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For ifesinachi2000 happy birthday girl! Hopefully this makes you smile the way your support has made me smile. Wish you all the best!

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Liz woke up to soft wet licks on the side of her face and a hot body pressed behind her.

"Leo!" She groaned softly. The dog just jumped on the bed even more excited and it wagged his tail, licking both hers and Jason's face.

"Leo get off" she whined again, a contented smile on her face. Nothing beats waking up with her little family, nothing made her feel more complete.

"Its all your fault you know. Why didn't you lock the door?" Jason complained and buried his face deeper in the crook of her neck.

"Sit Leo." Liz commanded, but unlike every obedient dog on planet earth, Leo always takes pleasure in disobeying her. Licking their faces even more and wagging its tail interrupted with tiny barks.

"Okay, okay Leo. We are up now" Liz said and sat up. The dog bounded into her arms and she rubbed the back of his ears softly, scratching through his fur gently so that it didn't scratch more like tickle him and the dog let out a appreciative whine.

"Out Leo!" Jason commanded now, the brown German shepherd groaned and bounded out quickly the same way it came in.

"I don't even understand why that dog obeys you and not me. Its my dog after all," Liz pouted and dove back into bed searching for her phone. 

Jason got up and rolled his eyes at her, after all she knew why the dog didn't obey her. Liz threw him one of the bed pillows, which he caught and sent back flying into her face with a loud smack.

"Jason!" She huffed in mock annoyance.

He giggled as he jogged out to the bathroom to empty his full tank. When he returned Liz was surprised he got back into bed with her, Jason's normal morning routine was to go towards the swinging chair at the corner of the room to pray. Lately she noticed he didn't do it anymore.

"So no morning Prayers today too?" She asked surprised at the change. Even though she never joined him when she was awake, it was a tradition she didn't want to see him break. Seeing him devote his time and pour out his faith every morning was symbolic and she liked watching him do that.

Jason shrugged out a simple "No," no more no less.

"Why?" This time she dug her fingers through his beard to scratch the hair there and he groaned one of pure enjoyment and bliss, "Also you didn't kiss my forehead this morning you know."

He fanned his long eyelashes downward, hiding his blue_greyed orbs from her, something that he was doing almost too frequently like he had something to hide.

"Nothing, I just don't feel like it." If not that he was dismissing the topic she was going to dig deeper but she left it for a later conversation after all today was her special day.

They stayed like that for a while as she responded to the tons of birthday wishes and posts on all her social media accounts along side texts. She wasn't going to make it awkward now that he hasn't wished her a happy birthday after all last year he made her feel like a Queen. So she was going to be patient and wait for his big surprise, the thought of it made her shiver with excitement.

"Why are smiling?" Jason asked throwing her a funny stare.

Liz decided to mess with him, "Because my other man is sending me sweet texts."

"Really?" He asked and shot up. Liz burst into laughter surprised that he even believed her.

"No dummy. You're all the zaddy I need in one lifetime" she shot him a sweet smile and he felt the burden of guilt back again.

Liz stared at him taking in his reaction and couldn't place what's up with him. It was her Job to read people so she knew subtly something was wrong she could feel it sometimes in the delayed kisses, hooded side glances, the worried looks, the overcompensation of trust. He always wanted to be reminded if she loves him, always with the 'say you love me' at first it felt cute now she wasn't so sure. It really was something that he used to do before right now its like he wasn't sure of her live anymore.

"You're supposed to smile and you're not smiling. I just called you Zaddy," she shot him an annoyed glance. "Jason why are you acting shady?"

"No I'm not, You're tripping." He replied too quick, another overcompensation technique.

"Okay, are you not going to make breakfast for me?" Jason asked and Liz stared at him beginning to feel tiny embers of anger flame. She noticed the way he changed the subject.

"Why aren't you making breakfast for me. You're supposed to treat me special." Her bow lips were jutted forward in a pout that made her look so cute, Jason couldn't resist giving her a quick kiss now.

"Why should I be the one cooking for you all the time Liz, learn how to cook too" He responded sharply then gave her another kiss to soften the effect of his words.

"Move away," she pushed him off. "Don't kiss me with your stinky breath since you want to be moody. I cook for you sometimes but you know you make the best pancakes and waffles and now you want to make it look like I don't cook anything. Plus cooking isn't a gender role you know. "

Jason let out a quick laugh at how flushed she was. Liz was beginning to get irritated and he knew, he could see it in the flare of her nose and the way she was biting the insides of her cheeks.

"No you don't, most times when I'm not home the house keeper cooks. You only make oatmeal and eat cereal." He finished with another chuckle.

Liz got up from the bed not even understanding why he was being so mean to her today. He was supposed to pamper her not tell her all about how she didn't cook.

She moved towards the bathroom and suddenly whirled around when he said, "just the simple truth and you can't handle it. "

"Tolulope I'm not liking your energy this morning and I don't even understand why? Are you mad at me or something? Also, you know my cooking has improved, you said you liked the Jollof rice I made on Monday night." Liz tried to swallow down her emotions but she didn't even know why his words hurt.

Jason shrugged then said "yes, because I didn't want to hurt your feelings not because it was good."

Liz stared at him for a second feeling all her energy drain down, "okay I don't know what your problem is this morning but don't take them out on me. Also please pray every morning because you didn't today and I don't like you so much right now." She slammed the bathroom door shut in his face and he chuckled.

