Chapter 84: You are supposed to use your hands...not nails

Dominic looked at Clara, puzzled by how suddenly she had gone quiet.

He brushed the thought aside and gently asked, "How’s your stomach? Does it still hurt?"

[Maybe I should wait for the right time before telling Clara about Julianna and Alex.] He quietly pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

[I don’t want to see her get hurt because of that jerk.]

Clara looked at him before softly shaking her head.

"It doesn’t hurt anymore." She smiled sweetly. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t need my husband’s attention. I’m still in desperate need of being pampered."

Dominic let out a quiet chuckle.

Unknown to him, Clara had already guessed that he knew about Julianna and Alex’s relationship. Nothing really escaped Dominic’s notice. If he knew every secret about her, discovering her stepsister’s affair with her ex wasn’t surprising at all.

Still, she couldn’t force him to tell her.

To Dominic, she was still completely unaware of the truth, and he genuinely believed learning it would only make her sad.

Her eyes suddenly became misty. Her lips trembled.

My husband... why are you so selfless?

Dominic instantly stiffened.

[W-What happened?] His heartbeat skipped.

[Why is she crying?]

"What happened?" he asked in panic, immediately holding her shoulders. "Is your stomach hurting again?"

Clara blinked.

"Should I call the doctor?" Dominic was already reaching for his phone. Then another thought hit him.

[No. Forget the doctor. We’re going to the hospital right now.]

He was halfway through getting off the bed when Clara hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.

"Dom!" He froze.

"I-I’m not hurt."

"You aren’t?" he asked, still contemplating.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Dominic searched her face anxiously. [Then... why are there tears in her eyes? Something is sure bothering her

Clara couldn’t help smiling.

"I’m crying because..." she said softly, "...I keep wondering what good deed I must have done for heaven to reward me with a husband like you."

Dominic fell silent. His ears slowly turned red.

[She’s... crying because of me? The thoughts left him stunned, but the very second later—

[Dominic Sterling, you’re an idiot.]

Clara bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

[How could you make your wife cry?]

Her shoulders began trembling.

[Couldn’t you have been more considerate?]

At this point, Clara wasn’t even sad anymore. She was trying very hard not to burst into laughter.

Her husband was seriously scolding himself. How was someone this adorable allowed to exist?

Then an idea suddenly popped into her head, and her eyes sparkled mischievously.

Without giving Dominic any warning, she crawled straight into his lap.

Dominic’s eyes widened.

"C-Clara?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"I’ve decided." He blinked.

"Decided what?" his breathing hitched at the touch of her breath on his ears.

Clara smiled innocently. "Since my husband is so nice..." she leaned closer until only a breath separated them. "...I’m going to pamper him today."

Dominic completely froze.

[...Danger.]

Clara blinked, trying to act innocent. But in the back of her mind she was already enjoying the sight before her.

[Retreat is impossible.]

Her lips twitched.

[Remain calm, Dominic.]

Clara buried her face in his shoulder to hide her laughter.

[Don’t blush.]

"..."

[...Too late.]

Clara finally lost the battle. A muffled laugh escaped her lips as she hugged him tighter.

"My husband..."

"Hm?"

"...You’re the cutest person I’ve ever met."

Dominic cleared his throat awkwardly.

[I refuse to admit that was embarrassing.]

Clara smiled. Too bad. She had heard every single thought. But that was not going to stop her.

If he can’t pamper me for a week... then I might as well pamper him instead.

Dominic was still trying to calm his racing thoughts when Clara suddenly leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss against his ear.

He froze. Almost instinctively, his arms tightened around her waist.

"C-Clara..." he stammered. "What are you doing? We... we can’t do anything right now."

Clara slowly pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet. The playful sparkle in her gaze made Dominic swallow hard.

A wave of embarrassment washed over him, and the tips of his ears turned a deep shade of red.

She smiled innocently. "I’m pampering my husband."

As she spoke, one of her hands slowly slid from his shoulder to the centre of his chest, moving down to the south stoping right on the edge of his pants.

Dominic’s jaw tensed. His dark eyes remained fixed on her, unable to look away.

"You..." he said helplessly.

