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Rosa: Dr. Richter, are you free?

Vyn: For you, always. Tell me what you need.

Rosa: Thanks. I think I’ll take you up on your offer for a consultation. I need someone to talk to.

Vyn: Where are you? I will go pick you up.

Rosa: Oh, no. I’m actually nearby if you’re still in the research center. Are you still there?

Vyn: Yes. Just go straight to my office. I will keep the door unlocked for you. Do not mind the sign on the door, I will be here waiting for you.

Rosa: Thanks Dr. Richter. This means a lot to me.

Vyn set down his phone back onto the desk.

It would have to be a dire situation for Rosa to finally break and cave into accepting his offer. At very short notice, no less.

He stood up from his desk, and with hands clasped on his back Vyn faced the windows overlooking the verdant open grounds of his mental health research center, typically used for the patients’ supervised outdoor walks.

But I will not get ahead of myself. I will hear what she has to say, first.

He pulled on the cord for the venetian blinds, raising them just enough to allow more light to spill into his office.

Vyn didn’t want the somber lighting to further agitate Rosa–her state of mind was not apparent anywhere in her text messages, which were innocuous, but given context especially based on his knowledge of how Rosa would rather exhaust her own resources and capabilities before asking for help…

Vyn shook his head. He already said that he should not get ahead of himself, but here he was, already worrying for his rose. His rose. The subconscious usage of the possessive pronoun has him chuckling derisively at himself.

Artem had already claimed the prize that Vyn had so immensely coveted.

It took Vyn more or less a year to get over that fact–but for the sake of his work on Giann’s Project NXX he kept quiet and had withdrawn from the race, so to speak–paying his feelings no more mind than he would other flights of fancy.

He heard the door to his office being opened.

Finally.

Vyn’s eyes went wide by a tiny fraction.

The Rosa that stepped into his office was–for want of better word–wilted.

While her physical appearance itself was pristine with not a hair out of place and work attire still impeccable, it was her overall posture that took Vyn aback: shoulders slumped, a hand gripping her other arm; lips trembling, having difficulty making eye contact with him…

All out of character for his lovely, vibrant rose. His rose.

“Rosa, I am here,” Vyn said, softly yet firmly. “Before anything else…come to me.”

He stood there, arms opened wide to receive her.

Vyn must have looked like an angel to her with his white coat and arms outstretched. For when Rosa finally looked at him, her face twisted in agony and she let out a huge sob that she obviously held in for such a long time.

Rosa barreled into Vyn’s waiting arms, crying loudly against his chest.

“Ssh. Everything is okay,” Vyn murmured as he caressed the back of her head, letting his fingers comb through her auburn hair, the tender gesture repeated over and over in an attempt to soothe the distressed Rosa. “Let it out. There is no one else here but you and me.”

His other arm encircled her back, pressing her securely against him–a quiet reminder of his presence in the midst of her overwhelming anguish.

It took everything he had not to kiss her forehead, to kiss away her tears, as he badly wanted to do at that moment.

Vyn bit the inside of his cheek hard, until he could taste iron in his mouth. Now is not the time, damn it.

They stood there in the middle of his office for a while, with Vyn holding Rosa close to him; Rosa crying all over his chest and moistening his tie, shirt, and the upper part of his waistcoat with her tears.

After several minutes of full-blown weeping Rosa managed to regain hold of herself and, with eyes red and puffy with crying she still managed to slip out an embarrassed laugh. “Oh, I–are you like this with your patients, Dr. Richter?” she said, then her eyes widened a bit as soon as she realized what she just said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean–”

Vyn smiled gently. “Of course not. I am like this because you are my closest friend, Rosa, and you did call me that back when masqueraded as travelling psychic and assistant, did you not?”

“Yes, I remember, Dr. Richter.” Rosa bit her lip.

She is clearly beside herself. The softness in Vyn’s eyes hardened at the idea that something, or most probably someone, had caused his Rosa such distress.

“Come, let us have you sorted out.” Vyn gently steered Rosa towards the couch set in the corner he reserved for psychotherapy work. “Take a seat there, get comfortable. I shall prepare some tea for you.”

Vyn deliberately took his time with preparing the tea in order to give Rosa enough time to let herself get comfortable. The less mental barriers to deal with, the better.

After ten minutes he came back with a tray bearing a pot of his personal mint-lavender tea blend, expertly balanced on his hand. “For you, my lady,” he murmured as he set down a cup on the table in front of her, filling it with purple-tinged steaming liquid.

Rosa took a deep breath, inhaling the floral-infused steam. “Just being here makes me feel better already,” she said, smile wistful.

Vyn took his seat off to the side, just by her peripheral vision. “I am glad it is working,” he said. “I take pride in my tea blends.”

They sat in companionable silence for what seemed like forever.

Vyn understood that Rosa may have difficulty broaching or talking about the troubling subject. Since he was not on the clock nor was he being paid for the service–this was his Rosa after all, his friend in need– he did not see the need to prod the conversation along.

Rosa, after finishing her cup, finally found the words:

“I…well. Artem and I broke up.”

Vyn, being in the middle of refilling Rosa’s cup, spilled a fair bit of liquid onto the table. He hurriedly blotted out the small puddle with tissues grabbed from the nearby tissue caddy.

“I see,” he murmured. “I am sorry to hear that.”

“Mhm.” Rosa wrung her hands, visibly frustrated. “I…ah. It’s so hard to talk about why it happened…”

“Let us not be concerned about the circumstances, my dear Rosa,” said Vyn, back in his seat on the sofa a respectable distance away from her. “Instead, let us talk about you feel. That is why you found your way here, is it not?

"Just to be clear,” Vyn continued, “I am not a specialist on couples therapy, if you are seeking counsel on how to repair your relationship. However,” he steepled his fingers over his lap. “I can help you with processing your feelings, and to be perfectly frank that is my main concern now, first and foremost.”

Rosa nodded. “I won’t ask the moon from you, Dr. Richter.” She smiled bitterly. “After the things I told him, I…I don’t know…”

“Is it alright if I ask some prying questions?”

“Of course, Dr. Richter. I did seek out your help…”

“When did the break up happen?”

Rosa paused, as if mentally counting the days. “It was…more than two weeks ago. I remember because…” she bit her lip. “We just went off at each other after a major client engagement that lasted well into the evening…”

Vyn’s expression darkened, thankful that he took a seat where Rosa could not see his face unless she turned towards him.

Two weeks. Two weeks of holding in such grief; and still seeing the source of her anguish day to day for work…

Vyn would have to chide her for it sometime, but not now. Right now Rosa’s feelings should be front and center. “Two weeks is a long time to deal with this pain unassisted, Rosa.” he murmured. “Did you have anyone to talk with about this, apart from me?”

“No. It’s just you, Dr. Richter.” Rosa fiddled with the handle of her teacup. “Everyone else…either they’re connected with Artem and our work in some way or another,” she sighed. “It…it wasn’t easy. It actually took a leap of faith for me to decide to call you.”

