Loving Him

Chapter 12

"Do we really have to do this? Shopping is so exhausting," Levi complained as Mike pulled her along.

Mike was engaged in a conversation with a saleslady. The saleslady approached Levi and offered to help her find dresses that would suit her. It was evident that the saleslady had a talent for selecting the perfect dresses.

Thankfully, because if Levi had to choose on her own, she was certain that Mike wouldn't approve of any of them. After all, she was more accustomed to wearing t-shirts, pants, and shorts.

Levi felt a bit dizzy from the prices mentioned by the saleslady. Her eyebrows were raised in surprise.

"Excuse me, Miss? Aren't there any more affordable options here? These prices are quite high, isn't there a sale going on?" she complained. She couldn't help but suspect that the saleslady was trying to take advantage of her, assuming that she could easily afford anything. Levi was astute, so she decided to try on the dresses before making any decisions.

"These are branded, Ma'am, which is why they are expensive. But I'm confident that they will all look stunning on you. You're so beautiful," the saleslady explained, and Levi could tell that her words were genuine. Her irritation from earlier melted away like ice. She smiled warmly at the saleslady.

Levi tried on all the dresses, leaving Mike in awe each time she donned a new one.

No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't get enough of her captivating beauty.

Levi playfully snapped her fingers in front of Mike, as if she had just encountered a stunning enchantress. She smiled and nudged him.

"Seems like you're stunned by my beauty, huh? So, Mike, should we buy all of these?" Levi asked with a playful smile.

Instead of responding, Mike took the lead and headed towards the sandals section. Fortunately, he stopped at the flat sandals area, as Levi wasn't a fan of high heels. Being 5'8" tall, she didn't feel the need to wear heels.

They didn't spend much time selecting the sandals. Mike ended up grabbing ten pairs, even though Levi only intended to get two. But Mike insisted, and Levi decided to go along with it since he would be the one paying.

To be honest, Levi wasn't fond of being extravagant with money. It was Mike who insisted on buying her clothes and various other items.

He believed she needed them as their wedding was approaching. Levi couldn't quite understand herself, but she felt a nervous excitement about their impending union. It was surprising to see that what she had read in novels could actually come to life. Sometimes, real life can be just as magical as fiction.

Levi stepped into Mike's car. Mike gathered some of her belongings and placed them in the back. She was exhausted from their outing.

They were supposed to have a food tasting for their upcoming wedding, but Mrs. Montenegro assured them that she would take care of everything. She mentioned that they would have a garden wedding since Mike's family wasn't Catholic. A judge would be officiating their marriage.

Levi dozed off during the journey back home. She only woke up when she felt a gentle tap on her cheek. Opening her eyes, she saw the serious expression on Mike's face, and she realized that it was already dark outside.

Stepping out of the car, Levi initially thought they had arrived at the mansion, but she was greeted with a different house in front of her. It was much larger than she had anticipated. She turned to Mike, her curiosity piqued.

"Whose house is this?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

"This is Mama's gift to us. This will be our sweet home. We'll be living here after our wedding. Would you like to go inside?" Mike calmly responded to her.

"Oh, I see. It's quite spacious. If we ever play tag here, I bet you won't be able to catch me," Levi playfully remarked, taking the lead as she started walking towards the house.

"Really? How confident are you that you won't be able to catch me?" Mike's lips curled up at the corner.

"I'm a fast runner," Levi replied with a smile.

"Well then, shall we start chasing each other inside?" Mike teased, noticing that Levi suddenly stiffened in her place.

"Is there a swimming pool inside?" Levi redirected the conversation, realizing that she didn't have a comeback for his playful remark, which she had initiated in the first place.

"I believe there is. Knowing Mama, she would provide everything for her beloved. Let's go!" Mike responded.

He opened the white gate, revealing a spacious garage with a playground for children.

Levi winced at the sight of the playground. It seemed that Mike was truly envisioning a future with children. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the idea of starting a family with him.

The living room was vast and impeccably clean. Everything was complete and in order. Even the five bedrooms upstairs were incredibly spacious. Levi was at a loss for words, realizing that her mother-in-law had truly put a lot of thought and effort into preparing this place.

As they made their way to the garden, they were greeted by a beautifully landscaped area. On the other side, they spotted a large pool, accompanied by a smaller pool for children and comfortable lounge chairs for relaxation.

"What do you think?" Mike asked, looking at her.

She stole a quick glance at him and flashed a smile.

"It's perfect! I can't find any flaws in the designs and everything," Levi coolly replied.

