Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, the Cliffside villa ~

Later that evening…

Michael and Oni entered their apartment, and both a relief when the door closed behind them.

"Now your work with the new base is completed, right?", Oni asked Michael while wrapping her arms around his neck.

Michael hugged Oni around her waist and pulled her closer while humming in confirmation. "With Masika being there, my job is reduced to reading her reports. The first few days are critical, but Sarah and Aiden are still in Europe, so in case of an emergency, they will be there. And with Noah staying in Los Angeles, he will handle the army, so I don\'t need to help Haru with that."

Oni felt butterflies in her stomach when he leaned for a kiss. They kissed many times, but now that this extra pesky work is done, they will have more time for themselves and the inevitable is about to happen!

Michael nudged her cheek with his nose and murmured: "Do you want to shower first, or should I?"

"You go first. I still need to check my emails.", she responded while letting go of him with difficulty.

Michael pecked her lips and went to the bathroom while humming a tune.

His thoughts are matching Oni\'s. Both of them are ready and hungry and he will shower to wash away the fatigue (which is mostly mental fatigue) and she will shower as well and then he will shower her with kisses and… ah, he is aroused already.

…

Michael returned from the bathroom and found Oni in front of her desk with her face hidden in her palms.

"What happened?"

Oni looked at Michael with a big pout. "I got a scolding…"

Michael was confused. "What?"

Oni gestured to the screen in front of her.

Michael read it and saw that it\'s an email from Sarah…

"A birdie told me that you have so much free time that you are spending your days at the camp with Michael. I have the confidence that you completed the design of our base in Milan with Louis, and that your studies are ahead of track, otherwise, you would not be by Michael\'s side all the time. Right?

Seeing that you can handle more work, I\'m thinking of assigning you a few additional duties. I will let you know what those are soon.

I expect to see top scores on your exams, as usually…" 

Oni looked at Michael sorrowfully. "I am doomed…"

"Why are you doomed? Didn\'t you study?"

Oni shook her head reluctantly.

Michael remembered that the last three days she is sticking to him no matter what he does, and whenever he asked her about her studies, she assured him how that is not a problem… but he does not want to rub it in because Oni is already troubled.

Michael patted her head gently. "It\'s OK. It\'s only three days, right? You can make up for it. When is your next exam?"

"Day after tomorrow.", Oni said weakly.

"So, you burned three out of four days…", Michael summarized and asked: "When is the exam after that one?"

"In four days…"

Michael shook his head in disapproval. He does not want to know when the third exam is coming but he knows that it\'s going to be tight. Well, whatever thoughts he had in the shower… they are gone. Oni\'s exams come first.

Michael cupped her cheeks and pecked her lips before saying: "You better start studying. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Go and freshen up and I will make coffee…"

Michael watched Oni walk away and he slumped on the sofa.

He exhaled while wondering, what is he thinking? Only a week ago they kissed, and he is already thinking of going all the way? If it\'s anyone else, it\'s fine, but he promised to himself that he will take it slow with Oni because she is young, and he wants to cherish her and she has a special spot in his heart. How is this taking it slow?

He is confident that all these extra missions and work are a reminder from above that he is rushing things. Why else would this additional stuff be piled up? Michael closed his eyes and sighed.

In the shower, Oni was trying to lift up her spirits. Sure, she has only one day to prepare for the exam, but she has tonight as well. Her notes are already in place, and she just needs to sit and go through them, memorize few things... and her mind drifted toward Michael.

Every time they hug and kiss, the sensation is stronger, and she wants to see what is next. He makes her heart thump wildly and he is the only one who makes the butterflies in her stomach wake up. But the most impactful to her enamored teenage heart is the way he looks at her: tenderly with love, and there is a hint of greediness like he wants to possess her completely.

Oni reminded herself that she is in the shower, and she should not space out because she needs to study or Sarah will scold her. Even if Sarah does not say anything, she will be disappointed if Oni\'s grades decline, and other than Michael, Sarah is another person which Oni does not want to disappoint. 

Oni got back in the living room and found Michael slumped on the sofa while staring blankly at some spot in front of him.

"I thought you will make coffee…"

Oni\'s voice startled Michael.

He wanted to ask why is she back, but then he noticed that she is rubbing her damp hair with a towel and realized that he spaced out. 

"Yes, I am going to.", he responded while avoiding her gaze.

Oni noticed that he is acting out of character. "What were you thinking?"

Michael shook his head, refusing to answer. How is he going to tell her his thoughts and not sound like a lecherous creep? He is supposed to be the grownup in this relationship!

Oni smirked. If Michael thought that she will allow him to squirm out of this, he is gravely mistaken.

"Oni…", Michael called when she straddled him.

"Tell me what were you thinking.", Oni demanded with confidence.

Michael observed her smirk and decided to give her what she wants: an honest answer. "I was thinking of making love to you. But since you need to study, I will wait for after your exams."

Oni\'s whole face exploded. She was hoping that he was thinking something like that (the lovemaking part, or at least something related to her), but now that he said it, she finds that it is too intense.

Michael chuckled and pecked her lips.

His hands landed on her hips and he squeezed her few times while asking teasingly: "Was this too much for you?"

Seeing that she is not responding, he shook his head and smiled. "Sometimes it is better not to know."

Michael scooted Oni to the side. "I\'m going to make coffee now. Start studying. If you fail and Sarah punishes you, it will be my fault because you spent three days with me instead of preparing for your exams..."

Oni watched Michael\'s back as he walked away and swallowed hard. She wondered, at what point will her heart calm down? And what does he mean by \'sometimes it is better not to know\'? She wants to know everything!

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