Her Innocence

Chap # 8 “You are ticklish?”

Janet Rivera’s POV

He came home early today from work and I was grateful as he looked happy. He walked towards me and held my hands in his. We made the choice to forgot the scene that happened yesterday as he held me in his arms today morning.

He was staring at me with that silly smile on his face as I curiously watched him, waiting for him to speak.

"Janet?" He spoke.

"Yes?" I whispered.

"Go on a date with me?" He said so softly that I felt my heart melt.

"Date?" I asked, confused.

"A date is when two people go out to get to know each other. Mostly couples who are married or in a relationship." He explained to me as he slowly pulled me closer. His hands now held my waist as I felt tingles all over my body.

"Okay I will go." I agreed as his grin widened and his eyes sparkled.

"Really?" He asked as I nodded.

"Umm... So, I will explain how it goes." I nodded again as he continued.

"You go with Lydia as she will help you change and I will be ready at seven so we can leave, okay?" He spoke.

"Okay." I answered him as he finally let me go making me miss his warmth.

"I'll be out. I need some things to do." He informed me as I looked at him, confused.

"What things?" I asked, not wanting him to leave.

"You will know later. And don't waste time." He replied as he cupped my cheek in his large and warm hand. "Lydia?" He called her as she came a few seconds later.

"Yes sir?"

"Get Mrs. Rivera ready for a fancy date. Will you?" Lydia walked closer to me as she held my arm.

"Yes sir." Lydia mocked and grinned as she pulled me towards the bedroom. I turned back to Nathan to see him watching me with a half-smile as he winked at me making me blush. I lost sight of him when the bedroom door closed as Lydia made me sit on a stool.

"Ma'am, you don't know how much I wanted to do this." She gushed as I smiled at her. "You two are the cutest couple I have ever known." I giggled and blushed at her comment as she opened the drawers of the dressing table and started taking out boxes.

"I will start with makeup and then your dress. How about a minimum make up? You are already so beautiful." She talked so much as I laughed.

"Thanks. You can do what you think is good. I have never used makeup." She curiously looks at me but does not question as she does her work. I never wore makeup because I never knew how to. I did used lipsticks, that I also wore at my wedding. It’s simple and elegant that's the way I prefer things.

She picked out a red dress which was choose by Nathan as I wore it with some black legging. The dress was gorgeous. I let my hair loose as I always did. The makeup was done so beautifully by Lydia that I kept thanking her. I did a one last look in the mirror and I looked really different as I smiled at myself while thanking how my life has turned.

She left saying that she be here tomorrow to see how did the date go. When she left, I got hungry, all of a sudden as I sat in the kitchen while eating some chocolate cookies and waiting for him. It was almost seven by now, where was he?

"You look gorgeous." All of a sudden, I felt his breath tickle my ear as he spoke. When did he came back? I didn't dare to move, he was not touching me yet I could feel his body right behind me, the heat from his body radiating on me. I felt goosebumps all over my skin as my eyes closed, involuntarily. I gulped softly as I felt his hand on my waist, he closed the gap between us and buried his face in my neck. The feeling was something I never felt before, it was warm, safe and really, really ticklish. I giggled when he nuzzled deeper in my neck.

He turned my body to face him as I blushed, like always. I don't know why I blush so much. He held my heated face in his large, comfy hands and made me face him.

"You are ticklish?" He asked with a smirk as his hands went to my waist. I yelped as he chuckled at my response. I felt his fingers dig in my waist and soon I started laughing while his fingers tickled me.

"No! N-Nathan! Please stop!" I shrieked as I tried to ran away from him but he had me trapped in between the counter and him.

"Should I?" He mocked as he stopped for a minute while I tried to regain my breath. My hands were around his torso as his were still on my waist, that were going lower. I looked up at his eyes to see him already staring at me, so lovingly that I melted the very same moment. He started leaning in as I thought he would kiss me. But instead, he just rested his head against mine again. He raised his hand and placed it back on my cheek and lastly closed his eyes. We stayed like this for a few moments as he looked like he was deep in his thoughts.

What was he thinking? I wanted to know.

"We will be late, dear. Let’s go." He said in a whisper as I nodded my head. He pushed himself back and interlaced our fingers together, pulling me towards him as he didn't look back at me.

We sat in the car and soon were on the road to get to the surprise as he mentioned it. We stopped at a luxury hotel. The lighting was so bright and the people walking around were looking so elegant. I felt like I was an outsider, it didn't feel like home. He didn't hold my hand in his but roamed his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him as we walked towards the entrance. Some people were looking at me and I started to feel nervous and I tried to push myself into Nathan.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked as he stopped, noticing my discomfort and turned to face me.

