Chapter 9

Checking out of Zeus Hotel took too damn long.

Regina had spent over an hour upstairs, making him and half the staff wait in the lobby like they were her personal servants. If that wasn't enough, she'd walked down the grand staircase with the kind of grace that made people turn their heads—chin up, lips painted red, looking like she was stepping off a movie set. Daniel had kept his expression impassive, but the amount of attention she attracted grated on his nerves.

The flight was meant to be a rest for him. A few hours of peace at thirty thousand feet. Instead, Regina had decided to start a hunger strike, and he had decided to lose what little patience he had left.

Daniel leaned back in his first-class seat, drumming his fingers against the armrest as he studied her. She sat next to him, arms folded, gaze firmly fixed on the clouds outside the window. Her dinner tray was untouched. The flight attendant had cleared away the meal without a word, though her eyes had darted between them as if sensing an impending disaster.

"Are you planning to starve yourself for the entire flight?" Daniel finally asked.

Regina didn't look at him. "I wasn't hungry."

His jaw clenched. "You didn't eat at the hotel either."

She exhaled sharply, tilting her head just enough to glance at him. "Oh, how observant of you. What's next? You're going to count how many times I breathe?"

Daniel bit back a sigh. "You're impossible."

Regina shrugged. "And you're unbearable."

His patience thinned. "You're not eating out of spite, are you?"

Her eyes flickered with something—annoyance, maybe. "Spite? You think I'm refusing food just to piss you off?"

Daniel leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "If the shoe fits, sweetheart."

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, then she pressed them together and turned away again. He watched the delicate way her fingers curled against her lap.

So she was being stubborn.

Daniel shook his head. "Do you think this is some kind of rebellion? Because let me tell you, you're not winning any battles by skipping a meal."

Regina let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot my life revolves around winning in your eyes. How silly of me."

His jaw ticked. "You know what I mean."

She turned fully this time, meeting his gaze with something sharp. "No, Daniel, I really don't. Enlighten me. What's so hard to understand about me not having an appetite?"

He exhaled, leaning back again. "Fine. Waste away for all I care. Just don't pass out in public. I'd hate to have to carry you."

Regina smirked, the first real sign of amusement breaking through. "Oh, please. You'd love the headlines."

Daniel smirked right back. "Carrying you? Sure. Dealing with your dramatics? Not so much."

Regina huffed and turned back to the window. "God, you're exhausting."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Takes one to know one."

Silence stretched between them, thick and charged.

Then Daniel decided to poke the bear.

"Your mother's been calling me," he said, watching her from the corner of his eye.

Regina stiffened. "So?"

He shrugged. "She wants to know if you're pregnant yet."

Regina's head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"

Daniel tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "She seemed… concerned. Asked if I was 'doing my duty' as a husband." He smirked. "She's very eager for grandchildren."

"You're lying."

Daniel leaned closer, lowering his voice like they were sharing a secret. "I could show you the call log. She's persistent. Almost desperate. It's like she doesn't trust you to keep me interested long enough to make it happen."

Regina's nails dug into the armrest. "Shut up."

"But it's cute, really," Daniel continued, his voice all smooth. "Your mother thinks a baby will fix things. That it'll tie us together forever." He tsked. "She doesn't know us very well, does she?"

Regina inhaled sharply. "I swear to God, Daniel—"

He cut her off with his voice calm. "Not a single civilian will touch you while you're with me. Not a single reporter, not a single businessman who thinks you're easy prey. You might hate this arrangement, but I own the power here, Regina. And you? You refuse to grab onto it."

Her chest rose and fell, her, "You are insufferable."

He smirked. "And yet, you're still here."

Regina exhaled slowly, her voice dropping. "I loathe you."

Daniel winked. "Mutual."

Silence again. This time heavier.

After a long pause, he spoke again, "We need to lay down some rules."

Regina let out a breath, as if exhausted. "Oh, this should be good."

Daniel met her gaze. "In public, we act like a couple. That means kissing, touching, looking convincing."

Regina scoffed. "Absolutely not."

Daniel arched a brow. "So if I kiss you in front of an audience, you're going to push me away? Embarrass yourself? And me? You'll push me or run away?"

Regina's mouth opened, but no words came out.

He smirked. "Exactly."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this."

"A little."

She huffed. "I hate you."

"We've established that already," he mused. "Now, PDA. Public displays. You will not make me look like a fool. I'll give a heads up when we need to do it."

