Cooking Together

Derek went back to home with a bad mood, Amelia had pestered him a lot. He wanted to run away somewhere, and not face her anymore because he knew his feelings would come out if Amelia stayed persistent. Derek rubbed his hair roughly, trying to figure out what he must do to forget her completely, and to sooth this pain in his heart.

He let himself fell on the couch tiredly and leaned on a pillow. He closed his eyes, only to get called by his elder brother."Derek? Why are you sleeping on the couch? Did you wash yourself after coming back?" Xavier nagged like his mother, making Derek frown. "I'm not sleeping, I'm just tired." He said, and opened his eyes, to see Gianna standing beside him, handcuffed to him. A laugh escaped from his mouth as he got astonished by the view."Gianna!? Why are you here? And why the hell are you handcuffed to him!?" Derek said, pointing at their hands."Umm..." Gianna turned her head down and blush made its way to her cheeks. Xavier looked at her and stared her for a few seconds before turning to Derek."It's her punishment, now mind your business and go get a shower. Come for dinner on time." Xavier said before turning and dragging Gianna behind towards the kitchen."Strange couple." Derek commented before climbing the stairs and going back to his room. "So? Shall we continue?" Xavier asked Gianna, and she nodded in response."We need to add black pepper, salt and chili sauce next." Gianna said, Xavier started taking out the ingredients. Gianna frowned as she was getting uncomfortable in cooking while her one hand was cuffed, Xavier noticed this and chuckled. He went behind her and they both started cooking together. Gianna smiled and offered him a piece of tomato while cutting, he ate from her hands and laughed."Why did you suddenly decide to cook with me?" Gianna brought up the question which was pestering her since a while. "Well... it's no fun to sit and talk the whole day, so I thought why not do something new today. And I think my family will love your dishes, I personally consider you a master chef." Xavier said, making Gianna giggle, his heart started pounding hearing her laugh today this much after so long. He gave her a kiss on her cheek in an attempt to not let that beautiful smile fade away from her face ever again. "Will Charlie forgive me?" Gianna suddenly asked him with a sad tone."He will come around, don't worry. He's acting sulky, give him space and time." Gianna nodded in response and let her body lean over his chest as she stirred the pasta. Brinley stood at the entrance for a few minutes and watched their interaction, she smiled in satisfaction as she couldn't bear to see this perfect couple breaking up. She cleared her throat to gain the couple's attention, but Xavier didn't let her go and hugged her like a pillow which might run away as soon as he even let his finger twitch for a second."Fratello and future sister-in-law, I know that you love each other a lot, but I cannot wait anymore for food...! I'm hungry!" Brinley whined and in response she got a back-head flick by Derek, who came from behind. "Oww!" Brinley winced and held her back of her head with one hand and tried smacking Derek with the other hand. He simply dodged her hand and went ahead to check the dishes. "Wow cognata! The aroma of food is so mouthwatering!" Derek commented and was about to taste soup when Xavier smacked his head and Brinley leapt her hand in the air and hooted in excitement seeing him get hit. Whereas Gianna stood in confusion."Did he swear at me, just now?" Gianna ever so slightly whispered to herself, but Xavier didn't miss her words and laughed out loud."No, love, he called you sister-in-law." Gianna became a blushing mess as soon as she heard Xavier's words. "We're not married, why are you both calling me that." Gianna asked while still blushing hard."Not for long, we can see Fratello's determination raging at a high level." Derek said and shrugged. His head was again flicked by Xavier, making Derek and Brinley run out of the kitchen while laughing loudly."Those brats..." Xavier whispered, Gianna giggled at their interaction. Xavier raised one of his eyebrows and tugged the handcuff, making Gianna collide with his broad chest. She bit her lower lip and smelled his cologne."When are you releasing me?" Gianna whispered. Xavier chuckled and brought her even more closer."Never. ever. I let you go once, which was a mistake, but not anymore, Darling. You are stuck beside me forever, even if you don't like the idea." Xavier warned her in his husky, thick voice. Gianna moved near his ear."Who is telling you to let me go..." Gianna whispered, while fanning her hot breath on his ear. Xavier groaned and picked her up by her waist and settled her on top of the counter."Eek! Xavier, someone might come here!" Gianna whispered-shouted."Let them. I don't care." Xavier said impatiently and captured her lips in an instant, making her moan on his lips. Xavier ever so slightly smiled and opened her clenched thighs to let him come in a proximity to her."Mmmh! I... love you, Xavier." Gianna said while kissing him back. Xavier deepened his kiss in response and let his tongue taste all her mouth. Gianna suddenly remembered