"Umm... Nothing." I answered as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Tell me, dear." He insisted.

"I feel like different here." I tried to give an honest answer.

"You are just like them, no different." He told me as he gave me reassuring smile. "Janet. Raise your chin up, and your shoulders should be held high." He raised my chin with his fingers, and then patted my shoulders as he spoke. I did as he said and took a deep breath.

"Good, remember this Janet. You are the most beautiful in this world for me and no one can compare your natural beauty." He said, lovingly. My eyes stayed on his as he said all those words. My heart jumped as I smiled at him, my nervousness fading away.

"Let’s go." He said as he led me towards the entrance, a lady stood there with a table in front of her, a notebook in her hand.

"How may I help you?" She spoke with a gentle voice.

"I have a table reserved under the name of Nathan Rivera." Nathan said, with his voice blank.

"Yes. Follow me." Nathan's hand was on my back as we went up the stairs following the lady. We stopped at a balcony, actually it was larger than our balcony. There was a table with candles and little blue lights illuminating the scene. The hotel was on top of a mountain, so we could see the lights of the city from up here.

"Wow! This is amazing, Nathan." I gushed as he grinned at me.

"Glad you like it." He chuckled as he pulled a chair for me, telling me to sit. I sat as he did the same. We were seated in front of each other which was different since we always sat side by side.

"Here is your menu, a waitress will be here shortly to retrieve it." The lady said as she handed us the menu and went on her way.

"Okay, I took the balcony seats because I knew you loved the balcony place in our house the most. And second I wanted us to be alone." I blushed at his words as he was looking at the menu.

"Thank you." I said as he looked up at me.

"You don't need too. You are my wife and you will be my first priority." He said as I couldn't help but giggle. He narrowed his eyes at me as my grin widened.

"I don't know the meaning of priority but I did get what you mean." He chuckled as a lady dressed in a rather tight outfit, eyed Nathan as she spoke.

"Yes, sir what would you like to drink?" She asked with confidence.

"I would have red wine and my wife will have some pineapple juice." Nathan told her and I was glad he gave my order as well because I didn't know what to get myself.

"Are you ready to order?" She asked him again as I narrowed my eyes at the young girl. She must be my age; she was beautiful but her skin was a little brownish while her makeup was white which made her look a little weird. And on second thought, I was sitting here too. She kept her eyes on Nathan and I felt something inside me. Anger. Sadness. Confusion. The mixture of all these emotions.

Nathan gave his order as the waitress left. I got confused and so did Nathan as suddenly something passed his eyes.

"Excuse me?" He called the lady.

"Would you mind and ask my wife the same things you asked me?" He asked with gritted teeth, his voice filled with anger. The lady turned to face me as she gulped.

"Oh, I am sorry. I didn't see you there." She said and even I could tell her tone was fake.

"What would you have, miss?" She asked me with the notepad in her hand.

"The same as he said." I told her as my eyes meet Nathan. He gave me a small smile as his face showed that he looked hurt. Why?

"It's Mrs. not Miss. And will you mind if another waitress comes and serves our food." Nathan stated with his eyes set on me.

"No sir." The lady went and Nathan, quickly scooted his chair to my side. He sat right beside me as his warm and large hand held mine.

"I am sorry." He whispered and I was about to speak but stopped when he did.

"That lady just ignored you and I didn't see through her facade." He leaned his face towards me and rested his forehead on top of mine. His eyes closed as I tried to memorize his face.

"It’s okay. Thank you for figuring it out." I said with a small laugh as he chuckled as well.

"You know, I am in love with your laugh." I blushed as his eyes opened and meet mine. Those blue orbs were so enchanting and beautiful. I blushed hard as he gave me a teasing look. His hands went to my waist, tickling me as he made patterns with his fingers.

"Excuse me?" A manly voice spoke as Nathan groaned and pushed himself away from me.

"Yes?" Nathan asked, annoyed as I tried not to laugh.

"Your drinks. Red wine and pineapple juice." He placed two bottle one with that red liquid and the pineapple juice. The red wine was familiar as I tried to remember were, I saw it.

"Thank you." The man left as Nathan popped open the bottle and poured himself some wine and pineapple juice for me. He quickly drank the wine and turned to face me again.

"You know what this is?" He asked, softly as he twirled his cup in his hand.

"Yes. I saw it more than once. My aunt used to drink this and act weird. It does smell the same." I answered as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"What do you mean by acting weird?" He asked.

"She- she would just get more furious and som- something hit me, she couldn't walk properly and talked nonsense." I told him something, I never told anyone and I hope he doesn't think bad about me or even my aunt. Maybe the drink made her hit me or there must be a reason she hurt me.

