Chapter 33

In a pastel pink room, Megan sat on the edge of a pink bed, clutching her backpack tightly. Her cheeks were tinged with a soft blush as she looked up at Tristan, who stood towering over her.

He was seriously curious what his little wife had been doing in the black market. What had she gone there to buy that might be dangerous?

Sure,he was curious-but more than anything, he just didn't want her getting caught up in something risky.

Megan slowly unzipped the backpack and silently pulled out two high-voltage stun guns. "Here, these. I got three-keeping one for myself, giving one to Rachel, and planning to give the last to Chloe."

"That's the 'female products' you were talking about?" he raised an eyebrow.

Megan nodded seriously. "Girls need something to protect themselves, especially when they're out alone."

Well,the stuff was real, but did she really need to go all the way to the black market for this?

Tristan narrowed his sharp, fox-like eyes. "Anything else sketchy in that bag?"

Megan shook her head hard. "Nope! That's all, promise."

But seeing that he still looked a little skeptical, she didn't want this to turn into some pointless misunderstanding. So, after taking a deep breath, she pulled out five sets of sexy lingerie from the bag and shoved them into his arms, then bolted off toward the walk-in closet.

She needed to buy time to hide the listening devices, trackers, surveillance gear, and some medical supplies she had also brought back.

Once everything was safely tucked away, she stepped out again, only to find Tristan still frozen in place,clothes clutched to his chest.

She walked over and took a closer look. His usually pale face had turned completely red. His breaths came heavy, like he was fighting off some kind of urge."What's with you?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Hearing her soft, worried voice, Tristan tossed the bundle back onto the bed and suddenly scooped her up.sealing her lips with his.

No idea how much time passed, but all Megan knew was that her back met the plush softness of the bed.Tristan's warm hand had found its way under her white shirt, steadily tracing upward along her curves until it rested on something soft.

He whispered against her ear, "So. you went there to buy this stuff,huh?"

No wonder she went all that way-probably embarrassed to get it somewhere closer.

And those stun guns? Yeah. she could've picked them up from a regular shop.

Clearly, he'd misunderstood his sweet little wife.

She was way too innocent to even know what really goes down in places like the black market.

Megan was speechless. Could she admit she only bought the lingerie because, well, it was along the way?Probably best not.

She turned her blushing face away slightly. "I thought you might like it."

Tristan's throat bobbed, his voice low and raspy. "Like it? Babe, you could be dressed like a burrito, and I'd still be totally into you."

Megan bit her lip, stifling a laugh."Pervert."

Leaning in close, he gently bit her rosy earlobe."Just wait till your birthday-our wedding night. That's when I'll really show you what being a pervert means."

His shameless words kind of turned her on a little.She gave Tristan a light shove. "Hey, you're crushing me.You're heavy,you know."

With a low chuckle, he rolled off and lay beside her.

Megan sat up, smoothed down her rumpled shirt, then casually grabbed a bright red lingerie set. She opened the clear packaging and pulled it out.

Calling it delicate would be an understatement-it was practically see-through.

Even she couldn't help blushing just looking at it.

Holding it up against herself, she peered up with a mischievous grin. "Honey, does it look good?"

Tristan slowly sat up, his gaze full of smoldering heat.

She looked so damn good, it was killing him.

Every pulse in his body was screaming.

That little tease was clearly doing this to mess with him.

Megan raised an eyebrow. "Wanna see me try it on?"

Tristan gulped, then felt a sudden warmth drip from his nose.

He wiped it with the back of his hand-he pulled an anime nosebleed just now.

Megan, startled, grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the bathroom.

While cleaning him up, she mumbled, ""Are you okay? You're probably a little run down. I'll make you some chicken soup later..."

Watching this oblivious little minx who juşt set his body on fire, Tristan took a deep breath.

If it weren't for her birthday meaning so much, he would've lost control right then and there.

Once the bleeding stopped, Megan took his hand and headed back to the bed.

"There's more for you to see. I brought other styles too, even a little 'uniform surprise'. Hey, where are you going?"

