"So... you don't touch me, yet you constantly touch Hayden because of this?" The words rushed out, unfiltered and raw.
Both froze after the statement.
It sounded... like jealousy.
"Do you want me to touch you?"
"No!" Ethan denied hastily, his blush spreading from his ears down.
"Hmm?"
"I mean, your behavior in the office... with Hayden... you're still technically my wife... if others see it..." He had a solid argument lined up—no office harassment, no actions detrimental to reputation—but under Vivian's unwavering gaze, his reasoning crumbled like an army collapsed after being ambushed by a formidable foe.
"Does that mean..." Vivian's playful nature sparked anew, seeing his discomfort. "If I don't touch Hayden, I can touch you, right?"
"Why do you call Hayden so affectionately in the office today?" Ethan's face darkened, his teeth gritted.
Vivian was startled, then burst into laughter. "I can't call you Ethan in your company, can I?" Was that the main point?
"You can call me by my name." Clearly, this mattered more to Ethan than being touched or not.
He disliked feeling excluded from their dynamic.
"Alright, I'll call you Ethan from now on." Vivian couldn't resist ruffling his hair, then awkwardly withdrew her hand. "Ah, sorry, I forgot again..."
"It's okay." Though Ethan hadn't been patted on the head in twenty years, he didn't mind Vivian doing it; it felt surprisingly pleasant.
Noticing his awkward expression, Vivian seized the chance to steer the conversation back to its origin. "By okay, you mean... I can still touch you like that in the future?"
"...If it's like that, it's fine."
"Really?" Vivian rose, moving closer to Ethan in his chair. Leaning over with her hands on the armrests, she cornered him in his seat. "What about other places? Your face? Your hands?"
She bent down, exhaling near his cheek, her fingers lightly, teasingly brushing against his.
"...Don't push it too far..." Wherever she touched tingled, his senses focused solely on those points. The unfamiliarity made Ethan uncomfortable, trapped yet wanting to escape.
"How am I pushing it?" Her face inches away, her warmth tangible, she maintained a tantalizing proximity that left Ethan achingly suspended.
"It's just hands, is that not allowed?" She whispered in his ear, causing his ears to burn.
He followed her lead, focusing on their fingers. She wasn't doing anything inappropriate, merely looping her finger with his and gently rubbing his middle finger with two of hers. These simple acts, for some reason, felt sensually charged when she did them. Yet, to protest against such innocent touches would make him seem overly guarded.
Ethan was caught in a dilemma, once again at a loss by Vivian's antics.
Vivian toyed with him like a cat with a mouse, not waiting for a response. Satisfied, she suddenly withdrew, returning to her seat nonchalantly.
"Enough teasing. Dinner will get cold if we don't hurry." She took a hearty bite of her sandwich, noticing Ethan's stunned expression. Pushing his paella closer, she said, "Didn't you invite me for dinner?"
Snapping out of his reverie, Ethan felt frustrated, sensing he'd been played again. In a huff, he picked up his utensils, avoiding eye contact as he started eating.
Vivian finished her sandwich in a few bites, wiped her mouth, and continued, "Other than missions, it's been years since I had dinner like this with someone."
Ethan paused, setting down his cutlery to study Vivian silently.
A wistful look crossed Vivian's face as she stared at her food, speaking almost to herself. "Food was scarce when I was young. The little we managed to gather had to be split among a dozen people, disappearing in moments. I didn't want them to worry about me, so I'd avoid meal times, telling them I ate elsewhere, so they wouldn't reluctantly share their food with me out of guilt..."
In that war-torn homeland, she led a group of children unable to fend for themselves, often sacrificing her own meals to feed the younger ones. Their joy was her solace. Over time, she noticed a change in their attitude towards her. Unable to repay her kindness, they became timid and apologetic around her. To alleviate their guilt, Vivian distanced herself, watching them dine together from afar, envying their camaraderie.
It was a world Ethan couldn't fathom.
"I'd forgotten what it feels like to eat dinner with someone. Thank you for inviting me." Vivian leaned her cheek on her hand, her smile genuine and bright, her eyes sparkling like stars fallen to earth.
Ethan felt his heart race uncontrollably again.
Why? This woman he should keep at arm's length often left him flustered.
Embarrassed, he lowered his gaze. "It's nothing." Quickly picking up his utensils, he pretended to focus on his meal, deliberately ignoring Vivian's gaze locked onto him.