She took a deep breath. “It’s–its all getting too much for me.”

“And I am glad you had faith in me at least, my dear Rosa.” Vyn whispered. “How do you feel now?”

“Just terrible.” Rosa fought tears from running down her cheeks. “Terrible. Can I tell you about it?”

“That is what I am here for, Rosa,” Vyn said. “I am here to listen. Go ahead.”

“Whenever it’s quiet, especially at night when I’m about to sleep, I–I replay the time when we had the argument that led to the breakup.” Rosa’s lip trembled. “It feels so horrible, being alone at night with those thoughts. I couldn’t go through the night without taking sleep medication.”

She was about to wipe her tears with her sleeve, when Vyn held her arm in place to stop her from doing so.

He reached over to her face with tissue in hand. Carefully, he blotted the tears rolling down her cheeks.

Vyn then pushed the tissue caddy closer to her edge of the table. “Sorry for the interruption,” he whispered softly. “Go on.”

“I feel miserable and lonely every night, Dr. Richter.” She laughed derisively at herself. “I told him all these terrible things–and all I’ve been thinking about is how miserable I am, being lonely as a result. I am a terrible, selfish–”

“I will have to stop you right there, Rosa,” Vyn cut in. “First of all, whatever the circumstances that led to your breakup, your feelings are valid. You are hurt. You are lonely. These two are not false.” He pursed his lips. “Acknowledging these feelings does not make you terrible, nor selfish.”

Rosa kept silent.

“You will need to accept your feelings, Rosa,” Vyn said, in calm and measured tones. “You cannot just deny them because of what you think you could have done, on hindsight. Nor should you castigate yourself over matters that are over and done with.”

“But…” Rosa winced. “Artem have had good reasons. I…” her voice trailed off. “I was an utter fool for demanding more time from him…”

This caught Vyn’s attention. “The cause of your fight was him not having enough time for you?”

“Somewhat.” Rosa rubbed her temples. “Now that I’m talking about it, I really feel like an ass–”

“Stop that, Rosa,” Vyn said, a tad too tersely than he had intended.

“Dr. Richter?”

He sighed. “Mind, I am not like this with any of my patients. I am merely speaking my mind more openly because you are my friend.”

Vyn stood up and moved to the seat next to her, close enough for him to hold her by the shoulders and look into her face directly, his amber-gold eyes holding warmth for her. Yet, at the same time the same eyes pierced through her with firm determination.

“I do not want to see you castigate yourself over matters that are over and done with, Rosa,” he repeated his words from earlier. “You were never the type to just wake up and tell yourself, ‘oh, today is a nice day to piss off my boyfriend, mayhap I shall do just that.’”

This prompted a small chuckle from Rosa.

“No, Rosa, you had a good reason to raise grievance with him. This I fully believe and even stake my life on,” Vyn gently squeezed her shoulders. “Do not invalidate your feelings and decisions from that moment that led to your break up. The last thing that you want is…you losing the support from your own self.”

“But this is just like you, Dr. Richter,” Rosa’s smile was tinged with sadness. “You never let me take any blame. There’s always an excuse for me…”

“Do you think of me that lowly, Rosa?” Vyn’s smile was twisted. “That is a good way of saying I am a manipulative bastard with ulterior motives.”

She swallowed. “N-no! I meant, you are too kind…is all…”

“Heh.” Vyn’s smile was too taut. “Be that as it may, I can see you being quick to make excuses for Artem, who, I have to emphasize, is the source of your anguish right now.”

He finally let go of Rosa’s shoulders, pouring himself a cup of tea.

“I do not doubt that there were good times in your relationship, but there have been well-documented tendencies for those grieving after a lost relationship to obsess and fixate over those better times, to the point of forgetting why a break up has even taken place.”

Vyn took a sip. “I am seeing it in action right now, with you.

"You need to remind yourself why you felt the need to raise grievance with Artem. Why the argument happened in the first place. Journals, lists, anything, as long as you sit down and think about it. Maintain a certain equilibrium in your thoughts.”

Rosa nodded. “O-okay…”

“Do you want me to teach you a small trick that may help?”

“A trick…?”

“Yes. One that may help when your thoughts try to lead you to misery again.” Vyn set down his cup back onto its saucer. “Give me your hand, please.” He reached out a hand to her.

Rosa placed her trembling hand on his.

“Good.” Vyn pushed her long sleeves back just enough to reveal her delicate wrist. “Now, I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it?”

“Think about Artem.” Vyn’s eyes carefully watched Rosa’s face for tells or any microexpressions. “Think about the 'good reasons’ he may have had that you mentioned earlier. Think about the good moments that you miss having with him.”

It did not take long for tears to threaten to spill out from Rosa’s eyes.

Seeing this, Vyn pinched the delicate skin on the underside of Rosa’s wrist with his thumb and forefinger, prompting a surprised cry of pain. He did not let up, and even twisted the soft skin in his hard pinching, leaving a pink mark on her skin when Rosa finally wrenched her wrist away from his firm grip.

“Ah! Dr. Richter, what the f…?!”

Vyn chuckled. “I shall gladly accept all profanities you would hurl at me, my dear Rosa, as I rightfully deserve it. No need to restrain yourself with saying fuck.”

“Yes, but what the fuck Dr. Richter?! That really hurt!”

“That it does, but have you noticed something else as well?”

“What? Aside from you giving me a welt on my wrist?”

“For the last few seconds after I pinched you, did you still think of Artem?”

Realization dawned on Rosa’s face. “Oh. Oh, no. Actually…yeah, no.” Rosa rubbed her wrist. It still stung from the doctor’s assault.

Vyn only smiled. “Yes. So, what I need you to do, is when your thoughts start going that way, you should pinch yourself. Hard. Hard that it causes enough pain for you to stop whatever you are thinking about that moment. Painful enough that you are prompted to stop your thoughts from spiraling downwards.”

“Haha…” Rosa rubbed the faint pink welt that Vyn inflicted on her. “Are you like this with your patients too?”

“For this type of case, I just give them a rubber band to wear that they can snap onto their wrist.” Vyn smirked. “But for you, you needed an extra painful pinch from me.”

“Okay,” Rosa grinned, a sincere smile that Vyn was glad to finally see. “Not only that, every time I pinch myself, I’ll probably consider it as a tut-tut from you, Dr. Richter.”

Vyn had to laugh at that. “If you think of it that way, I suppose you are not wrong.”

Sunset already coalesced into deep purple-orange skies when Rosa finally bid goodbye and left the office, leaving Vyn to do minor clean up before he himself left for home.

All things considered he did not actually follow the prescribed therapy procedure; instead he pushed onto her his methods on how she should get over the break up–get over Artem, in particular, if he were to be entirely honest with himself.

He could have slipped in a few words to give his NXX colleague the benefit of the doubt. But instead he…

Supposing they mend their relationship, that their break up was only temporary? Suppose Rosa accidentally let Artem know about how her consultation with me went?

She would not do it deliberately of course–he trusted her as much–but Rosa was well known for wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Vyn, after hanging the tea towel by the small sink in his office, buried his face in his hands.

