing you like a piece of meat, or using you. You belong to me, Astrid. Your body, your love, everything. I want to be that man for you to fall back to. To feel secured. To be loved and cared'.

`I'd be damned if I allow you to be friends with people who mean to harm you. I'd kill them first. I really don't want to take any risk. Losing you will tear me apart,love. When I am in the capacity to filter out the bad weeds, I always will', he spoke gruffly, and her hands held his arms.

`I feel more than safe in your arms. I like you so much. If it helps you sleep at night then I guess its okay. But please tell me or hint me before you vet anyone out', she spoke softly and giggled. I can never be angry with him. 

`Damnit. You just ruined the moment, cupcake', Ace smirked at her and kissed her forehead.

They strolled down the orchard talking about general things such as his work, her progress in combat with Enlil, and her education. Both stopped halfway towards the orchard. It was tiring to walk back up and Ace called Hadwin to bring in the buggy.

The buggy dropped them right in front of a waiting car, a black Hummer H3T. Astrid wondered just how many cars they owned.

`I'm driving',Ace Wagner remarked.

`Shotgun', Hadwin ran and sat beside Ace.

`No fair. I thought you dibs that seat for me', Abigail pouted at Ace.

`No, you can't dibs on a taken seat', Hadwin rolled his eyes and Abigail got in the back seat mumbling curses under her breath.

`So Astrid. How have you been?', Abigail started making small talk with Astrid. Hadwin fiddled with the radio station, finding a pop station.

`Good. And you?', she replied politely.

`So, who do you like? They elder or the younger Wagner?', Abigail whispered into her ears and Astrid's eyes grew wide, a shocked expression taking over before she concealed it.

`Don't, worry. Ace has been very discreet about it. But he can't hide from me', Abigail whispered and giggled.

`He is quite charming isn't it? His accent and his tattoos. Tell me have you guys had IT yet?', Abigail smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.

`Gosh, he is everything I could ask for. But no, we are taking it slow I guess', she whispered back, her face turning crimson every minute, clearly embarrassed by her bluntness.

`Trust me, he needs to release it soon. Has been so single for a very long time. All the dates mum fixed were not to his taste. And you, girl is the perfect whipped cream for his cherry topping', she winked at her further embarrassing Astrid.

`What are you two whispering back there?', Hadwin asked.

`Just some girl talk', Astrid answered sheepishly.

`Does it involve men and sex?', Hadwin teased.

Astrid groaned loudly. `We were comparing penis sizes actually, between you both', Abigail answered cheekily earning a violent cough from Ace who eyed them with a horrified expression.

`Oh my god, we did not talk about that!', Astrid rebutted.

`Don't taint Virgin Mary here. She might back out before she tastes sweet heavens', Hadwin laughed at Astrid.

`And here I wondered just how blunt you both can get', Astrid face palmed herself and smiled.

`So, who is your new conquest, Hadwin? Any chicks in sight?', Abigail asked.

`None, so far. I'm abstaining for a while now. Just want to find a compatible one and settle once and all', Hadwin sighed. His mind was occupied with his feelings. He was thinking hard if he was infatuated with Astrid or it was just her companionship which he enjoyed. His brows burrowed deep in thought and he looked out of the window to clear his mind.