Nestled in Joseph's arms, enjoying the night breeze and the sounds of the night, Isabelle listened to Lucas share his experience reasing a menu with Felix. .
The night's study lesson was over. The teen, then suddenly asked Lucas what he had seen at town, and the second brother naturally started speaking about the restaurant. Like the human-shaped sponge he was, Felix eagerly absorbed and asked for more information from his brother. Joseph was not as enthusiastic as his younger brother, but he still paid attention to what they talked about.
"You're still up?" From the entrance gate, Ethan's voice sounded.
"Welcome back, Ethan!" Felix greeted his oldest brother.
Taking a quick glance around, Ethan noticed that the blackboard was still out, hinting at the still ongoing lesson. "You haven't washed yet?"
"These two've been talkin' about food and whatnot." Joseph replied, pointing at Lucas and Felix, who became sheepish at finally realizing that they had taken a long time in their conversation.
The eldest brother nodded as his mind exerted its cunning. "Then, I'll go prepare Isabelle's bath. It should be my turn today, right?" He rhetorically asked since his feet were already taking him towards the kitchen. How could he miss the chance to bath with Isabelle after days of washing with cold water and just lay beside her?
Seeing Ethan's enthusiasm, Joseph wickedly chuckled in Isabelle's ear, who tapped his arm in exasperation but still eagerly waited for Ethan's call. Meanwhile, Lucas and Felix put the blackboard away, prepared Isabelle's towel and sleeping garments, as well as theirs, and walked to the well to wash up.
When Ethan finally announced that the bath was ready, Joseph let Isabelle go after a kiss and joined his other brothers. Contrary to what she expected and imagined – like Ethan wildly stripping her clothes, and pouncing on her with overflowing passion –, when she entered the kitchen, he just waited for her inside the tub.
"Undress and join me." With his long hair untied and a lazy attitude, Ethan beckoned at Isabelle. She stood enraptured by the scene of sensual indolence for a long moment. "Isabelle." He called out, jolting her. "Come, dear." Her heart thumped in her chest at the moniker, and she started undressing under his voracious gaze.
He had thought that he was getting used to seeing her naked body, yet the sight of her peeling off each piece of clothing was enough to give him an aching boner that she immediately felt once she got comfortable between his legs, her back to his chest.
"Are you this excited already?" She teasingly asked, throwing him a coy gaze over her shoulder.
"For you? Always. But let's wash first." Ethan said, ignoring his needs and tending to hers.
Calloused palms slid up her soapy back, pressing the area to massage it. The palms moved up to her shoulders, down her arms, then up again to her shoulders and down her back until they reached her hips, where thumbs pressed on her lower back. The touch made her feel good and itchy, which resulted in her squirming, thus making the man behind her grunt.
"Don't move." Ethan ordered, clamping his hands onto her hips to stop her unintentional teasing.
"Do you not want me to do something about it?" She asked, moving forward a bit to stop the contact.
Ethan embraced her and kissed her shoulder. "No."
"Really?"
"Really." He sighed. "If we keep doing this, just tempting, I don't think I can hold back until we get married." He confessed. Just the thought of finally having her made his softening erection go hard yet again.
"Should we?" She softly inquired.
"Hm?"
Isabelle suddenly stood, turned and sank back into the water; pressing her crotch against his. Ethan's hips involuntarily bucked, but he halted any other move out of sheer will. "Should we really wait until we get married?" She asked, bothered by his words. Ethan and Joseph had done it with their previous lovers even when unmarried, so, was marriage really stopping them from going all the way with her?
Ethan widened his eyes at her serious and hurt expression. He gaped for a moment, not knowing how to reply without sounding lousy. Seeing his hesitation, Isabelle crashed her lips onto his in a hungry kiss, with teeth clattering and tongue brushing. She also started rocking her hips, looking for contact, but his hands once again stopped her.
"No, Isabelle." He breathed over her swollen lips. "I…" He paused, noticing her hurt expression. "It's not what you're thinking…" He said, leaning his forehead against hers. "You've already said yes. We'll get married and… I want to do the right thing with you." He pressed a soft kiss on her lips before continuing. "I want to give you a name, a status, my everything. And once married, you won't be able to get rid of me." He smirked.
Isabelle sat there breathless. Apart from the joking bit, she was very moved by his words. It was still her who was taking them lightly apparently, trying to hurry things when they already had better plans for their future in that regard.
She nodded. "I understand." Her gaze inevitably went down to his lips. Ethan noticed the gesture and smirked again. With half-lidded eyes, he tasted her lips in a slow kiss.
"Soon, Isabelle." He promised.
"Soon." She agreed, pecking his lips.
