Quinn

"Whoa!" Jonah expressed, his eyes on the plate of noodles. "It so quick and it smells amazing."

"It is," I said as I picked up the pot again and added tap water in. This one was for the Korean spicy noodles. "Why don't you take that to the table, Jonah. And take out plates and cutlery as well."

The boy enthusiastically got off the barstool and rushed around into this side of the kitchen. While I cooked the noodles, tearing open the sachets of seasonings and adding in the noodles and dropping in the rest of the leftover prawns and squids, Aldric and Jonah set the table. It was done within a few minutes, and I poured the noodles and soup into a bowl. Then I took it over to the table where Jonah waited impatiently. I noticed that there were only knives and forks, but of course, neither Aldric nor Jonah knew one ate noodles with chopsticks.

After leaving the bowl of hot spicy noodles on the table, I dashed into the kitchen to retrieve the other serving plate, and while I was at it, I took out a small one, too, plus a pair of chopsticks.

Sitting down, Jonah asked, "Can we eat?"

"Just one more thing," I said. After placing the plates and chopsticks on the table, I summoned my magic circle, and voila, the serving plate was now covered with three styles of Korean fried chicken—classic fried, sweet and spicy, and soy and honey. On the small plate was kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish made of salted, fermented napa cabbage, and I couldn't wait to dig right in.

I noticed that both Aldric and Jonah were gazing at the fried chicken and Jonah asked, drooling, "What's that?"

"It's fried chicken," I said. "It's very popular where I came from. These ones are classic fried; these are soy and honey, and that one here" I pointed to the lot covered in bright-red sauces—"are sweet and spicy."

"Whoa..." He looked at me and begged, "Can I try fried chicken first?"

I smiled. "Of course."

The boy picked up his fork and inserted the end of it into a piece of the classic fried one. Then he popped it into his mouth, and the moment he did, he widened his eyes, looking as stunned as could be. He chewed fast, and once he swallowed, he eagerly took another. "It's delicious."

"Told you it's popular." Turning to Aldric, I said, "Let's eat."

He nodded and chose to try the fried chicken first, too. I guessed nobody could ever resist the temptation of fried chicken, not even Aldric. I saw that he, like his son, looked stunned as he ate. Indeed, Korean fried chicken had that effect on almost everyone.

Not to miss out, I picked up a piece of the honey and soy, my favorite flavor, and popped it into my mouth. I sighed in pleasure as I ate. Oh, goodness, but the light, airy, crispiness of the coated flour along with the tender morsel of the chicken meat and the light saltiness of the soy and the sweetness of the honey, it was simply divine.

Jonah was already on his fifth, this time picking up the spicy one. He blinked a few times as he chewed fast, and I burst out laughing. Aldric was eating the spicy one, too, and he seemed to enjoy it, not at all bothered by the heat.

Once he swallowed, Jonah quickly gulped down some water and then stuck his tongue out as he huffed and puffed like a puppy. "It's hot, but it's so good."

"Perhaps if you eat more of it, you'll get used to the heat," I said.

He turned his attention to the mie goreng next. As he picked up some noodles with his fork, he said, "Then I'll eat more so I can get used to the heat." It appeared he wasn't going to be defeated by the likes of chilies.

As I picked up my chopsticks, I watched Aldric and Jonah wolfing down the mie goreng and the fried chicken. Aldric was doing so in such a graceful, sexy way while Jonah... Well, he was a kid, so wolfing down noodles and slices of chicken meat was wolfing down noodles and meat. It looked like they really loved it.

Using the chopsticks, I started eating, slurping as I did so, enjoying the long strings of the noodles and the flavorful broth that came with it. Not to mention the spiciness. It had been a very good while since I had had spicy noodles, and this certainly brought back wonderful memories of my parents.

We'd usually eat this when either one of them were too lazy to cook. Of course, we'd add in a ton of other things, too, such as eggs, seafood, and sometimes vegetables like bok choy, to make it a little healthier. You gotta have some greens in the instant noodles to offset the guilt of eating processed food.

I was just relishing in my own little world that involved just me and noodles when I looked up to see Aldric and Jonah watching me. Suddenly feeling rather embarrassed, I wiped my mouth and asked, "What is it?"

"Why are you eating with that?" Jonah asked, pointing to my chopsticks.

"Oh, this?" I said, moving the two sticks like a crab claw. "These are chopsticks. Back in my hometown, we use them to eat noodles, like this." I demonstrated by picking up the mie goreng noodles in the serving plate. "See?" Then I popped them into my mouth.

"Oh, wow!" Jonah said. "Can I try using them, too?"

"Of course," I said. I rose and went into the kitchen and retrieved two pairs, in case Aldric wanted to try using them as well.

Once Jonah got his, he tried holding it, but it looked awkward. Next, he tried picking up some noodles. That was a disaster, and the chopsticks and noodles went crashing back onto the plate.

"It's hard," he moaned in disappointment.

