Kaede opened her eyes and sat up. The sunlight slid through the blinds.

The room with its optical illusion was more spectacular in daylight. Kaede felt as though she slept under the world's surface.

A sigh escaped as she remembered how the man held her back.

Their discussion ended with Dominque leading Kaede back to the bed, where he immobilized her with a hug and intertwined his legs with hers. They slept after Dominque said that struggling would exhaust both of them.

Dominque's words rang in her mind. The man conveyed so much of his emotions, wasn't it supposed to be the other way round? Kaede didn't realize she generalized because this was what the men she had in her life had her used to.

Never had Kaede met a man in phase with his feelings. No matter the relationship from her teen years till adulthood, she had to read between the lines. Here, Dominque was an open book; it destabilized her.

Kaede didn't know such men existed. Dominque tossed out his sentiments as if he had nothing to lose. The woman found herself in the upper hand position, where he was the one to read behind her silence.

Somehow the situation reassured Kaede, who believed she could not be taken for a fool as long the man remained unaware of her feelings.

Kaede hopped out of bed and began to pick up her clothes. She didn't know what spirit told her she would want to wear what she had on the night before. The garments reeked sweat, tobacco, and weed, which people smoked in the bar's most obscure corner.

She could not imagine herself walking out of the room in them. Kaede looked about and saw a Carhartt t-shirt hanging on a chair. She didn't debate whether Dominque would mind; she hurried to put it on and left the room. Kaede tiptoed through the kitchen burglar style when she heard.

"Are you lost, baby girl?"

The sentence triggered a laughing fit when her eyes locked on Dominque standing shirtless in his sweat pants, arms crossed from across the counter.

"I knew it would make you smile."

It was a banter between them that began in the early morning when Kaede attempted to escape his embrace. She argued and said Dominque pulled off a Massimo. Also, holding her against her will was a criminal offense.

Dominque laughed to his heart's content and kissed her on the shoulder, and replied, "sleep, sue me in a few hours."

Lost one night in the Netflix catalog, Dominque, who browsed for background sounds to sleep, fell upon the polish movie. The story didn't enthrall him; he was not the targeted audience. The male protagonist was a fool and a psychopath, in Dominque's opinion. Who, in their right mind, would fall for such a troublesome woman as Laura? The woman was a vixen to avoid.

Dominque eyed Kaede up and down.

She tugged on the tee," sorry, I borrowed this. My stuff smells like an ashtray. I'll get you another one from the store."

Dominque remained silent while he admired one of the highest-ranking turn-on elements on his list. The man adored having a woman wearing his clothes.

"No worries, it's yours now. You can wear it whenever."

Kaede's eyes darted; she wasn't sure she heard right.

"Eh, Dominque, we already discussedㅡ."

"What do you want for breakfast? You've got eggs, toast, coffee, juice, cerㅡ."

"Dominque, are you listening?"

"No, I'm not. Sorry, Kaede, I already told you there wouldn't be any one-night standing, sex-friending, and odd rules I'll forget. We'll act like normal people. We'll meet, hangout, and have sex when we want to because we'll want to."

Their past was a drawback; they were both casualties of their precedent relationship. Dominque was aware of how Kaede's and Marco's relationship went since his friend gave his version.

There was no doubt Marco messed up the woman's mind. Kaede didn't trust him; she was afraid of him. If Dominque let her do, they would run around in circles. The man took upon him to reassure her even if he found himself wondering if it was a good thing to reveal his feelings. It made him vulnerable, but how could he expect her to open up to their relationship if he remained on his guard?

Kaede shook her head, "you are crazy."

Dominque reflected for a second and contoured the kitchen counter to stand in front of her. He lifted her.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

He deposited Kaede on the counter and stood between her legs, "there's no way I'm letting you go. So yeah, I guess I'm crazy."

In the light and up close, Dominque's eyes and lashes were impressive. The man made Faline in Bambi look like a runner-up in a beauty pageant.

Magnetized by his gaze Kaede wrapped her arms around his neck, "you'll get bored of me."

"I doubt."

Dominque refrained himself from reminding Kaede how he risked breaking a fifteen-year friendship for her. There was no way he was playing.