Fuck.

It proved to be quite an eventful moment in the NXX Headquarters, after a month-long hiatus since their last meeting.

Vyn could already hear Marius’s obnoxious noises pestering Luke as he descended the stairs leading to the NXX basement proper.

Upon opening the conference room door, he was not surprised to see Artem and Rosa seated apart, a few chairs between them, silently keeping to their tablets.

Unfortunately, Marius had also noticed this. “Eh, Missy, why aren’t you with your Arty-poo?” he said, smirking. “Are you guys fight–”

“Instead of butting into other people’s affairs, Marius, do you have the laboratory results we needed from your Pharmaceuticals?” Vyn cut in, voice a bit louder than usual.

“What do you take me for? Of course I have, it’s already currently displayed on the screen.” Marius jerked his thumb towards the holographic screen laid across the wall in front of them.

“Well, that is good then,” Vyn said brusquely as he took one of the seats between Artem and Rosa. “And? Your report?”

“What the–are you trying to get on my case this early, Vyn?” Marius muttered.

“That’s because you’re being an insufferable idiot already at 11 am in the morning, Marius,” Luke said, his chin propped on hand, expression clearly irritated. “Just shut up, will you? I just want this over and done with so I don’t have to do overtime with my other duties.”

Vyn mouthed Luke a silent “thank you”; Luke only shrugged.

“Oh, so the NSB mole is playing nice with the NXX psychiatrist, Marius said, voice laced with arsenic. "What, has there been some development that PAX needs to know about, with NSB in particular?”

Luke only groaned.

Vyn silently crossed his arms.

Artem, for his part, spoke up. “Marius, if we can just start with your report on what PAX Pharmaceuticals have gathered for the past month, the sooner all of us can get to our respective day duties.”

“Well yeah, but that doesn’t answer the question why you’re not seated with Ro–”

“MARIUS!” Vyn slammed his fist onto the table. Every pair of eyes were on him now–this was the first time they heard him lose composure, much less shout–witnessing a historic moment where Marius von Hagen finally pushed his usually cool and composed tutor, the esteemed Dr. Vyn Richter, into losing his utter shit.

“I am not in a good mood right now, Marius–I have a headache coming on, and I have no intention of hearing you blather on while every one of us are eager to get to our other duties. Now. Your report. Please.”

Marius could only blink. “Fucking hell. Fine.”

The next two hours were spent deliberating on each member’s reports. Vyn carefully observed the behavior of the erstwhile couple seated at his either side; thankfully they were mostly fully functional at work mode, and neither Rosa nor Artem were avoiding from interacting with each other as long as the interaction was limited to work-related activities only.

Good. It seems that I was worried for nothing–maybe I should have let Marius run his course and observe how Rosa would take his inquisition. Vyn deliberated with himself as he rifled through the new files gathered from everyone on his tablet. On the other hand, she was in too vulnerable a state the other day, to take jabs. Maybe it would be good to err on the prudent side.

And as the meeting came to a close, Vyn called for Rosa. “I will need your assistance with a certain case I am looking at. Can I bother you with this before you return to your office?”

“Oh, um.” Rosa looked at Artem, who in turn threw a look at both of them. “Mr. Wing, I’ll just stay here for a bit–”

“Who will drive you back to the office then?” Artem asked, voice clipped.

“I will, naturally,” Vyn said, his piercing gold gaze meeting Artem’s cerulean. “I will take her to your office on my way to the research institute. It is of no consequence to me.” His voice was still gentle, yet laced with an edge that brooked no argument.

Artem and Vyn stared at each other silently for several seconds, until Artem finally said, “Fine. I will need her in time for our client meeting in a couple of hours, Vyn. Make sure she is back in the office by then.”

“This will only take her less than an hour.” Vyn said. “I will drop her off as soon as we are done.”

“You’d better.” Artem pulled away from his stare-off with Vyn and shows himself out the door.

Vyn and Rosa waited until they could hear the main door of the NXX section close behind Artem.

“Rosa, tell me–if he broke up with you, surely he would not have displayed such a possessive streak?” Vyn said as he gestured for Rosa to take a seat by the conference table, taking his own seat next to hers.

“It’s…complicated, Dr. Richter.” Rosa smoothed her skirt with a hand. “I…I don’t know. It is like he’s waffling between us needing to be apart, or be together.” Rosa bit her thumb.

“And he still offers you to give you a lift to these NXX meetings?”

“He insisted. To be honest I’d rather take a taxi on my way here, but he’s been adamant that we keep to our old…habits. For show, I believe.” Rosa’s eyes went downcast, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

“That is hardly healthy nor helpful to either of you.” Vyn noted. “Especially you, Rosa. How do you feel about it?”

“Terrible. Confused. Sometimes scared,” Rosa sighed. “I mean, I trust Artem, despite what’s happened, but…”

“But…?”

“Speaking with him…always makes me end up doubting myself. Like, for example. During the drive to our meeting earlier. He was picking an argument about whether or not we should stay apart,” Rosa huffed. “Funnily enough he himself can’t give a definite answer to it.”

“Ah, but,” Vyn tapped his fingers onto the table. “Suppose he is like that because he wants to get back with you, but knowing Artem, is just too awkward to bring up the possibility properly?

I am mostly asking this for my benefit. But to hell with it.

"I thought of that, of course,” she said, shaking her head. “But I…after our talk the other day, I realized that yes, our fight happened because he was too focused on his work.” She laughed bitterly. “I also realized that was probably the reason why I became his girlfriend; I was part of his work, so who better than me, right? It was like him setting up his work environment as a microcosm of life itself.”

Vyn listened intently, his gaze never leaving Rosa’s face.

“If it’s not about work, then it is not worth looking at, if he could help it. This also extended to our relationship…we used to watch movies together, but ever since Themis took off as a reputable firm, high profile clients just came pouring in and suddenly there’s no more breathing room for even dates anymore…dinners are always used to discuss about work.

"It felt…too constrained. And the way he tended to dictate how I conduct myself in public, like him not letting me accept alcohol in social events…it was…” Rosa struggled to find words.

“Suffocating?” Vyn hazarded.

“Yes, that.” Rosa ran a hand through her hair. “And to think I was only able to gather my thoughts properly regarding this, because I heeded your advise in spending some time writing down the negatives of my relationship with Artem. I truly needed to sit down and take the time to think about things.”

Vyn hummed in reply. “I am glad you did so.”

“You’ve never let me down, Dr. Richter. Now, what about the case that you needed my help with?”

“We are currently working on it, right now,” Vyn smiled.

“Huh?” Rosa blinked. “Oh.”

“I had you stay for a bit so I can check in on my friend. I hope…” Vyn paused. “I hope you could find it in yourself to lean on us–on me–more, now that you are actually in need, Rosa. Imagine my chagrin when you told me this has been going on for two weeks without turning to anyone for help.”

“I didn’t want to trouble anyone. Especially since I thought it was my fault. You know,” Rosa rocked a bit in her chair.

