Chapter 25 (1/1)

The steady ringing of the alarm clock broke through Charmaine's sleepy haze.  She lifted her hand and with her fingers pressed down on the annoying button.  Beside her, she heard Raymond shift and seconds later felt his arm around her waist pulling her back against him."Good morning," Raymond whispered into her ear and planted a soft kiss on her earlobe."Morning," Charmaine whispered in return and turned to face him.  She saw the sly grin on his face and asked, "What?""I'm just happy," he admitted as he snuggled against her, curving his body along hers and throwing a leg over hers to keep her in place."Me too," Charmaine confessed and pressed a tender kiss on Raymond's cheek.  They remained silent, relishing the feel of being together.  After a long moment, Charmaine asked the question that had been playing in her mind since she woke up and found him lying next to her, "So what happens next?"Raymond removed his arm and leg from her and sat up.  Ignoring his nakedness he stood up and walked to the armoire where he pulled out a pair of sweats and an old tee shirt.  "How about some breakfast and then back to bed?" he asked with a wink.Charmaine picked up a pillow and threw it at him, "You know what I mean?" she scolded playfully.Raymond, already dressed, sank down on the bed.  Taking her hand in his he said softly, "I know exactly what you're trying to ask."  He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead and realized that when he woke up before and saw her lying beside him, the feelings that coursed through him was something he found extremely pleasurable and comforting.  It felt like she belonged there with him.  And what's most surprising was that he wanted to wake up with her beside him every single morning.  Running a finger lightly across her bottom lip he asked huskily, "How about moving in with me when we return to Hong Kong?"Charmaine was stunned by his suggestion.  "Move in with you?" she gasped, her eyes searching his face to find a trace that he was joking with her.The surprise on her face made Raymond chuckle with amusement.  Pinching her nose he teased, "Do you find the idea of living with me that horrible?  I know I can be very demanding and unreasonable at times but I figure you should be used to it by now."Charmaine immediately shook her head, "No!  It's not that at all.  It's just that… well…"Raymond interrupted her by pressing two firm fingers on her lips, "I know what you're thinking.""You do?"Lying back down beside her, Raymond pulled Charmaine into his arms and kissed her tenderly.  When he lifted his head to lock eyes with her he admitted, "I never asked a woman to move in with me before.  You're the first."  He saw her eyes widen with surprise and smiled at how adorable she was and something warm tugged at his heart.  In a more serious note, he added quietly, "You're the first woman that I ever thought about spending my life with."Touched by his words, Charmaine felt her throat constrict with emotion.  "Raymond," she murmured softly and then a thought seized her.  Raymond Lam was an actor and a damn good one too.  He makes a living acting out roles.  In other words, lying comes easily for someone like him.  Could all that he's saying to her now be some scheme so that he can get his ways with her?  Was she to him just someone to pass time with until he finds a more interesting target?  How long will she be able to hold his interest and what will happen to her when he decides he wants someone else?  These were questions that Charmaine was afraid to hear the answer to.Sensing her hesitation, Raymond asked, "What are you afraid of?""I'm afraid that all this is a dream.  That one day, I'll wake up from it only to lose you.""You won't lose me because I don't want to lose you," Raymond assured her softly.  Tilting her face up to his, he said gently, "Have you any idea how much I like, make that love, having you by my side.  At times, I feel like we're a married couple already."Hearing that, Charmaine'e eyes widen with amazement, "Are you serious?"Holding her gaze, Raymond whispered firmly, "Yes.  I've never been more serious in my entire life."Perhaps it was the loving way he was looking at her, or maybe it was the aftermath of having spent the night with him.  Whichever it was Charmaine found her uncertainty for a future with him diminishing as exhilaration filled her.  She smiled happily at him and threw her arms around him tightly.  She felt his own arms tighten around her and felt a love so deep for him that no words can describe it.  When she at last pulled away, she looked at him with a grave expression and said, "Raymond, if you ever cheat on me, it will devastate me."Raymond laughed when he saw the seriousness of her expression.  Curving his hand around the nape of her neck he pushed her forward until their heads were touching.  "I won't," he whispered and brushed a faint kiss across her lips.Pulling away from his seeking mouth, Charmaine stressed, "I'm serious!  