MARRIAGE TRAP

OPENNESS

Lyra was awakened by Romy's light touch, faintly muttering then submerging her head under the pillow.

"Dear coffee, hot, sweet, and thick."

Lyra groaned as Romy put away the pillow and threw it at the end of the bed. "It's still morning." she protested and heard Romy chuckle.

"It's ten o'clock, and it's time to get up, then breakfast."

The food? He's talking about food? "When...?" Lyra nodded her head and looked at the man, seeing that Romy had taken a bath, shaved, dressed, and seemed to be alive after sleeping late at night.

"Today Sarah's off" said Romy patiently.

Sure oes. Sundays. "Are you open to negotiation?"

"Are you offering***** with me?"

After last night? He must be kidding!

"I take that as a no?" Romy's smile contained the warmth and a hint of passion that remained behind as he unfolded the blanket.

"Hey!"

A hand cupped to bo***ng, squeezed it slowly, and made Lyra scream out in protest.

"So this is the plan for today" said Romy with a little amused. "We ate at one of the best cafes in town, played a set of tennis in the afternoon, and after that I'll cook and bake while you prepare a drink.

"I'm not sure about tennis."

"You're gonna love it. Sit down," Romy ordered, and Lyra obediently got up to sit down, received coffee and drank a mouthful.

The caffeine flowed into her stomach, and when Lyra had emptied her cup she felt awake, conscious, and ready to face the day. "You mentioned food?"

Lyra rushes to the bath, chooses a casual white iins trousers, knitted clothes, tucks her legs into her shoes, rubs a moisturizer, a little lipgloss, then lifts her hair in thick braids, then take his bag and join Romy in the foyer.

"Can we get in my car?"

The proposal elicited a sour expression, and Lyra looked at Romy with a wrinkled nose. "Only ideas."

"Go get rid of it."

Lyra nodded as she imagined Romy bending her legs in the passenger seat. The car is a car for women.lively, nimble and cool. Real cool.

"Ok get in your car." Expensive and classy

very expensive and classy.

A complement to men like Romy, Lyra adds in heart. But to be honest, the man does not like to show off his wealth. No excessive jewelry, just a thin rolex clock and a wedding ring.

The man lived in a beautiful house, but the interior decoration was not excessive. He has one vehicle in each of his overseas homes, and the garage in the house is only for Maybach and the car that Sarah uses to shop and buy whatever the house needs. Romy's Learjet is leased to successful people who pay for the privilege, and despite his overseas flights, he prefers to travel in business class with commercial airlines.

There were several charities he supported very generously, and Romy worked very hard. Even now, when he could sit back and delegate, he chose to keep a close eye on every aspect of his widespread business.

The sun was already shining high in the sky as they walked down the trendy street where several cafes placed their tables outside under umbrellas and some customers were sipping coffee and lingering on food.

Romy pointed at the empty table, ordered a full meal for the two of them, and after the meal was served, they ate deliciously.

Lyra looked at Romy in amusement. "Very."

They linger over coffee, then choose to browse nearby stores that are mostly open, and it feels good to see some of the stuff.

It was almost afternoon when Romy parked his car in the garage, and they changed into appropriate tennis clothes and entered the covered tennis court. Lyra managed to get some points on the set that Romy has certainly won.

It was past six when they changed into more casual clothes and Romu prepared a toaster while Lyra prepared a warm, crispy toast in the oven and made delicious salads and drinks.

They dined on the outdoor terrace with views towards the beach, watched the sunset, and the ornate street lights made the coastline look radiant.

The atmosphere creates real intimacy, the harmony makes Romy suffer the background of his life. His rise in the business world was well recorded, but his early years attracted Lyra's attention.

Lyra asks a question she asked a few years ago, one that Romy ignores and considers "A forbidden territory." with the cynical answer "I am who I am today."

"Do you really want to hear my answer?"

"That's part of you right now" Lyra said briefly.

"Poverty." Romy admitted in a soft voice.

"Living in the slums with no father to remember, and the forced mother worked sixteen hours a day so we could survive. She died before my ninth birthday, and the Child Protection Agency sent her to several registered shelter houses, and overall, considered the money they received more valuable than the welfare of the children. At the age of fourteen I chose to live on the streets, living with ingenuity and various violations of the law." Romy looked at Lyra with a hard-faced look that explained more. "That's not the time I'm proud of."

Lyra did not ask the cause. The scar on Romy's body uncovers more things to guess how he went through those years.

"Frequently nearing dealing with the law led me to be taken for counseling. Last attempt to save me from myself."

Andwhat? Possible prison sentence?

"That's when I met someone who cared, who spoke words I understood. I have a talent for electronics. He hooked me up with a friend who gave me a chance, and gave me strict instructions that I would be let out if I stole."

"And you didn't do it." That's all too obvious because Romy has designed and patented some of the equipment that attracts the world's big companies. Others are markers of the birth of a legend.

"right."

They share a growing closeness with each passing day. The bond Lyra held tightly in her heart with the hope of becoming something more.

A fresh breeze blew from the sea, and without a word they gathered plates and cutlery and went in to mend.

It wasn't too late, and Romy kissed Lyra on the top of her head. "I'll fly to Sydney in the morning. The meeting will last until Tuesday." He traced Lyra's lower lip with his index finger. "Prepare the DVD and I'll catch up with you soon."

The DVD had already reached the closing scene when Romy slipped in the seat beside Lyra, and she pulled Lyra in her lap as the movie ended.

Romy's hands cupped Lyra's breasts and budged before beginning to make a seductive circular motion that roused her nerves. The fact that Romy knew with good sanga, and Lyra's lips along the edge of the jaw until it reached the man's earlobe, and bit him a little.

"You can't be satisfied."

"Do you prefer the opposite?"

Lyra's answer is to cover Romy's lips with her own in a kiss that leaves no one reason for doubt, and a desire to head for their bed.

Romy sanga was soft, so tender that Lyra almost cried, and afterwards she fell asleep in Romy's arms, and woke up the next morning to find herself alone in bed.

***