"Dom, the door was opㅡenㅡ."

Dyan stood at the kitchen's entrance.

"Hi There," Dyan stretched her neck to see Kaede, who tried to hide in Dominque's chest," Kaede?"

She poked out her head, "hi Dyan."

Dyan glared at her brother.

"It's not what you think, Kaede and I areㅡ."

"Dominque, I should go," Kaede whispered.

"No, stay," Dominque whispered before addressing himself to his sister, "what do you want, Dyan?"

"It was just a friendly morning call, but I see you're busy. Etienne needs a toolbox. I figured dad had one."

"Yeah, I'll get it for you," Dominque turned his gaze back to Kaede, "don't go anywhere. I'm coming back," Dominque left Kaede, who hopped down from the counter.

She found herself face to face with Dyan, who came and sat down to eat, "aren't you going to have breakfast? He made this for you. It's the least you can do."

Kaede took a seat and began to put jam on her toast.

Dyan lent an ear to capture her brother's footsteps and began to speak.

"People mislead themselves about my brother. They think he's some Don Juan. My brother is sweet; he's this kind of guy, the type that makes breakfasts." Dyan said, pointing to the pile of pancakes she stacked.

"I'm sorry, Dyan, I wasn't supposed to be here."

"But you are here whether I'm in for it or not. But I like you, Kaede; you seem to be a decent woman. Dominque is a good man, don't make him into a villain. Don't break my brother's heart, or I'll scalp you." Dyan smiled, "only kidding," she added.

Kaede didn't know where to put herself.

Dyan preferred to set the record straight. Kaede was the second woman Dominque showed his sister.

Their parent's home was sacred none ever brought anyone there. Even Etienne only stepped into the house when Dyan announced she was pregnant. If Kaede slept there, it meant it was serious. Dyan was willing to accept Dominque's new love interest, but she would watch her brother's back as Dominque was blind like a debutant when it came to love matters.

"Dyan, Iㅡ."

The words were interrupted by the man's return, "here you go, Dyan, and please give me a call from now on if you want to drop by."

Dominque's sentence confirmed Kaede would be sticking around for a while, "yeah, yeah, oh, before I forget, Etienne gave me these invitations for the Vice summer party in August. Dom, can you put this in a Tupperware for me, and I'll leave you two alone."

"No, Dyan, they weren't for you."

"Is this how mom raised you? I'm pregnant and hungry, Dom."

Dominque sighed and proceeded to put elements of the breakfast in a Tupperware for his sister.

"Thanks, Dom, love you," Dyan kissed him on the cheek and left with the toolbox.

Dominque gave Kaede an apologetic stare, "sorry about that."

"No worries, it's just I wasn't expecting a visit."

"Neither was I; Dyan has the keys too. It's our parent's house; we basically come here whenever, but she won't drop by like that anymore, I promise."

"Dominque, I'm not sureㅡ."

"Go on, tell me what's scaring you," Dominque took a seat at the counter next to Kaede.

"I'm afraid of what a happening. It's all soㅡ."

Dominque placed his hand on hers, "let's take our time. No pressure; let's just be us and move forward. Don't think too far ahead."

Kaede laughed internally; it was easy for him to say. Thinking about the situation was all she could do. What happened, happened. There was no going back or erasing. Just as Dominque desired, Kaede was sober, her eyes were wide open, and she remembered every second of their night together.

"Why are you like this, Dominque?"

"Why am I like what? Don't you appreciate the way I am?"

"I do."

The man smiled, "good, when will you have lunch today?"

"I'm starting at 2 pm; I have a thirty-minute break."

"Okay, when? I'll be there."

"Dominque."

"What? I want to be with you. Can I keep you company?"

Kaede tucked in her lips, Dyan's words rung in her mind.

"Can I?" Dominque repeated.

"Yes. Dominque, what time is it?"

"Noon."

Kaede shot up.

"I'm joking, Kaede, sit down; it's 10 am. You need to relax a little."

The woman sighed, "the word isn't part of my dictionary."

"Well, let's change that," Dominque popped a toast in her mouth.

They had breakfast, and Kaede left at 11 am.