"That is wrong!" Nathan said as he poured another drink and gulped it down.

"Maybe she has a reason to hit me or maybe the drink must have made her do it." I voiced my thoughts out as his faced away from me.

"Janet! That was she did was wrong! She had no f*****g right to hit a person! How can you be so sweet to her!?" His voice started to get louder with each word as I started to get scared of him. He was definitely angry and I knew his anger was not on me but I couldn't help but fear him.

"Nathan?"

"I'm sorry. It’s just, it must hurt. Doesn't it? When she hurt you?" He asked his voice was now back to soft.

"It did." I whispered.

"I'm sorry." I shook my head to tell him it’s alright but what shocked me was when he took me in his arms hugged me as his chest was pressed against mine. His hands wrapped around my waist, a little too tight as if he was trying to protect me. His face buried in my neck as I felt my body heat up and a chill run all the way up through my spine.

"I will protect you." He muttered to himself as he thought I wouldn't hear. I smiled as I felt a lone tear escaped my eye. I quickly wiped it as I didn't want him to see it.

"Your meal is here." The man said as he placed the dishes, ignoring us. I, suddenly remembered Lydia as she always found me and Nathan in these intense moments.

"Anything else?" He asked as he eyes the both of us.

"No." Nathan said, blankly as I grinned up at his mood. The man smiled and left us alone.

"Let’s start." We started eating our dinner which was steak, spaghetti, garlic bread and some chicken tikka with hummus. It was all so yummy. We spoke most of the time as he told me his childhood stories. How he was a nerd and never had any friends except Derek. It was funny most of the time as I laughed.

We both were done with our food as we stood at the balcony railing. He was standing right behind me as he held me in his arms. His chin resting on the top of my head as we both watched the dark scenery with little lights of the city. The sky was beautiful with stars sparkling and the moon shinning bright. The slow tune of music was playing in the background as he gently swayed with me. His lower body moved with mine as I gulped at the feeling. Gosh! This felt perfect.

"Want to dance, my lady?" He asked and I chuckled.

"I don't k-"

"Neither do I, but let's just try." He said, hopefully as he bends forward, looking at me for an answer.

"Okay." He suddenly turned me around with my waist as we both laughed.

"Okay. Your hands on my shoulder while mine remains here." He said as he tickled my waist for a few second making my laugh boom around the quiet place. I placed my hand on his shoulder as he pulled me closer to him while smirking, teasing me.

"My beautiful wife." He murmured as I blushed, while I laid my head on his shoulder. We both swayed for a quite some time afterwards he pulled back and twirled me around as I giggled while he grinned watching me, amusedly.

We both were tired by then, as it was almost midnight. Nathan and I walked around in a park at late night for an hour as he told me a story about his father and mother. Who died in an accident eight years ago? He looked very sad when he told me about them as I couldn't imagine anyone losing someone dear to them. I knew how he felt, it was same as when dad left us and when mum left me too. I turned to face him as he laughed when he told that once he got grounded for getting a cat home at late, midnight. I laughed with him as I watched him, the real him. The cheerful, excited, and protective guy.

"It’s getting late. We should go now." He said as he looked around him to see that we were the only one’s walking. We were both now in the car going home and I couldn't stop the grin that formed on my face. I felt real happiness. Today was one of the best days of my life, and I couldn't thank Nathan for what he did for me. I would have never been happy if it wasn't for him and I wish this happiness will never be broken. With my thoughts, I went into a dark abyss.

Nathan Rivera's POV

I turned to face her, to see her already in deep sleep. My eyes focused back on the road as I drove slowly avoiding any bumps on the road. We reached in a few minutes as I went to her side of the car and carefully opened the door. She was stunning, her baby hair was splattered all over her forehead as she looked adorable. I wanted to kiss her when I came home to see her. But I stopped myself only because I wanted her to feel free when I kiss her.

I laid my hand on top of her thighs to see her move a little, I carefully and gently roamed my one arm around her knees and the other arm around her waist. I pulled her out of the car, and placed her on top of me. I had her bridal style, as she snuggled closer to me, finding warmth as I chuckled, lowly.

I opened the front door which was quite hard as I finally succussed in unlocking the front door. I walked upstairs towards our bedroom with her still in my arms. I walked towards her bed-side and slowly laid her on the bed. The lights automatically turned on as I went to the closet and changed into my trousers and a tank top. I saw her dress and instantly turned my face away.

I can't change her. It would be too much.

I went to my side of the bed and laid right beside her, watching her. I love the way she laughs; her smile is gorgeous. I will never let anyone be with her, I may sound like a jealous man but I don't even want a single guy watch her, her smile or even hear her laugh.

She was mine, mine to protect and love.

**********