“And you know now that it does not matter whose fault it was. What does is that you found yourself in a situation that you want to extricate yourself from.”

How quick am I to suggest that she remove herself from the relationship, instead of encouraging her to smooth things out with Artem.

Vyn found himself smiling darkly. I truly am fated to burn in the fires of hell, should there be one reserved for me when I die.

Rosa reluctantly nodded. “Y-yes…”

“That aside, have you been eating well?”

“Um. Ever since Artem hasn’t been coming by to cook, I’m now back to calling for deliveries.”

Vyn cocked an eyebrow. “That is not good. In this precarious situation you are going through right now, you need to make sure you are well-nourished. Hmm.” He tapped his fingers on the glass table, once again. “Would you mind if I send you a care package sometime soon?”

“Care package…?” Rosa asked. “That sounds vague. Should I be scared?”

Vyn laughed. “Ah, there is the cheeky Rosa I know and love…”

He blinked when he realized what he had just said.

Rosa did not seem to notice, her head still tipped to one side inquiringly.

Good, she was always slow to pick up on these things. This was not the first overture he threw her way, and she was always none the wiser. Vyn inwardly sighed in relief.

“If you are scared of receiving sandwiches and pastries, then maybe, yes, feel free to be afraid?” He gently ruffled Rosa’s hair affectionately, before standing up and offering her a hand.

“Come, I still need to make good on my promise to Artem to deliver his ex-girlfriend to hi–”

Rosa may have pulled on Vyn’s hand a bit too strongly, as the both of them yelped in surprise and sent sprawling onto the cold floor of the NXX conference room, with Rosa falling on top of Vyn.

“Ouch…Dr. Richter, are you okay?”

Vyn groaned slightly. “I am good, but…your elbow just poked at my ribs a tad harder than what I can ignore…”

“Oh god, I’m sorry!” Rosa rolled off Vyn and fussed over him, particularly at the left side of his ribcage that she accidentally elbowed. “I am so terribly sorry, and after all the good that you’ve done for me!”

“There’s no need to worry, Rosa,” Vyn muttered as the haze of pain gradually dissipated. “All I will get is a bruise, and an amusing memory to go along with it.” He was still lying on the floor, waiting for the pain on his ribs to subside.

“Just give me, hmm. Five minutes. Then I will get up.”

“And if you’re still not feeling okay after five minutes?”

“Then it means that you have broken some of my ribs and you, Rosa, will be responsible for it.” Vyn smirked, or rather tried to smirk, from where he lay on the floor, his coat spread out underneath him.

The scene made for an amusing sight.

Rosa wrung her hands. “Oh, but–argh. Rosa, you utter dolt.”

“I will pinch you again if you insist on castigating yourself for everything, even accidents such as these.” Vyn drawled.

“Dr. Richter!”

“I jest,” Vyn smiled as he closed his eyes. “I hope you do not mind me closing my eyes. The glare of the overhead lamp is just getting to me.”

Eyes closed, Vyn fell quiet, pretending to nap. It was clear that Rosa tended to berate herself if she was allowed to, and he was not going to be her sounding board of her self-hatred if he could help it.

A long period of silence followed, and Vyn could almost feel himself slipping to unconsciousness, when–

He felt sweet warmth pressing upon his lips.

Surprised, his eyes fluttered open, only to see Rosa’s face over his as she kissed him.

Rosa…? Vyn could not believe what he felt, what he saw.

He had perfect control of his faculties, yet he was still caught unaware by the woman who filled his most of his waking thoughts–or did he deliberately lay there, prone, unconsciously setting up a situation where she could do anything she wished, if she wanted to? After all of the little, coincidental, absolutely not deliberate suggestions he threw at her?

Sometimes I do not know myself anymore, was his thought as he gathered Rosa in his arms and pulled her closer to him.

This is dangerous.

Breath shuddering, he opened his lips to receive her kisses, reveling in the sensations of her tongue exploring his lips, his mouth, and eventually entwining with his own.

Rosa is appreciating him. Tasting him. Vyn felt a strong jolt of something in his chest that he would have difficulty describing to his dictaphone the next time he would do his self-assessment. Limerence? Surge of oxytocin? Dopamine?

His mind went on overdrive, reflexively trying to make sense of the situation as Rosa moved over him, having her way with him.

Vyn caught himself moaning softly as Rosa’s tongue ran across his lips.

Rosa’s auburn hair spilled over the sides of his face, like the moon blotting out the sun in a spectacular eclipse. The scent of her floral shampoo and perfume saturated his senses. The wet sounds of their kissing blocked the loud humming of the air conditioner–everything is now Rosa.

Only Rosa.

Vyn could feel his arousal growing, and he shifted a little to keep Rosa from accidentally feeling how much he wanted her right now.

No…not yet.

However, Vyn still wanted more, regardless of what situation led to that sweet moment. He tightened his hold around her, one of his hands threading through her soft tresses as he pushed down at the back of her head, pressing her face closer to his.

Rosa. Rosa. All of his nerve endings sung at the culmination of his adoration for her, from the very moment she waltzed into his study, toppling down his house of cards…

He allowed himself a soft sucking of her probing tongue. More.

More.

A trail of saliva connected their lips as Rosa pulled briefly from their kiss, only to break off once she spoke. “Dr. Richter…I….” She swallowed. “I really should not say I did not know what came over me, but…”

“That is fine,” Vyn breathed against her lips. “Not everything has to be planned. But,” he tilted his face up to meet Rosa’s lips with his to sneak in another quick kiss. “This is rather ill-timed. You do understand this.”

Vyn licked his lips, relishing the traces of Rosa’s flavor left on them. “I really should stop this, Rosa. I really should. But since you started it,” he sighed longingly. “Can I be permitted to be selfish, just a for little bit?”

Please. I have waited for so long. I have been made to give up on my wait, but I have never stopped waiting, have I?

He wanted to say those words, and more, but he already had Rosa in his arms, pain in his side be damned, and is that not the only thing that mattered this very moment?

“Can you kiss me a little bit more? Before I send you back to your office?” Vyn’s amber-gold eyes betrayed the long-simmering yearning that he held for her.

He reached out a hand to cup Rosa’s flushed cheek. The warmth filled his chest with a strange kind of hunger that he never knew he was capable of feeling, until that very moment.

Rosa nodded. “Yes.” She bit her lip. “I…I am a dolt in more ways than one, Dr. Richter…but I suppose now is not the time to talk about it.”

“You are right,” Vyn said, his gentle voice touched with a little impatience that he could not hold back. “Now. Kiss me. Please.”

That which had stoppered this dam has been so sweetly removed.

And Rosa, once again, blotted out everything in the world that wasn’t her.

One week had passed rather uneventfully.

Vyn did deliver on his promise to send Rosa a care package, not once but three times; he had them sent on the days that he knew to be especially stressful for her, based on her usual temperament whenever he struck conversations with her during those days: Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.

