Chapter 158
Nina, who instantly sensed that Rebecca was the one behind all this, gripped the blanket and groaned with burning anger.
Marquis Crewe, Marquis Dunklin, the Delphinium Foundation, and Rebecca.
The connections between the scattered clues were now glaringly obvious, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.
âBut what did you mean when you said you didnât want our first time to be like this?â
ââŚYou remember that, too?â
Ashâs eyes twitched.
Was he embarrassed that she recalled something he wouldâve preferred she didnât?
He frowned and turned his head away, his earlobes faintly flushed red.
Judging by that reactionâŚ
âWas it your first time too?â
ââŚâŚâ
Wow, thatâs a hundred percent confirmation.
To scrunch up his face like he was frustrated, that was practically a confession.
âHoney, why in the world would someone with a face like yours waste so many yearsâŚâ
He lowered his head and just fiddled with his hair, as if his secret had been exposed.
Looking at him like that, for some reason, Nina suddenly felt a mischievous urge rise up.
Well, consideringâŚ
âHoney, should we try it one more time?â
Just seeing his reaction made her want to tease him.
Raising her upper body, Nina leaned in close to him.
âWhatâŚ?â
When she stared at him intently, he flinched and leaned his upper body back.
Seeing the embarrassment clouding his ashen eyes was actually pretty entertaining.
After all, this was the same man who had once told her that their bodies would have to be aroused for anything to happen, and yet now, rather than pushing her away, he was the one flustered. She couldnât help but feel a bit playful.
âItâs not fair, is it, that only you got to know how it felt when it was my first kiss too.â
Smiling slyly with mischief in her eyes, Nina gently traced his hand with her fingertips.
For a moment, Ashâs well-defined jaw tensed at her suggestive touch.
But then, suddenlyâ
He climbed up onto the bed, pinning her wrists with both hands and gazed down at her.
Startled, Nina blinked up at him.
The still, dark atmosphere. The subtle tension of being in a bedroom.
Above all, the manly face of her husband, who now hid all traces of embarrassment.
In the silence, thick with a dangerous tension, his tightly closed lips slowly parted.
âAre you, by chance, begging me to devour you?â
ââŚWhat?â
What kind ofâ?
âDoesnât matter. If Iâm given the chance and donât take it, Iâd be a fool.â
And then, as if embracing his own embarrassment, he slowly lowered his head toward her.
For a moment, her mind froze at the sight of that close-up, national-treasure-worthy face.
âAhâŚâ
His lips softly met hers.
His high-bridged nose grazed hers, and his full, warm lips melted against hers as gently as a painting.
âIs this⌠really happening?â
In her shock, Ninaâs mouth fell open without her even realizing.
As if heâd been waiting for it, something hot slipped between her parted lips and began to tangle with hers.
Thump.
Her heart was pounding so heavily.
âMmâŚâ
Startled by the overwhelming sensation, she opened her eyes wide, and he frowned slightly and covered her eyes with his palm.
Locked in utter darkness, the heat spreading inside her mouth swept from head to toe.
ââŚâŚâ
Smooch.
After ending the kiss with a brief peck, Ash finally parted from her lips, one corner of his mouth curling up.
What just happened?
Her vision hazy and dazed, Nina stared at Ash and gasped shallowly through parted lips.
He slowly rubbed her now-glossy lower lip with his thumb and murmured,
âYou look like you enjoyed it.â
âW-WhatâŚ?â
âIâm glad. I was worried Iâd be the only one who liked it.â
It was only then that Nina snapped back to her senses, recoiling with a fiery red face.
âY-You⌠Have you gone mad?â
Heâs saying heâs the only one who enjoyed it?
He enjoyed it with her?
She was the one whoâd been drugged, so why did it feel like he was the one affected?
But it was useless anyway, since the headboard of the bed blocked her retreat.
Could he have been the one who was really drugged?
Nina looked at him as if he were a lunatic.
Maybe a hug or an escort was one thing, but there was no way heâd kiss herâ
âSure, letâs just say Iâm crazy. Should we do it one more time?â
âNo, I mean, umâŚâ
Nina pressed her back tightly against the headboard, frozen.
Just what on earth had happened to her husband, without her even knowing?
As she held her breath like a block of ice, he chuckled and said,
âKidding.â
âŚOf course.
Disappointment and relief hit her at the same time.
Just as she let out a conflicted sigh at those contradictory feelingsâ
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone made their presence known at the Peridot Room.
ReadingRainbow9266
Ahhhhhh did that really just happen?
K.
I have to reread this a second time lol