Regina slowly lifted her hand, mouthing, fuck no.

Daniel grinned. "We'll work on that. The language thingy."

She groaned, rubbing her temples. "I swear, if I had to list the worst things about my life, this marriage would be top ten."

"Not top five?"

She glared.

Daniel chuckled. "One more thing."

"What now?"

"We're never having kids."

Regina's expression didn't evenchange. "Good. I don't want any."

That surprised him. He studied her for a moment, but she was already looking away, arms still folded, jaw tight.

He let it go. For now.

A few hours passed and the tension had simmered down just enough. Then, without warning, Regina's head lolled to the side, her breath softening. She had dozed off against his shoulder, completely unaware with her breath warm and steady against his jacket.

Daniel had half a mind to push her off—just to be an ass. But then she sighed, tilting slightly, her lips parting just enough to make his thoughts stall.

He didn't push her away.

Instead, he did something entirely out of character. He reached into his bag, pulled out a silk scarf, and carefully wrapped it around her neck. The navy fabric contrasted against her skin, and as he tucked the ends in, his fingers brushed against her jaw.

He lingered. Just for a second.

Then she moved.

A slow shift, her brow twitching slightly before her lips parted with a sleepy murmur.

"Mm…" She exhaled softly, eyes barely fluttering open. "Want chocolate…"

Daniel blinked.

Her voice was thick with sleep, her words slurred, like she wasn't fully conscious yet.

Regina sighed again, stretching just a little, then turned her head toward him, her forehead almost pressing into his shoulder. "Chocolate," she mumbled again, a little more insistent this time.

Daniel smirked. "That's a dangerous request, sweetheart."

Regina didn't react. Maybe she didn't even hear him.

So he ignored her.

Or at least he tried to.

She was quiet for a few moments, her breath steadying as if she was falling back into sleep. He thought that was the end of it.

Until she suddenly reached out—still half-asleep—and grabbed his arm.

Her fingers curled around his sleeve, and without warning, she pushed him.

Not hard. Just enough to demand attention.

Daniel barely moved, but the fact that she was touching him at all—unprompted—was enough to amuse him.

She made a small sound of frustration. "You didn't answer…"

He raised a brow. "What?"

Regina frowned in her sleep. "Chocolate."

Daniel stifled a chuckle. "You're really fixated on that, huh?"

Her grip on his arm tightened slightly. "Don't you ever ignore me…"

Daniel sighed, amused, and reached for the small box of chocolates from the compartment. He picked out a dark chocolate piece, unwrapped it carefully, then hovered it just in front of her lips.

"Here," he murmured.

Regina barely cracked her eyes open. She didn't reach for it. Didn't even seem fully aware. Instead, she sighed and whispered, " Just put it in my mouth…"

Daniel stilled.

His fingers tightened around the chocolate for a fraction of a second. His gaze dropped to her lips—soft, slightly parted, waiting.

She had no idea what she was saying.

Absolutely no idea.

And she had no idea what she was doing to him.

"Y-You really shouldn't say things like that."

Regina frowned, brows drawing together in sleepy irritation. "Why…"

Daniel shook his head, unable to stop the smirk curling at his lips.

Still, he obliged.

He pressed the chocolate to her lips, watching as she instinctively opened her mouth and let it melt on her tongue.

A second later, she hummed in satisfaction.

Actually hummed.

Like it was the best damn thing she'd ever tasted.

Daniel exhaled, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

Regina, oblivious just sighed again, shifting even closer, her fingers relaxing against his sleeve as she fell deeper into sleep.

He thought that was the end of it.

But then—

"Mmh… more."

Daniel inhaled sharply.

She was still half-asleep, eyes barely open, but her lips parted again, waiting.

She didn't even bother lifting her hand. Didn't reach for the chocolate herself. No, she just expected him to feed her. Like he was some sort of servant catering to her midnight cravings.

And what was worse—he actually did.

Daniel grabbed another piece, unwrapped it, and pressed it against her lips.

She took it, her tongue barely grazing his fingers in the process.

His breath hitched.

It was nothing. Barely a touch. But it was warm, soft—dangerous.

Regina hummed again, licking the chocolate off his fingertip as she settled deeper into his shoulder.

Daniel swore under his breath.

His jaw clenched, fingers twitching as he forced himself to not react.

This woman.

She was going to kill him!