"So, are you ready for a game of chase?" Mike playfully responded to her, slowly inching closer to Levi. Playfully, she took a step back, her smile widening.

"Come on, Montenegro. I was just kidding when I said that," Levi quickly retorted.

"Run, Levi," Mike said with a mischievous grin. Levi caught a glimpse of his playful expression, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter as she sprinted toward the edge of the swimming pool.

They playfully chased each other, their laughter filling the air. When Mike caught up to Levi, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, causing them both to tumble into the pool. They emerged from the water, drenched, as Mike playfully splashed water on Levi, who had her eyes closed in joyous laughter.

"Okay, that's enough, Mike! I'm done!" she exclaimed, her laughter echoing through the air. Sensing his pause, Levi suddenly felt a hand beneath the water, pulling her toward the deeper end of the pool. She let out a loud scream, her voice echoing sharply.

Underwater, she opened her eyes and saw the mischievous Mike, laughing as they both swam upward.

"Are you alright?" Mike asked with a smile, his gaze locked on her eyes.

Levi felt slightly uneasy in their current position, by the pool's edge. She found herself trapped in his embrace. The once cool water now seemed to heat up, or so it felt to her. Unable to control herself, she let out a shaky breath.

"I... I'm fine..." she stuttered, her voice faltering. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by Mike's gaze. Her eyes drifted down to his lips, realizing his desire to kiss her was evident.

"Levi..." he whispered her name, slowly closing the distance between their faces.

Reluctant to close her eyes, fearing he might play another prank on her, she kept them open. In an instant, his lips captured hers in a passionate kiss.

He kissed her with such intensity that the kiss became tender.

Levi lost track of time, her hands naturally finding their way to the back of his neck, deepening the connection.

He pulled her closer, intensifying the kiss.

Levi's senses heightened as his lips trailed down to her neck. She couldn't help but gasp as she felt his left hand on her right breast. In that moment, clarity rushed back to her, and she mustered the strength to push him away.

"Don't hold me back," Mike whispered in the midst of his actions.

Levi's heart suddenly quickened its pace. However, Mike was physically strong, and she couldn't push him away.

"Mike, what are you doing? Can you please stop this!" she shouted.

It was only then that Mike released her. His jaw tensed, and his gaze bore into her with anger.

"I thought you enjoyed what we were doing. You can't deny that you liked it too, Levi," he replied with frustration. He turned away from her and emerged from the pool.

Levi hugged herself, feeling confused about the situation. This wasn't what she wanted. Her dream was to have a love centered on affection, not driven by physical desires. Mike didn't love her, but the question remained: did she love him? She searched for her own feelings. For now, she couldn't find the words to express what she truly felt. Was it love or merely the allure of desire?

She settled onto a lounge chair that was nearby, wrapping her arms around herself. As Mike returned from inside the house, he carried a pink robe.

"Here, you can take a shower. I don't regret what I did, Levi, since you're going to marry me. It shouldn't be wrong for me to claim you repeatedly," he said with a serious tone. Levi's skin prickled on her neck and arms.

Levi remained silent, turning away and entering the house to look for the bathroom. It made her wonder why her mother-in-law had a fondness for large houses. She struggled to locate the bathroom on the lower level.

Levi opted for a hot shower, finding relaxation in the bathtub. However, the image of her encounter with Mike continued to occupy her thoughts. She could still feel the lingering sensation of his lips on hers, causing her to instinctively bite her lower lip.

After her shower, she quickly donned the hanging robe. She made her way towards the pool, but before reaching the door, she noticed Mike preparing food in the dining room.

Approaching him, Levi suddenly felt a pang of hunger in her stomach. Mike had a serious expression on his face, reflecting his annoyance and resentment.

Levi let out a frustrated sigh, pulling out a chair and taking a seat at the dining table. The enticing aroma of kare-kare and adobo chicken filled the room.

"Can you please say something? I'm not accustomed to us not teasing each other," Levi broke the silence, her voice cracking slightly.

Mike glanced at her and scooped some food onto her plate, generously adding a portion of the main dish. He grabbed a glass and filled it with refreshing lemonade.

"Eat," Mike said in a restrained tone, his expression still serious.

Levi remained silent, focusing her attention on the food in front of her. However, she couldn't help but notice the unexpected kindness that Mike was showing her.

Was he trying to score points by acting all nice? She secretly felt annoyed by that thought. Yet, she also acknowledged that once they were married, he would have certain privileges over her body. This realization filled her with a mix of apprehension and nervousness.