Chapter 20

We went back to his apartment after we had previously stopped at a minimarket not far from his apartment to buy things. Of course, I paid for it with his money, considering I forgot to bring my wallet. Once in front of the cashier, my eyes catch a shelf filled with condoms with various flavors and the Durex brand of lubricants that claim to be water-based.

If I remember correctly, water-based lubricants are much safer to use than synthetic or silicone-based lubricants. It is because water-based lubricants will not damage latex-based condoms and can increase condom safety. Also, water-based lubricants are easier to clean, which made me grab a bottle of water-based lubricant and two boxes of Dominik's favorite strawberry-flavored condoms. Then I went to the cashier, who carelessly scanned the item I chose while mentioning the amount I had to pay.

I took out Dominik's wallet, which he had given me before I entered the minimarket, and handed some money to the cashier. Then I took the paper bag containing the groceries I bought earlier and left the minimarket.

"Are you done?" asked Dominik, who immediately got out of his car and offered to help me carry my groceries.

"No need. I can bring it myself." I refused, walking quickly toward his car. I opened the rear car door and put the groceries in the back seat, then I closed the rear car door and opened the front car door. I got into the car and sat in the front passenger seat, closed the car door. Then I pulled my seat belt.

"You really never want to accept my help, huh?"

"Because I am used to living alone. It is something I can still do on my own anyway." I replied, turning to him with a lazy face.

"I feel like I love you more, Leah. I have never met a woman as independent as you, apart from Valencia, of course." he says, leaning his head against my shoulder.

I immediately pushed him away and lifted his chin. "How dare you talk about other women in front of me, Dominik Lawrence?"

"Why? Are you jealous I am comparing you to Valencia?" he asked with a grin.

I shook my head. "Not really. I just do not like hearing you talk about other women in front of me."

He just shook his head with a smile, then put on his seat belt and started the car, away from the convenience store earlier. Arriving at his apartment, I put the groceries in the kitchen and immediately took off his coat to untie the rope that I put on his body.

"Master? Why did you put it off?"

"I'm afraid your skin will not breathe if I keep this rope on your body." I replied while still directing my gaze towards his upper body, which was now free from the rope that had been attached to his upper body earlier.

Seeing the rope marks stuck to his body made him look even sexier, made me lick my lower lip, refraining from attacking him again. Then I turned my face and turned my body backward so as not to be more tempted by the scene in front of me right now.

"Master?" he asked, holding my hand so as not to walk away from him. "Still mad about earlier?"

I ignored him and walked towards the kitchen. Then I opened the refrigerator, looking for ice cubes that I could use to compress my lips, which had been bleeding from his bite earlier. Only a few small ice cubes are enough to cool a cup of tea. I nodded my head and put it back in the refrigerator. Then I took a white cup and filled it with a teaspoon of salt and warm water before it was hot. After stirring it until the salt dissolves into the water, I use it to gargle.

"Dominik?" I asked, after finishing washing the cup that I used earlier and returning it to its original place. "Do you have a small towel or something? Bring it for me."

He, who was still standing in front of his apartment door, nodded his head and took a small towel which was located in the bathroom near his room, then walked over to me and gave it to me.

"Thank you." I said, then took the ice cubes that were in the refrigerator and put them in the small white towel he had given me earlier. After making sure it is not so cold, I closed it and used it to compress my lips earlier. A cool feeling immediately filled my lips which now felt a little swollen and I continued to apply the compress until the ice cubes in the towel completely melted.

"If it is not compressed like this, the swelling will not disappear. Before compressing it, gargling with salt water will help disinfect the bite on the lips or tongue." I said, seeing Dominik, who was confused about what I was doing.

"It turns out you know a lot about that. Personal experience, huh?" he replied, nodding his head. He then lay down on the sofa chair, looking tired because of our trip, which took almost 2 hours. At this time, the clock showed almost 4 in the morning. It is only natural that he feels tired, I thought.

I put the towel I used earlier in the tub for dirty clothes near the bathroom that I had glanced at before entering his room, then walked towards him.

"If you want to sleep, go to your room." I said, pulling his hand that still did not want to part with the sofa chair he was sitting on.

"Nah. I am too tired to walk inside. Besides, we only have a few hours before we go to the office." he replied, opening his eyes lazily.

"That is why I want you to sleep in the room. I will wake up when it is time to go to the office."

Because I gave up on him, who did not want to be separated from the sofa chair he slept with at all, I finally let him sleep there. Then I walked away to his room.

"Leah? Are you angry?" he asked in a half sleepy voice.

"No, I just want to sleep." I replied without turning the slightest glance at him.

"Hmm, okay. Then, let me carry my Master up to my room."

"No need. Hey!"

Before I could even raise a protest at him, his hands swiftly carried me with one lift in front of him. He looked at me for a moment and smiled at me before turning his gaze back straight ahead. Without having any trouble, he carried me until we arrived in front of his messy bed. Carefully, he put me down on the bed.

"Thank you." I said indifferently, then lay my body on his bed and turned my body in another direction, not at all intending to look at him.

"Master... Are you still angry at me?" he asked, poking my body, which I quickly brushed off.

"I told you that I just want to sleep. Now, go to sleep."

Hearing my words earlier, he immediately lay down next to me and hugged me from behind. "Sorry, Master. I will no longer talk about other women in front of my Master."

"Like I care."

He leaned his head on my left shoulder. His hands were still wrapped around my waist and could feel his body temperature still cold from the air on the hill where he invited me to take a look at the night sky, making me feel a little guilty for telling him not to wear anything other than a coat and boots which of course weren't enough for him to dispel the cold air on the hill earlier.

I immediately turned my body towards him, staring at his body, which made me realized there was nothing stuck to him other than the marks of the rope I had tied around his body. My hand quickly pulled the blanket on the mattress and gave it to him. Then I kissed his forehead while staring at his face, which looked confused by what I was doing earlier.