Chapter 2

Sapphire's orbs stationed at the mark startled. Her mind stopped functioning and lips became sealed. There was a scent of a woman's perfume coming out from the shirt and he was sleeping naked on the bed.

Carlos was a man with an immense appetite for sex. After he finishes with the deed he is generally too lazy to put on his clothes. She has to always persuade and sometimes force him to put on his night pants because Akira always walks into their bedroom without a knock when she doesn't find sleep on her bed.

Carlos needed her almost every day. When he would come home too tired he would still insist on sleeping nude in the arms of each other. The very invocation of the thought brought a smile to Sapphire's rims but then the present came rolling down. She has to look after the matter in her hands instead of daydreaming.

Was Carlos cheating on her?

In her nine years of married life Sapphire never felt this kind of emptiness in her heart. Her eyes drizzled with tears. She had come home with a lot of enthusiasm and now everything she felt was lost in the thin air.

Nevertheless she was not a woman to keep her hands folded. She would get to grips with Carlos. Her mind hinted that sometimes it is better to clear things than jump to conclusions even if he was innocent.

Sapphire counted ten, closing her eyes to pacify the chaos in her kernel she continued to do her work mechanically. Carlos walked out of the bed after another half an hour to reach the kitchen and make breakfast for himself.

He was alarmed to see Sapphire already working there. His lips were wrapped in a thin line arranged in a cupid's bow and the light stubble grown on his cheeks escalated his machismo. The hulking muscles of his uncovered arms and the broad chest culminating in the thin waist, everything explained about him with virility. Sapphire gulped to clear the fuming lust in her. This wasn't the time to get attracted but to confront.

A smile dawned on his features. Carlos knew what went in his dear wife's mind. He gradually went forward and hugged her but the arms of Sapphire did not reach around. Carlos instantly knew something was wrong but whatever it was he knew he was going to solve it because he loved his wife so much. 

Carlos was a man with a lot of patience. He would wait for Sapphire to disclose whatever news was disturbing her.  After all, she reached the house before the expected time and she did not inform him of her arrival.

"Honey you are early at home? How did your mom's birthday go? Did you have fun at your parents place?" He started his usual way of extricating answers from her. The depths of his black pools reflected an eternal adulation. He looked down at her in tenderness, fondling her soft cheeks. His other hand was putting away the hair reaching her face. Carlos slowly brought Sapphire's face closer to his lips and kissed her forehead.

Sapphire closed her eyes for a moment. A part of her heart was already relieved of the ache it was suffering. Her man would never cheat on her. It is just her meaningless intuition that is playing games with her.

Sapphire forced a smile. "Why don't you freshen up and I will serve you your favourite breakfast?" She winked, keeping the moment light.

The tense optics of Carlos relaxed, replaced by carnal reflex. He cupped her cheeks once again and pecked her lips. Initially the kiss was only virginal but consequently developed into a fervent flare of two yearning hearts immersed in a mercurial canoodle.

The heat crossed their countenance making both of them red hot with breaths turning raspy. 

*****

Sapphire ran her hand tenderly on his naked chest and kissed his rough cheek. "I have something to ask you Carlos." She whispered.

Carlos chuckled. The vibrations that arose from his chest in a jubilant laughter brought a kind of serenity in Sapphire's heart. Everything is normal. She counseled her heart repeatedly.

"I already knew about that honey. I can read you like an open book." He pulled her closer to his chest with his arm that was shielding her nude body. 

"I saw a lipstick mark on the collar of your white shirt when I was putting clothes in the washing machine." Sapphire said meekly.

For a moment there was silence and then Carlos took a long breath. He dipped his head down and tipped her head up holding her chin so that their faces were on the same level.

The chasm pleats of his black pools showed veneration, treasure and worship. He kissed her cheek. "Honey, you know what is the foundation for a successful marriage? It is trust. You have to trust me and I will trust you." Carlos benignly caressed her cheek calming her aching kernel in his unique and subtle way.

"My secretary suffered fits yesterday when she was scheduling the meetings for the next week. On humanitarian grounds I lifted her unconscious body from the floor and put her on the couch before calling the doctor. During the process, that lipstick mark might have stuck to my collar." He smiled and held Sapphire's chin in showering affection. "You tell me now Honey, was I wrong in helping a woman who was in trouble?"

An illimitable guilt crossed Sapphire's features as she jumped on her husband for a hug and broke into a sob. "I am sorry Carlos, it is just that, I saw the mark and my emotions were on a haywire." 

"Shh Honey, it is okay clearing the apprehension is always better than to contaminate your heart with endless fears." Carlos pecked her lips gazing down at her lovingly. 

The day was hectic but with luster and vibrance in the family especially in Sapphire's nub.

Was Sapphire completely satisfied with Carlos' justification or she was going to bring more problems to him due to her falsified suspicions?