Sunday bore a basket filled with sweet dessert and pastries, bearing with it a promise of sweetness that she should look forward to throughout the rest of the week: happy, pastel-colored assorted macarons, a whole round of Tarte Tatin–which Vyn painstakingly had to spend several hours experimenting with several types of apples available in nearby groceries–and with a touch of whimsy he added a bowl of alcoholic Christmas pudding.

(“Dr. Richter, why did you give me Christmas pudding in the middle of July?” Rosa had asked him over the phone, stifled laughter poorly hidden. He had answered, quite blithely, “It is Christmas in Australia. Merry Christmas.”)

Monday, the most stressful day, had Rosa receive mostly comfort food, all of which she was surprised to receive from a doctor such as Vyn: a tub of premium black forest ice cream; a simple homemade spaghetti, its recipe adjusted to allow for more meat; and decadent fudge brownies that would earn even Vyn a frown from a dentist.

(“I thought the entire point of you sending me these is to nourish me properly?” Rosa had laughed over the speaker phone. “Why are you sabotaging not only my diet, but my blood chemistry results too?” To which Vyn had replied, “I did say I would send you nourishing food–and it is your emotional health that I seek to nourish, Rosa dearest. I said no lie.”)

Wednesday was a more elegant affair: it was a wooden box filled with an assortment of cold cuts, assorted cheeses, chocolates, and two small bottles of red wine–each enough for a single glass serving–to go along with the finger food.

(“This is just perfect for unwinding right in the middle of a busy week, Dr. Richter. Thank you.” “Never you mind, Rosa. Enjoy the end of your hump day.”)

Friday evening finally arrived, and Vyn, still in his office, contemplated whether or not to ask Rosa out for dinner.

If that moment back in the NXX conference room did not happen, he would have long dialed her number and invited her out already to a restaurant of both their choosing–or she may have him recommend a place, as she was always wont to do when she was still unattached–yet after that tender moment, on the cold hard floor of the conference room, no less…

Vyn spun his smartphone between his fingers, deep in thought.

I can no longer hide behind the laughable pretense of 'close friend’. Nor could I explain this off with simply keeping tabs on her emotional well-being.

I am already stepping in and courting her, am I not?

Vyn absent-mindedly performed his sleight-of-hand routine with his phone as he further delved into his thoughts. Should I have stopped her, then, before it progressed and made my feelings known? No, she needed affirmation that she was still desirable. Another rejection would have been–

The phone slipped out of his hands, launching it into the air and snapping Vyn out of his reverie. He managed to catch the device before it hit the floor, much to his relief.

Who am I kidding? Why am I using Rosa as an excuse? I wanted it. I want her so much. I want her so much it hurts.

His mind made up, Vyn was about to put Rosa on speed dial when his phone finally rang.

It was her.

“Rosa–” He was about to smile, but the moment he heard her panicking voice his free hand clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.

“Stay put, Rosa. I will be there. Yes, I am making my way there now.”

“Dr. Richter!” Rosa immediately pulled Vyn inside her apartment the moment he knocked on her door.

“I am here,” he said, enveloping the shaken woman in his protective embrace as soon as he closed the door behind her.

This time he did not restrain himself from kissing the top of her head. “Shh. I am here. There is nothing to be afraid of.”

“It’s my fault!” Rosa sobbed against his chest, her fists gripping fistfuls of his shirt. “I didn’t–I–”

“One at a time, Rosa, there is no need to hurry,” Vyn whispered as soothingly as he could. “Come, let us sit on your sofa–”

As he led her to her living room, he immediately saw why she was crying uncontrollably.

Her living room was an utter mess. Someone had very clearly intruded her home in a fit of rage: several of her things were strewn across the floor, a table lying on its side, shards of ceramic scattered along one corner of the floor where a large vase was thrown off its place by the windowsill.

Rosa recoiled at the sight of her ravaged living room.

Vyn took a deep breath to compose himself.

“Rosa, look at me,” he whispered, summoning as much tenderness as he could for her sake. “Ssh, look at me.”

Sniffling, Rosa raised her tear-stricken gaze to meet his.

Vyn then pressed one of her hands to his chest. “Follow my breathing,” he whispered softly. “Can you do this for me, Rosa?”

Rosa nodded silently.

“Good. Let us do this together.”

Vyn bent down to press his forehead against hers, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths. He slightly exaggerated his own breathing, so Rosa could feel each rise and fall of his chest under her palm.

He kept at it, until he could feel Rosa’s breathing finally synchronize with his.

Having calmed down, Rosa hugged Vyn tightly, letting her head rest against his shoulder. “Dr. Richter, I…”

“Let us sit you down first.” Vyn sat down on one end of the sofa, patting the space beside him. “Come, sit beside me.”

“He…he came here earlier. It started out fine,” Rosa sighed as soon as she sat down beside Vyn, nestling her face in the crook of his neck.

Vyn said nothing; he listened intently as he put his arm around her shoulders.

“He came here because he wanted to make up with me. He…asked for another chance.” Rosa pressed her body closer to his, as if seeking more of his warmth. “He came in unannounced–he knew the passcode of my door.”

“I was…I was in the middle of writing in my journal, when he came to talk. Stupid me left it open on the table…I was shocked by his sudden visit, I guess?” Rosa laughed at herself in disdain. “I was totally not ready for visitors. Especially him…so I went to the kitchen to get him something to eat.”

Rosa sighed. “When I came back from the kitchen, I saw him reading through my journal. That…that journal I specifically bought to organize my thoughts and feelings, like you told me to.”

Rosa wrung her hands; Vyn, having noticed it, took her hands with his own, cradling them gently in the warmth of his palm.

“So there’s only a few pages written in. It’s…fairly easy to find the pages where I listed down all the negatives about my relationship with him, to remind me, as you said. I did list down the happy things and memories we did share but…the bad clearly outnumbered the good.

"I suppose it hurt his ego.”

Vyn finally found it in himself to speak. “And he did this?” His voice came out shaky. “Artem did this?”

“N-not yet.” Rosa started to fiddle with Vyn’s long, tapered fingers. “He was hurt, yes, but not enough to go amok. He did start a huge row about it, but it wasn’t until he found the bottle of wine that you sent me that things went downhill.”

“He drank the wine I gave you?”

“Remember when I said he didn’t like the idea of me drinking alcohol?” Rosa half-smirked. “He figured out that it was a gift–I didn’t say from whom, of course–but he decided that he’d drink it so that I couldn’t.”

“Artem the stupid, fucking lightweight,” Vyn muttered darkly. “So, inebriated, he did all,” he gestured towards the chaos in the living room. “This?”

Rosa nodded.

I will get him.

He did not voice his fury for Rosa’s sake. “First things first, Rosa. Dearest,” he nuzzled her hair. “Let us change the passcode of your main door. You do know how to do that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you need assistance?”

Rosa shook her head. “No. No, but…I’d like you to come with me so you’d know the code as well. For emergency purposes.”

Vyn blinked at her. “Rosa, I… I am honored that you should choose me for such an important and intimate role. Are you sure?”