He liked the way he was beginning to get under her skin. She wanted to wear a half naked dress and make him go crazy by saying she was going to the grocery shop right? This was her punishment right here; being mean to her and acting like he forgot her birthday when actually he didn't.

Jason tugged off his clothes and went into the bathroom to join her.

She hissed gently, "go away I don't want to shower with you."

"There is enough space for two and since someone isn't giving me breakfast I thought we could go out to eat."

Liz let hope bloom through her; she understand his strategy now he didn't want them both to cook, he wanted to take her out.

She shot him a silly grin that Jason had to ask, "why are you smiling?"

"Nothing." She tiptoed then kissed him gently on the lips. "I love you"

"I know, I love you too but why are looking at me with that happy smile." he asked confused.

"Because you make me happy and I'm grateful for you isn't that enough to smile?" She retorted simply and kissed him again.

"Okay with all these kisses, do you want king Kong to rise up?" Jason asked amused.

Liz laughed at how naughty he was, "king Kong had better go down. I'm hungry please."

Immediately the water jets touched his body again after Liz adjusted it to her preferred temperature Jason yelped in pain. "Ouch Lizzy!" He scampered off to the other end of the bathroom.

"Do you want to peel off my skin?" He asked while staring at the woman in front of him shocked as she she rinsed off soap suds with the hot water.

"Are you a chicken that wants to pluck off feathers?" He asked again, "I don't understand why you always bathe with steaming water."

Liz wanted to openly say_ because for the longest time I felt the water had to be the hottest and the good scrubbing till my skin was red would wash away all the self disgust of his touch then Jason beat her to it by opening his mouth to say something that enraged her.

"Oh! My bad I forgot you do have feathers, those long armpit airs of yours that you have refused to shave." He guffawed loudly at his joke and Liz sent him a murderous look.

"That's not even funny, its stupid. You know  the skin of my armpit is very sensitive and I haven't gotten the products I love and it's not even that long." She peered to look at her armpit hair and hissed loud and long.

"When I shave I'll come and plaster the hair to your head so that you will use it to fly since they are feathers."

Jason laughed again enjoying how angry she looked now. He moved closer to her and adjusted the water temperature standing close to her and started soaping his own body. "Okay wash my back for me"

"Wash it yourself."

"Fine I will" shrugging his shoulder.

Jason knew what he was about could mean risking his life but he just had to do it. So instead of him to go stand near the drain he remained where he was in front of her as Liz rinsed her body.

Liz felt the hot liquid on her legs first but didn't want to believe it.

"Jason!" She called gently.

"Yea babe" he answered.

"Did you just urinate on my legs?" She asked with clenched teeth.

"Yea why not." He returned so simply and waited for the fury.

Liz pushed him away now and stared at her legs. Then shouted in frustration. "Are you mad Jason? The drain is over there why didn't you just go and direct your Mr Kong there?" She screamed.

"You know I've washed my body" she added rinsing her feet.

"Yuck! JASON!" Feeling like pulling his short hair at the very roots, he was really getting her mad right now.

Jason just shrugged, "I read somewhere that early morning urine is good for your feet."

"Wait, what?" Her mouth wide open in shock.

"I'm serious I read it on Google. So my urine will make your feet's soft and tender." He finished with a chuckle.

"You and the Google you checked are both ridiculous." Liz rinsed off her feet and body quickly and left.

Jason laughed heartily and enjoyed the rest of his shower.

He pinched Liz's bum through her robe when he saw her brushing her teeth. "Don't touch me. Move far away."

The rest of their morning routine was completed without major drama. Jason went down to warm the car after he finished getting ready since he was waiting on the queen to majestically descend and let them leave. She didn't usually take so long, but she was taking triple the double hours today.

Also it was already snowing even though it was just mid November right now, so he had to put on the heater of the car and started answering some of his mails.

After an eternity later, since it was almost eleven now Liz finally entered the car.

"Babe" he whined and wanted to complain about how long she took, until he saw her and the words died in his throat.

Liz was looking peng from head to toe, little wonder it had taken her long. From the well straightened hair to the thigh high leather boots, high halter neck, body tight top on skinny jeans his babe was killing it.

"Okay Ife. Take it easy on us earthlings babe. All this hotness its sizzling us here but as our Queen we will take the hotness in this cold weather." he winked gently and leaned to capture her lips.

Liz beamed under his praise and Jason who momentarily or got that he was pranking her resumed.

"Its cold so a little hotness is good for you."

"Excuse me Missy, you just dropped something," he exclaimed pointing to the floor.

"What?" Liz began searching the car floor.

"My JAW!" He exclaimed with a goofy grin and Liz burst into laughter.

"Babe better pick up your Jaw, cause your girl is ready to slay. I missed this though, the stupid cheesy pick up lines."

Jason shook his head gently since he was already getting out of character. He was supposed to be mean to her not complimenting her. "But star, why are you looking so good? Its just breakfast its not like we are going anywhere serious."

"What do you mean by we are not going anywhere serious?"

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This chapter was too long so I had to split it into two.

Fun fact! I did read somewhere that early morning urine us good for your feet but it sounded so stupid.
Anyways on a serious note who hates shaving? Don't ask me oo😂😂

Ya'all should wish our family member happy birthday please with lots of prayers.

Love
Orex

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