I will never forgive you if you do.""And I said I won't," Raymond repeated and taking her hand again, he pulled her up, chuckling softly when she immediately grabbed a sheet to cover herself.  "Come on and get dressed.  I'll make us some breakfast and then we can spend the rest of the day in bed.""What?" Charmaine shrieked at his outrageous suggestion.  "We can't!  You have to finish shooting your scenes."Raymond walked to the door but paused at the threshold to turn back and look at her.  With a wicked grin on his face he said, "We'll call out sick.  Which one of us should be sick?"To spend a day with him sounded extremely appealing to Charmaine.  Unable to contain her giggles of joy, she said in a business-like tone, "I think it should be you since you're the big shot celebrity.  Everybody caters to you."Raymond scratched his chin as if in thought, "You're right.  And since I'm sick I'll leave it up to you to call Joe and break the news to him.  He won't be too pleased since he's anxious to finish the production and return to Hong Kong.  I hope he doesn't take his anger out on you but knowing Joe, it's hard to say."  He winked and quickly walked away.Charmaine stared at the open door, a dreamy smile on her face.  She can't believe this was real.  She and Raymond Lam were together!  Raymond Lam!  If someone told her a few months ago that one day she'll be meeting and dating her idol she would have laughed in that person's face.  She wasn't laughing now.  In fact, with the way she feels about him, she just hopes that giving in to him won't prove to be the biggest mistake of her life.------------------------------------------------Kevin poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip of the hot savory brew.  He loved coffee and could drink it non stop all day long.  However, for health issues, he limited himself to only two cups a day.  That was enough to satisfy his caffeine craving."Hey Kevin," Natalie asked from the entryway as she advanced towards him.  She gestured at the cup in his hand and asked, "How many cups did you have so far?"Kevin set his cup down and gave her his full attention, "As a matter of fact, this is only my second cup and will also be my last for the day."Natalie smiled with approval, "I'm amazed that you're sticking to your strict diet.  If it was me I would be cheating all day long."Kevin laughed softly and retrieved his cup of coffee.  "A man got to do what he must to stay healthy."Pouring herself a cup of coffee, Natalie asked over her shoulder, "How are things going with Charmaine?  I only received one phone call from her since she went to Shanghai.  Have you gotten better luck?"Kevin thought back to the past week and realized that she hadn't called him at all.  He thought about calling her but each time he brought her name up on his phone something within him made him clear it.  No use mulling over it now.  In two days he would be able to see her again and he can't wait.  He remembered the last time they saw each other.  Charmaine had smiled sweetly at him and he felt at that precise moment that she was the one he had been searching for all his life.  Judging by the way she looked at him, the small smiles she gave him, Kevin thought she felt the same way.The problem was Raymond Lam.  He seems to bring out the worse moods in Charmaine.  The hostile tension between the two was unmistakable and Kevin often worried that Raymond might push her too far.  Then again, Charmaine was tough and not one easily to admit defeat.  He sensed that in her from their very first meeting and that was what attracted him to her.  He had never met anyone with such a strong sense of responsibility and he respected her for it.  Hopefully, their filming will wrap up soon and Charmaine could return to Hong Kong.Natalie saw the lovesick smile on his face and inquired, "Are you thinking about Charmaine?"Kevin chuckled and responded, "I think about her every day.""Why don't you do something about it then?" Natalie quipped with a teasing smile.  "Shanghai isn't that far away.""Actually I am.  I'm planning a surprise visit this weekend," Kevin said with a boyish grin as he headed out of the pantry.  "I'm one step ahead of you."Natalie laughed and called out, "Tell her I said hello."Kevin nodded and returned to his office.  He saw that he had a voicemail while he was away.  Wondering whether it was Charmaine, he quickly retrieved the message only to learn it was from Myolie.  Picking up the phone, he returned her call.  "Hi Myolie.""Kevin, I'm glad you called me back right away," Myolie gushed out.Over the phone, Kevin could hear Myolie panting as if out of breath.  "What's wrong?""I'm sorry but I made a big mistake.  Our flight to Shanghai is for tomorrow, not the day after.  Are you available to take off tomorrow?"Kevin glanced at his desk calendar and noted that he had nothing lined up for tomorrow.  Most of his projects were pending and the idea of seeing Charmaine sooner was another incentive.  "Tomorrow is fine.  I'll meet you at the airport as planned.""See you tomorrow then!"