Rosa nodded. “You’re the one who’s been showing up for me so far. Well, you and Luke.”

She then stood up to fetch something in her loft bedroom.

“Luke has been helping you as well?” Vyn asked as he padded over to the side table that had been toppled over, standing it upright and setting it back in its proper place.

“Yes, I’ve started sharing my troubles with him. I guess you can say that I was encouraged after I saw how much you supported me.” Rosa descended the stairs that led from the loft, card key to her door panel in hand.

Luke. Of course. The only one other person in the current NXX roster with a good head on his shoulders.

“I’m going to reset the passcode now. Come with?” Rosa asked, rather shyly.

“Of course.”

After Rosa changed the locks and handed Vyn a copy of the keycard for safekeeping, he had spent the entire Friday evening until early morning helping her clean up the aftermath of Artem’s drunken rage.

They managed to get the living room back to its usual spotless state, sans many of personal effects, which had to be thrown out and replaced.

Vyn took over the task of creating an inventory of the damaged property after he tucked the weary Rosa into bed.

He would go over the inventory with Rosa later, so she could provide the estimated monetary value of each should things escalate and require ammo for litigation purposes.

For now, there is a more pressing matter that needs taking care of. Vyn put a number on speed dial.

“Luke. This is Vyn.” A pause. “Yes, I know this is an unusually early time for me to call. Can we meet?”

“Holy hell, Vyn, you look terrible,” Luke muttered as he opened the door of his antiques shop.

“Yes. I know. I have not gotten a chance to sleep yet.” Vyn resisted the urge to snap, as he was wont to be when sleep deprived. He was here for Luke; he needed the detective’s assistance.

Luke raised his eyebrows. “Oookay. I suppose this is something serious, for something to get between you and your precious sleeping time.” He ushered Vyn to his quarters on the second floor of the building. “Coffee or juice?”

“Coffee, if you please,” Vyn muttered as he took a spot by the floor table, sitting on the carpeted floor cross legged.

Vyn felt his senses stir a little bit towards wakefulness once Luke placed a mugful of instant coffee in front of him; tendrils of coffee aroma teased his sense of smell. He inhaled deeply, trying to grasp at whatever capacity to stay awake he still had left.

“It’s nothing that you’re used to, Vyn, but that’s all I have,” Luke said as he took his place opposite Vyn. “So. What’s up.”

“Rosa.” Was all Vyn could say between gulps of instant coffee. He hoped the mere mention of her name could already clue him in.

“Shit. What did Artem do?”

“Went amok in her living room. Scared our Rosa so much she called for me.” Vyn finally set the mug, now empty, back on the table. “She almost cried herself to sleep.”

“Fuck.” Luke took a deep breath. “I assume she’s okay now? Since you were with her and all.”

“Sleeping when I left, yes.”

Vyn ran a fingertip across the rim of his mug, eyes growing even more bleary. He could feel himself nodding off. “I spent the entire night helping her clean up.”

“Damn it. Damn it.” Luke muttered. “She should’ve called for me.”

“That is precisely why she called me, and not you,” Vyn pursed his lips. “She knew you’d go off and break his bones the moment she confided to you about this.”

Luke snorted. “I’d do much more than that.”

He then crossed his arms. “And yet, you’re here, roping me in anyway despite what Rosa feels about me getting involved. Why?”

Vyn looked at Luke, his face unreadable except for the slight tinge of fury that spilled out of his eyes.

“Because some bones may need breaking.”

It only took an hour into working with Luke to tell Vyn that he had made the right choice calling for the detective.

While Vyn and Marius were both well-versed when it came to higher-level analytical work and resource-pulling that the NXX project required, Luke’s prowess clearly showed when the task at hand demanded covert fieldwork and tracking.

For example, determining a specific person’s daily routine, their preferred travel routes, where they parked their car…

And since the person they were tracking was a close colleague, the results were expedited from Luke’s usual two days to a mere hour, by virtue of Luke knowing exactly where to look.

“Yeah, so. If you want us to corner him somewhere before Monday,” Luke began, poring over printouts of various logs.

“There is a good chance of doing so when he gets back from his weekend drive out to the mountains. Tomorrow evening,” Luke determined.

Parking logs, tollway timestamps, even a listing of places where Artem tended to use his credit cards every weekend. Vyn pored over the sheets of paper onto which myriad numbers were printed, signifying the times when each transaction had occurred, and where.

“I would not even ask how you can legally get your hands on this kind of information,” Vyn murmured as his eyes lazily scanned a listing of where Artem used his card on Saturday last two weeks ago.

“That’s the thing, legal isn’t a word that applies to us exactly.” Luke murmured as he installed a backdoor that would temporarily enable him to gain access to the parking lot’s CCTV network. “And that definition was granted and approved via legal means.”

“Meaning, no one should end up on your… Shit list.”

Luke shook his head. “Mm, I’m not so petty as to use my NSB privileges if I want to deal with personal matters. I’d much rather break arms. I find it a more eloquent method to put my point across.”

“Meaning, no one should end up on your shit list,” Vyn repeated, brows now raised.

“Except when it comes to Rosa,” Luke said as he hit the Return button. “When it comes to her I will use every means I have at my disposal. Childhood friend, you understand.” He cracked his knuckles.

Vyn felt that the message was also meant for him, somehow.

“Anyway, Vyn. I’ve asked you many times, but–are you sure you want to do this?” Luke looked away from his retro CRT terminal to face Vyn.

“I am an incognito government agent, so this work is best left to me. You, however…you have a lot to lose, should this get out. Prestige, standing–”

“Prestige and standing can go fuck themselves,” Vyn muttered as he massaged his temples. He still hasn’t had any sleep, and it was already almost noon. “As long as that idiot insists on hovering around Rosa while she’s still hurt–” Vyn bit his lip, becoming increasingly irritable.

“You don’t even sound right anymore, Vyn,” Luke’s brows furrowed. “If you can’t drive yourself home, feel free to crash here if you want.”

Vyn let out a ragged sigh. “Yes. Yes, I suppose you are right.” He pushed himself away from the table where Luke worked, padding towards the small corridor that led to…somewhere.

“Uh, Vyn, my bedroom’s that way,” Luke jerked his thumb to the direction opposite where Vyn was headed. “My bed’s yours. Knock yourself out.”

“Thank you.”

“Just sleep. I’ve taken care of everything; all that’s left is what needs to be done tomorrow.”

Sunday evening.

Artem parked his sports car into his usual spot, after his usual drive through the mountain paths. Having turned the ignition off, he let himself settle a little bit longer in the car seat.

He groaned and almost hit his head against the wheel. The entire point of taking his usual weekend drives was to cool his head off.

Yet this time not even the drive through the entire length of the mountain pass through Cloudbreak and beyond could do anything to quell the guilt and shame of what he did to Rosa the other night.

I should have stayed away. I should have stuck to whatever we decided and stayed away.

Cursing himself inwardly again and again, he unlocked and kicked open his car door, then closing it behind him with a loud slam.

“Whatever did the car do, for you to lash out at it so?”