She stuck out her tongue at his retreating back. "Let's see if you can actually hold out 'til my birthday.Maybe you'll explode first!" Tristan fled straight to the guest bathroom for a cold shower.

After cooling off and slipping into a black silk pajama set, he went looking for her-but the bedroom was empty.

Downstairs, he bumped into Mrs. Jones.

She gave a polite nod. "Sir, ma'am is making chicken soup for you."

Tristan made his way to the kitchen.

There she was-Megan, in a blush pink apron cinched at the waist, white frills fluttering with every movement.

A butterfly clip sparkled in her hair, completely at odds with her usual ice-queen demeanor.

She stirred the pot with calm precision, like she'd done it a thousand times-only this time, looking like a domestic fantasy brought to life.

Tristan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around that tiny waist. "Thanks, babe."

She set down the ladle, turned with glistening eyes, and asked sweetly, "Hubby, how do I look in my maid outfit?"

Absolute killer move.

Instinctively, Tristan reached for his nose-thankfully, no blood this time.

Megan burst out laughing, threw her arms around his neck, tiptoed, and gave his lips a quick kiss.

She nuzzled into his solid chest. "If you really can'thold it in, then don't. What, you training to be a ninja or buddhist monk something?"

He gently pinched her chin and squinted playfully."You've got a dangerous mouth, you know that?"

"Then maybe you should shut me up-with a kiss!"

Megan leaned in andkissed him, long and sweet-until the duck soup burned. Tristan softly traced her lips with his finger. "I've got a surprise for you."Megan's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You've already given me so many gifts. What is it this time?"

"Take a guess."

"A baby!"

Tristan was shocked by her answer.

He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen. When they passed by Mrs. Jones wiping the table, he said,"Mrs. Jones, you'll be in charge ofdinner tonight."

"Yes, sir." Mrs. Jones grinned, watching the couple heading upstairs, her smile full-on auntie mode.

Once they stepped into the study, they walked around the desk. Tristan dropped into the leather chair,easily pulling Megan into his lap.

He opened a drawer and pulled out a small box."Here.Open it."

Megan unwrapped the box and found a ten-centimeter-tall robotic dog inside.

"Press the spot under its tail."

"Wait-what? That sounds kinda freaky!" Megan raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

"After you scan your fingerprint, it's officially yours."

She followed his instructions.

The tiny dog's eyes lit up blue,its little head turning as it let out two soft barks.

In a babyish tone, it chirped,"My name is Nova! Wow, are you my beautiful and irresistibly charming master?"

Megan looked back at him. "So this lttle thing's fully Al? Another one from Professor XAL?"

Tristan nodded slightly. "You like it?"

"l do." Megan's eyes narrowed like a teasing fox. "But hubby, what's your deal with Professor XAL? Is XAL a guy or a girl? You two seem super tight. No one's ever released Al robots with consciousness before."

Tristan cleared his throat. "He's a guy. I've been funding his research, mostly stuff that'll help Reid Corp's future development in tech."

Which explained why he could afford to donate so many of Professor XAL's experimental devices.

That suddenly reminded her of the talk she had with the shop owner-about that advanced tracking and listening device. She asked, "Do you work with a company called Dracopower?"

He nodded. "Yeah, we've got some partnerships. Some of Professor XAL's tech is being applied in communications and satellites. Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

Megan smiled like nothing was up. "Kevin's company develops that kind of stuff, right? Figured you two must be collaborating. That guy acts like he invented sliced bread, but turns out it's just my husband backing him up from behind the scenes."

Since Tristan had business ties with Dracopower, she couldn't just stand by if something went wrong there.

Resting her head lightly against him, she continued, "Babe, with someone like that in charge, that company's bound to be crawling with corporate spies, don't you think?"

"Eh.maybe not?" Tristan's response didn't even convince himself.

Megan pouted. "That's not very reassuring. If you keep working with him, give him a heads-up at least!"

"Alright," Tristan chuckled. "Now, this robot dog's got tons of features. Let me show you."