Leda gave a little nod toward the overturned ottoman at the foot of the bed.


    York got the hint immediately and scrambled to set it upright, putting it back in ce with a sheepish grin.


    "So, does this earn me a bit more time with you? Heh..."


    Before she could give a nod of approval, he''d already slid closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her toward the bed.


    Five minutester-


    "Leda~"


    "What are you doing? Weren''t we just lying down for a bit? Why are you unbuttoning my shirt?"


    "Shh, don''t talk. Let''s go for another round."


    Leda: "..."


    At three in the morning, it started raining outside. York thought she''d stay, but to his surprise-


    "Mind if I borrow your car?" Leda asked, fixing her appearance in the mirror. Noticing a faint but noticeable love bite on her neck, she frowned. "Next time, be more careful and don''t leave any marks."


    York leaned against the headboard, chuckling softly. "Oh? Got someone to exin it to when you get back?"


    "Can''t you ever just talk straight?"


    Mr. Gibson gulped nervously, "No... I mean, when things get heated, leaving a mark is kind of normal, right? Look at my back..."


    He turned around, revealing his back covered in scratches, some deep enough to have broken the skin. It did look pretty intense.


    Leda coughed lightly, maintaining her poise. "Well... those are on your back. Put a shirt on and no one''s the wiser. This is on my neck. It''ll be darker by tomorrow, how am I supposed to face people?"


    "Hehe... Well then, just don''t. Call in sick, and we can spend the whole day in the apartment!"


    "Hah, just because you say so? Dream on!"


    York''s eyes flickered, "... You''re just making stuff up now. I never said that."


    "You know exactly what I mean. Now, hand over the car keys."


    York fished around the nightstand and tossed her the keys to a BMW.


    Leda nced at them, unimpressed, and tossed them back. "I''ll take the Maybach."


    "...She really knows how to pick!" he thought.


    "Be here after work tomorrow," he seized the opportunity to set his own terms.


    Leda gave him a once-over, her skeptical gazending on his waist. "...Maybe don''t push yourself, alright?"


    "What?! What do you mean by that?! I can handle a lot, but no man could let that


    Sde! Which eye of your l


    saw me struggling, huh?! Exin yourself!"


    "Please, don''t—" Leda walked over and grabbed the car keys from the dresser. "I


    don''t argue with men on the verge of a meltdown."


    With that, she left with a flourish.


    Leaving York alone to punch the bed


    in


    mon. "Who''s having a


    l.ne


    You''re the one melting


    ! You and your whole family-"


    The only response was the soft thud of the door closing behind her.


    Every day, she drives him up the wall at least a hundred times!


    And not just a hundred times!


    ...


    After taking a day off to spend time with her parents and bringing back a load of


    gifts, Roseanne felt her day off was well spent.


    The next day, she returned to theb.


    She thought she''d be the only one there, but to her surprise-


    Mamie and Scales were there too!


    "See, I told you Roseanne wouldn''t take two full days off. I knew she''d be back today!" Mamie announced with an air of triumph.


    Roseanne was surprised. "What are you guys doing here?"


    After thepetition project wrapped up, they were supposed to have two days


    off.


    Roseanne had returned early to


    push the next project forward, organize the materials, and draft a preliminary experiment n, so Mami and Scales could jump right into discussions when they came back. Little did she know, they''d returned early as well.


    "Weren''t you two nning a little getaway to the Lumina City area?"