Artem quickly looked behind him, towards the direction of the very familiar dulcet voice.

Vyn stepped out of the shadows behind a nearby SUV, his hands in his pockets. “Good evening. Fancy meeting you here, Artem.” He smiled genially, as if they met by chance across the street, or in a grocery.

Certainly not a greeting from a man who most certainly lay in wait to ambush him.

“Vyn. What do you want?”

The doctor slowly inched towards him, hands still in his pockets, smile still plastered on his face. “Nothing. Just a short chat, is all.”

Vyn did not show any signs of slowing down his approach towards him and Artem had to take a few steps back, until his leg hit the still-warm hood of his car.

“Why do you look like you have seen a ghost? It is only me.” Vyn took out his right hand to adjust his glasses.

“Vyn, what–”

A manic, blazing white-hot anger flashed across Vyn’s eyes as he lunged at Artem–who raised his arms to try and defend himself– throwing his full weight at him, pinning the taller man onto the hood of his car.

Vyn’s arm pressed hard against Artem’s throat, causing debilitating pain as he shifted his weight to press even harder, threatening to asphyxiate him if Vyn bore down just a little bit more.

The doctor’s other hand caught Artem’s thumb, bending it far backwards, just almost far than what is anatomically possible, prompting Artem to try and scream in pain–but could not, as no sound could escape his throat with how hard Vyn was pressing down on it.

“Just a man to man talk, Wing,” Vyn hissed. “You have two choices. First option, is you or Rosa be given no less than a month’s leave from work, and the both of you go no contact with each other for that period. It is the simplest option with the least consequence.

"Second option, is you insisting on hurting Rosa by keeping contact with her, and if you take that option I will exhaust all means to sabotage your search for your mentor. Remember this. I never, ever deliver empty threats.”

“I will let go of your throat now, Wing–if you do anything out of place you will leave this parking lot with a missing limb,” Vyn said, his low voice almost a growl.

“Now, answer me–which option will you take?” Vyn lifted his arm off Artem’s throat only slightly.

Thinking that it was his chance to retaliate, Artem started to grab at Vyn with his arm, only for it to be pinned back down onto the hood, only this time with a switchblade pierced through the cuff of its sleeve, barely missing Artem’s wrist and his radial artery.

“I said, if you do anything funny you will leave here with a missing limb,” Vyn said, his voice and face now completely devoid of emotion. “Or do you want further demonstration of what I can do?”

Artem remained defiant. “Richter, you do know what the consequences are of whatever you are doing, yes?”

“Of course.”

“Then you do know that I can sue you for–”

Vyn let out a sharp laugh. “Oh yes, do waggle that pathetic sword at me, won’t you? What a good way to shutter down the NXX project and lose all chances of you ever seeing your mentor again.

"Just to be clear–I am not afraid of the consequences of everything that I do. In fact,” Vyn’s lips curled into a slight smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

“I intend on going to your office tomorrow to see Ms. Taylor, and explain exactly why one of you–you or Rosa–has to go on a month’s leave. I have already prepared Rosa’s full psychological assessment, and also photographic evidence of the damage that you inflicted in her very home.”

Artem’s eyes widened.

“So, Mr. Wing,” Vyn pulled out the switchblade out of Artem’s sleeve.

Only to bring it down once again, this time ominously stabbing the very narrow space between Artem’s middle and ring fingers. “The option that you will take. Which will it be.”

“Man, for someone as vicious as you, Vyn, you sure are taking too much time.” Luke moaned as he approached them. “That’s not too good, you know? Just gives the man time to compose himself and plan how to take action.”

“Luke?” Artem spat out incredulously. “You’re in on this too?”

“Huh?” Luke’s head tipped to one side, as if he just heard a silly question. He cracked his knuckles. “Of course I am. You made Rosa cry, you fuckwad.”

Then, to Vyn, “Step aside. I’m taking over so we can have this over and done with.”

Vyn shrugged. “Have it your way,” he said as he removed and folded the switchblade in one swift motion and rolled off Artem.

“Alright, showtime. So what’ll it be, Artem? You gonna fuck off for one month or what?” Luke asked casually as he raised his fist.

“Well, easy does it,” Vyn grunted as he carried one of Rosa’s new plush chairs into her living room.

“I think that’s the last bit, finally,” Rosa breathed as she wiped the sweat off her brow.

They had spent considerable time receiving Rosa’s new furniture. Vyn did not tell her yet that it was Celestine who quietly handed him the money for them to spend buying the replacement furniture, including other home items that were damaged last Friday night.

That was a problem that would be tackled later on.

For now, Rosa’s comfort came first.

Vyn was about to unpack one of the boxes containing some newly ordered stationery items when Rosa caught his hand.

“Rosa, is something the matter?” Vyn inquired, his head tipped to one side.

“Mm,” Rosa hummed as she shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong. I…I just wanted to thank you, is all.”

Vyn smiled, his amber-gold irises glittering in the sunset that streamed through her large ceiling-to-floor windows. “You are welcome. You are my dearest, closest friend, after all.”

“Are we still friends at this point, Dr. Richter?”

“Yes.” Vyn said as he observed Rosa’s face for her reaction. And there it was, that tinge of disappointment barely hidden.

“As long as you keep on calling me Dr. Richter, then yes, I think we are only friends.”

“Then…” Rosa moved closer to him, her arms gingerly encircling his torso. “If I call you Vyn…?”

“If you call me Vyn then it means that you have accepted me into your innermost circle.” Then, with a softer, gentler voice he whispered, “Will you accept my affection this time, Rosa?”

His smile was laden with longing, the touch of his fingertips across her cheeks singing loudly of how much he had pined for her for the longest time, even when he had lost her to someone else.

Rosa’s reply came in the form of a kiss. Standing on tiptoe, she reached out her arms and coiled them ever so gently around his neck, pulling Vyn’s face close to hers.

She moaned softly as this time it was Vyn tenderly probing her lips with his tongue, tasting her with a hunger barely held back lest he devour her fully.

Their tongues met and danced hungrily, igniting a fire inside him.

“Rosa, please…I have waited far too long for this moment,” he breathed against her lips as his hands slid to her waist. “Can I have you?” His heartbeat was beating fast and hard against his ribcage; the only way to quell his excitement, it seemed, was finally having the woman who so filled his dreams day by day day…

“Yes,” Rosa whispered. “Vyn…I want you.”

With a sharp intake of breath Vyn slipped his hands underneath her blouse, letting his hands roam the warm bare skin of her torso–letting her warmth dispel the constantly cool temperature of his skin.

He unclasped her bra, and, his breath shuddering with the sweet and heady mixture of excitement and need, he deepened their kiss; his hands felt and tested the swell of her breasts. “Rosa, Rosa,” he murmured in between kisses and touches of tongue on lip. “Rosa, how beautiful you are…

"I need you.”

Rosa giggled. “Vyn, we are still in the middle of my living room, do you want to move to the bedroom?”