After that, they resumed their bath. Isabelle told him about what happened at Mrs. Attile's fabric shop, and her thoughts on what the older woman wanted to do. She told him how interested she was on accepting her proposal after what happened at Mrs. Priddy's shop.
"Do what ye think best. We fully trust that whatever you do is gonna be great." Ethan told her.
"You think so even after I bought those?" She pointed at the two brand new containers on the kitchen's counter with a sheepish expression.
She still had no idea how Corey managed to convince her to get them for the sugar and salt. Isabelle was actually thinking of buying ceramic pots for that, yet Corey advertised the glass containers so well – plus them looking good – that the younger woman bought them.
And she thought herself clever enough… Maybe all her cunningness was left at Mrs. Attile's shop… Either way, the containers were not totally unnecessary, it was just that they could not buy things so lightly; like what she did. They had to carefully plan what to use the money they earned for.
However, she ended up spending 8 coins for the two containers, plus the other coins for the supplies.
Ethan had noticed the new acquisitions but said nothing as he thought every purchase Isabelle did for the house showed her actual commitment towards the family and their future together. He was sure his brothers felt and thought the same, and that was why Lucas also remained silent while Isabelle was being outsmarted by Corey.
Though, he thought it was funny for his clever Isabelle to lose against another person.
"They're fine." He said instead, helping her out of the tub so she could dry herself and wear her sleeping garments. "By the way, there's an event at the restaurant next month."
"I know." Isabelle nodded. Ethan blinked; how did she… "Jean told me." Of course, he inwardly thought. "She actually wants me to help her with some embroidered tablecloths."
"There's a chance for other waiters to be at the event, even if they don't serve on the second floor." Ethan started as he emptied the tub. "Iniko told me that Mr. Dodds was thinkin' on using waiters from the first and ground floor."
"And, of course, you want to be there." She passed him his towel once he cleaned the tub.
"It's extra money, so…" Ethan shrugged.
"I believe in you." She took his hand and squeezed it. Ethan smiled and kissed her one more time before the two returned to the house.
Next day, Isabelle and Ethan were woken up by Felix, telling them to eat breakfast. They both startled awake, not having noticed when the others got ready. Isabelle did not have to worry that much because she actually had no embroidery work to do. Or more like, she decided that day was going to be dedicated to the house.
Ethan was another story. He almost jumped out of the bed and ran to the well for a quick wash. When he was done with his ablutions, Isabelle was barely coming out of the house dressed and ready to start her day. On the table, Felix quickly served breakfast for his older brother who wolfed it down and then went to change into his working clothes.
Isabelle calmly sat at the table to eat her own breakfast and looked around. "Where are Lucas and Joseph?" She asked Felix, who was feeding the chickens.
"Gone for firewood, and see if they could get some fruit trees in the mountains." Felix replied.
"Are there really fruit trees up there?" She asked in wonder. She was starting to believe that mountains were magical places where one could find almost everything there.
"No idea." Felix shrugged. "I've never gone." He wistfully sighed.
"It's too dangerous for you." Ethan said, coming out of the house all prim and proper. "I'm leaving." He said, kissing Isabelle's lips, and patting Felix's shoulder on his way out.
The two stayed watching the older brother's leaving back until Isabelle noticed Felix's downtrodden expression. "Felix." She called out, beckoning at him to approach her when he turned around. Once he was close enough, she pulled him down and kissed him. "One day, we will both go to the mountains. Even if it is just the outskirts." She smiled at him.
Felix beamed at her. "We sure will!"
Meanwhile, in the mountains, Lucas and Joseph were in a dilemma.
"Should we take both?" Joseph asked. Lucas just stared. They had found two small plum trees. Small in comparison to the bigger ones around.
They were hesitating in taking them because they already had small flowers. They feared that the flowers would fall down on the way back. Another issue was the soil. Soil in the mountains was very fertile due to the years upon years of mulch the ground had. Their patch was not the same. And, even if they could mildly prepare it by adding some mulch, it was not comparable to the soil in the mountains. So, the chance of the trees dying was high.
"Let's" Lucas nodded.
"Fuck it, if they don't survive, at least we tried." Encouraged by his brother, Joseph started digging around the trees. It took a while before they were able to unroot them without damaging them too much. Then, they rushed down the mountains; even taking a shortcut to directly get to the patch.
Once there, they quickly dug two holes and prepared the soil with the mulch they picked from the mountains to plant the trees there. They took care the flowers were not too jostled, and the roots were spread out so they could quickly establish themselves in the new soil.
Happy of their work, Joseph looked around the bare patch. "Let's go back home ta get some baskets and pick the lemons." He said, seeing the ripe lemons he had patiently waited to pick and sell.