Chapter 20: Today I Must Kiss You
1213words
Unexpectedly, Ethan suddenly appeared beside me, and my tilted head ended up resting on his shoulder.
Oh my God!
I was startled and quickly straightened up, looking at his reflection in the elevator doors.
Ethan looked down at me.
"Ethan, why are you here..." I stammered.
"To show you around," he said evenly.
Just when I thought I'd escaped his gaze, he had followed me. Didn't he have anything better to do?
Weren't CEOs supposed to be swamped with work? These past few days, he seemed melancholy, as if worried about something. How did he have the mood to accompany me on a tour?
Ding—
The elevator doors opened.
Ethan walked in first and pressed the third floor. I stood beside him, not daring to breathe in the enclosed space filled with his faint scent of cedar and mint. I felt like I was drowning in his fragrance.
The elevator arrived.
The third floor was a large study, like a library. Further in was a long desk about five or six meters in length, covered with materials on painting and art appreciation.
Beyond that was an exquisite small balcony with its own unique charm.
"Wow..." I whispered in admiration, afraid he might think I was unsophisticated.
Ethan glanced at me and smiled slightly. "I heard you're quite good at art appreciation."
"Just average," I said modestly.
I had spent two summer vacations in Europe with Sophia and Elizabeth. Elizabeth took me to various art exhibitions daily. I had a quick mind and learned fast, which pleased Elizabeth greatly.
Later, when I wasn't working on designs, I spent my time studying art pieces.
An awkward silence hung in the air, our steps revealing our unfamiliarity with each other.
"Do you appreciate art?" I asked as we wandered awkwardly among the bookshelves, no longer sure why I had come here.
"Not very well," Ethan admitted.
This was surprising. I'd always heard Elizabeth praise her son for being quick to learn everything except emotional intelligence. Nothing else was difficult for him.
I smiled lightly, finally finding something I could match him in.
"Teach me," Ethan said.
I was stunned. Was this just making conversation?
We had reached a dead end, and I turned to go back, but Ethan remained motionless.
The space between the bookshelves was only about a meter and a half wide. Ethan stood in the middle, and I hesitated, wanting to ask him to move so I could leave, but he stared at me intently.
With no choice, I silently pretended to be interested in a random book from the nearby shelf.
Oh God, as soon as I opened it, I saw ancient artistic depictions of love and intimacy.
"..." I quickly closed it and shoved it back.
I could hear Ethan's soft laughter.
I really couldn't stand this atmosphere. I could tell from his demeanor what he was thinking.
"Ethan, you..." I began.
"I still want to kiss you," he said.
"..."
Was today "must kiss" day? Or was there something special about today?
I felt like I was on fire, my ears and cheeks burning red, my palms sweaty, even my toes heating up.
My small hands clenched tightly, my thumb pressing hard on my index finger until it turned white.
This man—if he wanted to kiss me, he should just do it instead of adding all this drama.
In this situation, there was no way to show how noble I was.
Ethan stood with his back to the light, his expression unclear. His perfect silhouette was hidden in the light, but his tall figure cast a shadow over me, making every small movement of mine clearly visible to him.
He took a step forward with his long leg.
I instinctively stepped back but was gently caught by my hand.
"Let's try. If you feel uncomfortable, you can stop anytime."
Wasn't this gentlemanly approach even more roguish than being straightforward?
After a long silence, I finally managed to squeeze out a word.
"Okay..."
Stubborn to the end, I couldn't even say no.
Wait, should I close my eyes now? Or wait a bit?
Help!
I swallowed hard, feeling like I was suffocating, only to feel a large hand cup my cheek.
I was so startled that I grabbed his large hand tightly.
"Don't be nervous. Relax," he said.
His voice was gentle, unprecedentedly so, unlike his usual cold demeanor.
I took deep breaths as his presence drew closer.
He closed his eyes.
I quickly closed mine too.
Our foreheads touched.
Before we even began, I was already unsteady on my feet. My legs felt weak, and my free hand clutched at his shirt.
I could feel his large hand caressing my cheek, moving to my ear, then to my neck.
His hand slipped into my soft hair, slowly gripping the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Ethan bent down accordingly, pressing his hot lips against mine.
"Mmm..." I moaned.
I felt like I'd been struck by lightning. My body went limp, and the hand clutching his shirt gripped tighter.
Fortunately, Ethan quickly wrapped his arm around my waist, or I would have collapsed.
I was embarrassed by my own sensual sound and buried my face in his chest.
"Heh heh..." He was laughing!
Ethan pressed his lips together, the corners of his mouth involuntarily rising. His large hand couldn't help but stroke my head, and the arm holding me tightened.
At some point, the air grew quiet again, and the entire third floor was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
I felt the burning sensation slowly recede as Ethan's figure pressed down again, his breath fanning my face.
The air was suddenly filled with our mingled scents—a faint fragrance mixed with cedar and mint.
His kiss fell again.
I placed both hands against his chest, habitually clutching his shirt.
My burning lips were covered once more.
"..."
I tried hard not to make a sound, but near my ear came a captivating groan.
It was Ethan's...
The groan was heavy, like a beast long suppressed and unreleased.
It was identical to the groans from that night...
My lips were gently pried open again and again until I offered no resistance and slightly parted them in response.
His kiss grew fiercer, passionately entangling.
Even the button I had torn from his chest couldn't distract him.
"Mmm..." I was running out of oxygen, my legs weakening.
He seemed to sense something and became gentler, but his hot breath still trapped us together.
Ethan was like a man possessed, his groans growing heavier.
His grip on me tightened painfully, holding me so tight I could barely breathe.
I pounded hard on his chest, and only then did he reluctantly release my lips.
Our foreheads pressed together as we gasped for breath.
When I recovered, I realized I was clinging to his neck, two buttons from his shirt had been torn off and fallen who knows where, and my own clothes were in disarray—my shoulder exposed, the strap askew, and his large hand on my bare waist under my clothes.
"I..." Ethan's eyes were clouded. "Want you..."