"What? You know exactly what you’re doing."

Clara’s smile widened.

"Do I?"

Dominic let out a quiet sigh, torn between exasperation and amusement.

"You love teasing me."

"I do," Clara admitted without a hint of guilt. "Your reactions are just too adorable."

Dominic looked away, trying to regain his composure.

[She’s definitely doing this on purpose.]

Clara couldn’t help but giggle, yet she continued teasing him, her fingertips tracing lightly over the fabric at his waist.

"Relax, hubby," she whispered with a mischievous smile. "Tonight, you’re the one who’s going to be spoilt."

Dominic’s eyes snapped to hers. The smirk on her face made him swallow hard.

His gaze instinctively dropped before returning to Clara, who was watching him with unmistakable amusement.

Before he could gather his thoughts, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a slow, lingering kiss.

When she finally pulled away, Dominic was left completely breathless.

Clara smiled to herself before helping him out of the extra layers of clothing.

Dominic sat perfectly still, his breathing noticeably uneven.

Holy... shit. Since when did he get so big? Clara thought, her confidence wavering for a brief moment watching his dick standing like a rigid rod.

Although they were husband and wife, she suddenly realised how little attention she had paid to moments like these in the past. Back then, everything had happened so naturally that she had never stopped to truly appreciate him.

She did remember one thing, however. Her husband had always been incredibly passionate whenever they were together.

Calm down, Clara, she silently reminded herself. He’s your husband, not some terrifying final boss.

The thought almost made her laugh. Still, her heartbeat refused to slow until...

"Ah..."

A low groan escaped Dominic before he could stop it. Clara immediately looked up.

His chest rose and fell with every uneven breath, and a faint blush had spread all the way to the tips of his ears.

She had never seen Dominic this flustered before. The usually calm and composed man was completely at a loss, and for some reason, that made her smile.

Dominic, meanwhile, was fighting an entirely different battle.

[Why isn’t she saying anything?] His fingers unconsciously tightened against the bedsheets.

[Did I make her uncomfortable?]

His thoughts spiralled. [Is she... disappointed?]

Dominic, who lacked nothing, was surprised to think of something like this. However, no one knew he had his own insecurities about Clara because a part of him was constantly jealous of the man she had previously loved.

Clara blinked before bursting into soft laughter. She cupped his face with both hands and gently rubbed his cheeks.

"Eyes on me, hubby. No looking anywhere else," Clara said with a teasing smile.

Dominic found himself staring at her, completely dumbfounded.

Just a moment ago, he had been convinced she was second-guessing herself. Yet now she looked perfectly composed, as though she had never hesitated in the first place.

He held his breath, doing everything he could to maintain his usual calm, stoic expression.

It was a losing battle.

Tiny beads of sweat formed on his forehead before slowly rolling down his temples.

[How can she be this adorable... and still leave me this flustered?]

Dominic had never imagined Clara possessed such a bold side. The innocent woman he had always known had somehow become someone capable of leaving him utterly speechless.

The moment she reached for him, every coherent thought vanished from his mind.

[Why are her hands so soft?]

He shut his eyes for a brief second, silently willing himself to stay composed.

[Get a hold of yourself, Dominic.]

When he looked at her again, Clara’s entire focus was on him.

There wasn’t a trace of awkwardness or uncertainty in her expression anymore.

Only affection. Only the desire to make him feel cared for.

Dominic’s heart softened. He had never wanted Clara to feel obligated to do anything for his sake. If anything, he was always the one worrying about her.

He knew how exhausted she could become if she pushed herself too hard. That was why he had always chosen restraint over his own desires because he didn’t want to hurt Clara in anyway.

[As long as she’s comfortable and happy... that’s enough for me.]

Looking into her smiling eyes, Dominic couldn’t help but let out a quiet, helpless chuckle. His wife truly had a way of turning his composure upside down without even trying.

"Ouch!"

A sharp sting shot through Dominic, making him flinch. He immediately looked at Clara.

Clara froze before flashing him an awkward smile.

"Oops... sorry," she said sheepishly.

Dominic stared at her in speechless disbelief.

[Wifey... you’re supposed to use your hands, not your nails.]