the food kept on the stove and abruptly left his lips, making him smirk. She took breaths to calm her racing heart and hopped down from the counter carefully. Xavier followed her every move, and he knew she could feel him following behind, they had no choice either, they were cuffed to each other. Gianna turned around to face him, in an attempt to convince him to unlock this stupid handcuff, but before she could say anything, she was pecked on her lips by him. Gianna's eyes went wide in surprise, but she giggled in happiness. She hugged him tightly by his waist, Xavier held her by her back. "Let me make food now, it's getting late." Gianna said and pouted, but a small smile sneaked in her pout."As you wish, my queen." "Stop calling me with different words..." Gianna said in a low voice, she actually wants him to continue using endearments, but she was feeling shy about it. Xavier saw her blush, and he knew what to do."Okay, Gianna." "Uh? Yeah, umm... no, I mean you can but... uhh...?" Gianna got confused, as she didn't want him to actually listen to her!"Hahaha look at you, love, you don't want me to stop calling you names other than your name, right? Just be honest." Xavier said and ruffled her hair. Gianna turned her face down and arranged her messy hair. She cleared her throat and chose not to answer him. She turned back to cook the food. The delicious aroma filled the whole kitchen and Xavier sighed. This is what he had dreamed for many years, a life partner who will always smile and be there by his side, sharing happiness with each other. The wheels in his mind started turning towards proposing ideas, he couldn't wait to sign the marriage certificates and be with her forever. But he had to be patient and take things slowly."Gianna, now that we are a couple again, I'm thinking of living together for some time with you." Xavier voiced out his thoughts, making Gianna turn towards his direction again."Live together... like here?""Not necessarily... I have a few other apartments and houses, or if you wish, we can live here also." Xavier said, making Gianna think for a while."I don't want to separate you from your family, Xavier..." Xavier smiled at her kindness and care for the Moretti family."Then it's settled, you're coming to live here with me. I will tell Amelia to pack yours and her bags." Xavier said and called Amelia."WHAT." Amelia shouted in anger."Behave! You should treat everyone respectfully, even if they are your enemies." Xavier said sternly."S-sorry, I was angry at someone." Amelia meekly apologized. She unconsciously took anger of Derek ignoring her on the caller without glancing at the caller name."No it's okay. Can you pack Gianna and your bags? I will send a driver or Derek to pick you up. Gianna and you are living here from now on." "No, I don't want to. I'll send Gianna's bags, I am not going there.""Why so?" "I don't feel like leaving here. Bye." Amelia said and abruptly cancelled the call, unwilling to explain in detail. Xavier knew something was fishy. He called Derek and told him to come in the kitchen."Derek, can you go and pick up Gianna's bags from Amelia?""No." Derek said and turned around to go back."Huh? Dare to say no? What's the matter between you and Amelia?" Xavier asked directly, Gianna got curious as she didn't know the backstory why Xavier was asking such question."Nothing, we had a small fight.""Go sort it out." Xavier commanded sternly and threw car keys towards Derek. He grabbed the keys and sighed. He unwillingly moved his feet to go meet Amelia."What happened? And why Amelia was being rude with you?" "She was angry, they had a fight, I think. I don't know if the fight was 'small' as he says, but let's see. They should sort it out themselves." Xavier said, and Gianna nodded in approval."Xavier? I love you." Gianna said suddenly, Xavier's eyes widened at her sudden confession. He was about to ask her the reason, when she lifted the hand which was handcuffed to his hand."Please? It has started to pain now... I will accept any other punishment, but not this." Gianna said in a shy voice."Are you sure about that?" Gianna bobbed her head up and down in approval and smiled. Xavier chuckled and took out the keys from his suit's inner pocket. Hearing the keys jingle, Gianna gasped in shock."You had the key the whole time?" Gianna exclaimed in shock."Yeah, don't worry, I'm opening the lock, I won't keep yoou cuffed for whole 24 hours." Xavier said and chuckled. Gianna smacked his chest lightly and pouted. Xavier pecked her pout while opening the handcuffs. Xavier wore his sunglasses as he had to go out to talk with guards regarding expanding the security as now he had to protect his queen also, including his family."Be ready for substitute punishment, love." Xavier whispered near her ear, she shivered as his hot breath fanned her sensitive neck and ear. Xavier looked at her with love filled in his eyes and he kissed her wrist which was cuffed, then kissed her knuckles, Gianna smiled, he could feel, her smiles were genuine, it was her way of expressing her love.----A/N: Please vote and comment, I would appreciate ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism, thanks a lot for reading. Have a great day ahead.