"It is at first," I said. "But once you got used to it, you just can't eat noodles without chopsticks." I teased him by using it to pick up a piece of fried chicken and then popping the delicious morsel into my mouth.

Picking up his, Jonah said, "I will master the chopsticks no matter how long it takes." He set it down on the side of his plate. "But for now, I'll eat with a fork."

I glanced at Aldric, a smirk on my face. The man, to my astonishment, winked at me, and I very nearly went wild. Oh my goodness! Aldric had just winked at me, as I had winked at him back in the meeting room. And his eyes were twinkling, too.

I felt my cheeks burning hot. Of course, eating spicy noodles didn't help cool it down either.

"Papa?" a tiny voice came from across the room.

I lifted my head to see Abi and Alex. The two darlings were in their cute onesies, and in their arms were their plushies, Abi the sheep and Alex the dog.

Aldric got up and went over to the two. Down on his knees, he asked, "Why are you two up?"

Abi eyed me while Alex said, pointing at the table, "Food. I'm hungry."

I chuckled. Oh, dear, I suspected the smell of the fried chicken and mie goreng must have woken them up. Not to mention our loud noises, too.

"You're hungry, eh?" Aldric said. "Then we have better feed you."

"Yay!" Abi said, trotting over to me.

I got out of my seat and picked her up. After putting her on the chair next to me, I tilted my head to one side. The little girl could barely reach her hands over the table. So, I picked up a few cushions from the sofa and slid those under her bottom.

"Yay!" she expressed. "I can reach. Look." She reached her hands over the table. Meanwhile, Aldric, with Alex in his arms, did the same, adding a few cushions on the chair and then plopped the youngest on top.

I got two more plates and forks, and within moments, the twins were enjoying their fried chicken and mie goreng. Of course, they stuck their tongue out and begged for water since the mie goreng was a little spicy for them.

When our unexpected family midnight snack was done and the children's little tummies were filled, Jonah rushed off to his room and Aldric put the twins back to bed. While I cleaned up, I heard Alex said, "Alex is brushing his teeth by himself. He's a good boy?"

I chuckled in amusement. Alexander was referring to himself in the third person. When did he learn to speak like that? Or was it from the children's books?

After the place was once again spick-and-span, I went upstairs and, after flossing and brushing my teeth, I hopped into the shower. Feeling fresh and clean fifteen minutes later and donning a pair of luxurious silk pajamas, I returned to the master bedroom to see Aldric coming in.

"Are the kids asleep?" I asked.

"Mm-hmm." He nodded, his eyes on me.

Was it just me or was Aldric looking rather relieved once he ran his gaze over me? As he headed into the bathroom, I drifted my gaze over myself, noting the long sleeves and long pants of the silk pajamas, covering every inch of me.

I shrugged, and as I climbed into bed, I started wondering if other lords of the land did that, too, putting their children to bed like Aldric. I very much doubted it. Lord Bedford, that dastard, would think something like that was far beneath him. It'd be the nursemaid's job, of course. I doubt also that even Lady Bedford had ever done such a motherly thing. But such was the way of the nobles in this world. Well, I guessed the same could be said back on Earth centuries ago.

Utterly cozy in bed, I gazed up at the ornate ceiling, feeling rather... nervous.

As I heard the shower going, I started imagining Aldric naked, his hunky, beautiful body dripping with water droplets. Suddenly, I felt hot and bothered, and I turned, and then I tossed and then I turned again. When Aldric opened the door and walked out fifteen minutes later, I was in mid toss and our gazes collided. Feeling so freaking embarrassed that he caught me thinking lustful thoughts about him, I hastily turned the other way, presenting my back to him. But of course, he walked over to his side, where I was facing, and I felt my cheeks going even hotter.

He pulled back the duvet and got in between the sheets, and I felt my heart racing.

Calm down, Quinn, I thought. This is not the first time you've shared a bed with your husband, for goodness' sake. You've been sleeping together for the past month, so there's nothing to be nervous about.

His eyes on me, he said, "Good night."

I licked my lip and then said, "Uh, good night." I watched him shut his eyes, and then his breathing became slow and even.

Well, what did I expect? It had been a long, tiring day for him. Me, too, of course. But...

Not to miss out on being just a little bit lovey-dovey, even if I didn't know for sure if Aldric loved me or not, if he desired me or not, I rose to my elbow and then inched closer to him. I whispered, "Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite." Then I planted my lips on his, just lightly and sweetly.

Ah, but his lips felt so damn good against mine. But alas, a goodnight kiss was meant to be brief, so I reluctantly moved back.

Turning over and making myself comfortable again, I closed my eyes, and I was just about to drift off into slumber when I felt Aldric's powerful arm around me. Then I felt him gently turning me around and pulling me closer to him until I was in his embrace. His lips near my temple, he said, "There's no bedbugs here. Even if there are any, I'll exterminate them. I won't allow even one tiny one to touch you." He kissed me tenderly. "Sweet dreams, Quinn."

Warmth and delight washing over me, I smiled, then said, "Sweet dreams, Aldric."