She faintly recalled him counting aloud earlier, but she playfully remarked, âHow am I supposed to know? Since youâve forgotten, you have to start from the beginning.
â
Nathan was at a loss for words.
He thought Lucinda was very cunning.
He lay prostrate on the carpet and gave up.
âYouâre doing this on purpose, enslaving and torturing me.
Iâd like to conserve some strength for our little game at noon.
â
He was too exhausted to do that now.
Lucindaâs expression turned dark, and she gave him a firm slap on his hip.
Lucinda didnât use much force on the slap.
If anything, it came across as a little flirtatious.
Lucinda stared at Nathanâs profile and chuckled.
âI never tortured you.
Didnât we agree on one hundred and forty-three push-ups as a little gift for me? Are you going back on your word now?â
She landed another slap on his firm buttocks.
âHurry up, now.
A man should keep his promise.
â
Nathan took a deep breath and tried to steady his trembling arms.
Thankfully, he was able to get back into rhythm without difficulty.
âCount from one hundred and twelve,â Lucinda announced.
Nathanâs eyes widened in indignation.
So, she did remember the number he was on! She was deliberately teasing him!
What a mischievous woman.
Nathan shook his head and sighed to himself.
It wasnât as if he could do anything about it.
He had worked really hard to get her back, and had vowed to himself that he would only cherish her for the rest of their lives.
âOne hundred and thirteen.
â Nathanâs raspy voice rang out in the bedroom as he continued counting in the early hours of the morning.
When Zenia passed by to attend to her chores, she couldnât help but pause and look at the closed door in confusion.
Of course, she knew better than to snoop around the private affairs of Nathan and Lucinda.
Inside the bedroom.
âOne hundred⦠and forty-threeâ¦â
Nathan dropped to his belly and let out a long sigh of relief.