“The living room which we have put together with our own hands,” Vyn whispered as he pulled Rosa close to him, leading her to straddle his thighs as he sat on the new plush chair. “What better place to celebrate our new love?” He asked as he pulled her blouse over her head.

“Vyn, it’s much comfortable on the bed!”

A soft laughter escaped Vyn’s lips, his smile slightly devious. “Consider this my small revenge for you having stolen a kiss when I was lying, hurt, on the cold hard floor of the conference room.”

“I’m sorry for that, but-ah!”

He then bent over to capture a nipple with his lips, his tongue swirling around the nub and teasing it into an aroused, hardened peak. His breath came hot and heavy against her skin as he savored and took his time sucking lightly on her breast.

“Vyn, god, that feels…nice…” Rosa whimpered as she unconsciously moved her hips, grinding her wet arousal that how had seeped through her underwear and slightly soiling the crotch of his pants.

The arousal in Vyn’s pants was unmistakable, but he was determined to take his sweet, sweet time–he had waited for so long, delayed gratification was but a little game to him now that he has the woman of his dreams writhing deliciously upon his lap.

“It feels nice?” Vyn hummed as he moved his lips onto her other, neglected nipple. “You taste nice, my dear.” As his lips and tongue worked their magic on Rosa’s breasts his hands gathered her skirt around her waist, revealing her blue panties underneath.

Rosa bit back a moan as Vyn’s hands caressed the tender skin of her inner thighs, his electric cool touches sending tendrils of pleasure coursing through her core. “Vyn, please,” Rosa moaned. “Stop teasing me!”

Vyn’s mouth let go of Rosa’s breast with a soft pop. “Teasing? I am doing no such thing,” he drawled as he licked his lips. “I am merely…thoroughly enjoying you. Your taste,” he licked her earlobe. “Your sound. Your smell, how you touch and how beautiful you are.”

“I am glad that you are such a romantic, Vyn, but…oh god yes…” Rosa squirmed as Vyn finally slipped two fingers inside the garter of her underwear and massaged her clit. She started grinding against the sweet ministrations of his fingers over her sensitive bud.

“I rather like how you sing,” Vyn murmured as he concentrated on doing experimental touches on Rosa’s slit, the pad of his forefinger drawing circles around her clitoris. “Sing for me more, will you, pet?” Never letting up his sweet assault on her clit, Vyn let his middle and ring fingers dip inside her wet, dripping sex.

“Vyn!” Rosa cried. “Please, I’m near,” she started grinding harder into his hand, her voice strained with utter need. “Don’t stop, whatever you are doing–oh god…!”

Vyn felt her come undone around his fingers, his hand never letting up his sweet stroking until Rosa had come down from her orgasm high.

When it was time for him to pull out his hand, his fingers were totally drenched with her slick, and Vyn made a show out of licking and sucking his fingers clean of her wetness. “You taste utterly delicious, Rosa,” he murmured, his eyes hooded. “Next time, I will eat you all up.”

Despite just having come down from an orgasm, Rosa still felt a coil of excitement unravel down her loins at hearing his lewd declaration.

“I will take you now,” Vyn said, voice now sultry and low. “I have waited for so long,” he whispered as he quickly undid his belt buckle and the buttons of his pants. He kicked off his pants and underwear from his ankles with such urgency rarely seen from the usually calm and composed doctor.

Rosa rubbed his now-freed cock against her wet slit, her own fluids mingling with the precum that dripped from his tip.

“Now, Rosa,” Vyn said rather hungrily, “Sit on me. Please.”

She did not need any further prodding, with a moan she impaled herself, inch by inch, onto his aching cock. He filled her so wonderfully that she could only moan and sigh at every inch that went inside her, until he was fully hilted.

“Oh god, Vyn,” Rosa cried as her hips started to move. “Fuck me harder, won’t you?”

“I…I wanted to make this last as much as I could,” Vyn groaned. “But I suppose that would be hard to do on our first time.”

“Stop being such a romantic and just do me!” Rosa cried.

There was something immensely erotic about being bossed around by his woman who needed him so much that she couldn’t wait to be fucked out.

Vyn grinned. “And the lady shall be thoroughly fucked,” he said as he stood up from the chair, planting Rosa into the plush leather.

He gently pulled her ass toward near the edge of the seat, and hooked both of her thighs over the armrests of the chair. The position made for a rather lewd display, her slit stretching out just enough for her small hole to pucker open.

“Ah, you just look delectable,” Vyn whispered hungrily as he knelt in front of her, his cock at just the right angle to penetrate her. He braced his arms over the armrests–pausing for a brief moment to let his tongue slide against hers–and plunged right in.

“Hahh–yes,” Vyn hissed as he started to move. His thrusts started out slow yet deep, slowly picking up the pace as soon as he finds himself chasing his pleasure.

All composure, all romance had been blotted out of him as his need to come slowly took precedence–Vyn’s moans intermingled with Rosa’s into a most exquisite duet that filled his senses. This is it, this is what I have been waiting for.

The overwhelming sensations washing over him quieted that part of his brain that tried to rationalize what made him drown in euphoria. Dopamine, norepinephrine, limerence; none of them seemed to matter anymore. The only real thing is Rosa writhing, moaning, wanting him, and his need for release–

“Rosa,” Vyn breathed, his voice strangled. “I’m about to…where do you want me to come?”

“Inside,” Rosa moaned, her hand slipping between them to accelerate her second orgasm to time it along with his. “Come inside me, please!”

With a guttural moan Vyn closed his eyes, pushing his cock inside as much as he could, as he flooded Rosa’s insides with his come.

“Vyn,” Rosa whispered as she idly drew circles on his chest with a fingertip. “What did you…what did you do with Artem? He never dropped by the office for a week now, and Celestine is not telling me anything.”

They were still seated on the plush chair that they made love in; Rosa sitting on Vyn’s lap. The position was such that it was entirely possible that a second round would be necessitated.

Vyn made a non-committal sound. “He took a month’s leave, upon our…recommendation, is all.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” Vyn planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. “One of the reasons Artem went off like he did was the close proximity between you two even after you have broken up…it was hardly the healthiest arrangement for either of you.”

“I…see.” Rosa sighed. “I still feel like a dolt–I…I took the safe bet and chose Artem over you. I did see glimpses of how you looked at me before, but…” she smiled sheepishly. “I really thought that I was not deserving of you, that whatever hope I had of you looking at me that way was just my wishful thinking.”

“I am sorry, Rosa…that was completely my fault.” Vyn caressed her cheek. “I was too caught up in making myself dependable for you that it seemed to backfire on me, making me appear too unattainable.”

Rosa laughed. “That is such a roundabout way of humble bragging, Dr. Vyn Richter.” She kissed him on the lips. “But that is so you.”

“Mhm. I suppose. You would have to forgive me, then, if I overcompensate from time to time? I have to indulge my petty, insecure, overcompetitive sides after all,” he murmured, rattling off his less desirable traits that he was all too aware of.

“Yes. I accept it. I accept all of you.”

“As I do you and yours, Rosa.”