"You're still here?"
Chloe Johnson finished the pastry in her hand and reached for another on the table when she noticed Ryan Carter was still there. She asked absentmindedly, her pink tongue darting out to lick away a smear of cream from her lips.
Ryan Carter barely registered her words—his attention was fixed on the way her tongue curled against her lips, sweeping up the cream. A sudden dryness tightened his throat.
God, I'm acting like some horny teenager!
"Want to try some?" Chloe picked up another treat, glancing at the distracted Ryan Carter.
Ryan snapped back to reality. He ran his tongue over his parched lips, trying to steady his voice, but what came out was a low, rough rasp.
"Try what?"
Now it was Chloe's turn to freeze.
His lips are so… perfect. So damn sexy. That little lip-licking thing he just did? Unreal. Wonder how they'd feel against mine—
Wait, what? The thought jolted her.
Since when did I get so… thirsty? She'd never been one for romantic fantasies, let alone fixating on kissing. Where the hell had that come from?
But damn… his lips did look delicious.
Ryan Carter watched as she stared at his lips, lost in thought, her expression shifting through a whirlwind of emotions.
"Guess I'll try it, then."
Before Chloe Johnson could react, his lips were on hers, leaving her no chance to reconsider.
Holy hell, what kind of luck is Chloe Johnson having this year? The universe was practically handing her fantasies on a silver platter.
Ryan's lips moved against hers, slow and deliberate, savoring the softness of her mouth like rose petals—sweet, delicate, intoxicating. His tongue traced the curve of her lips, teasing, nipping lightly, tasting her as if she were something exquisite.
So this is what kissing feels like. Just lips meeting lips, and yet it sent waves of warmth through her. No wonder it's all over those romance comics.
A soft sigh escaped Chloe as she lifted her arms, looping them around Ryan's neck, silently urging him for more.
No denying it—she loved this kiss.
Ryan had half-expected a slap, but instead, she melted into him. That sigh of hers sent a jolt of hunger through him, and his tongue slipped past her lips, tangling with hers in a slow, heated dance.
When he finally pulled back, breath ragged, Chloe blinked up at him.
"So… that's kissing?" she blurted the second she caught her breath.
"You like it?" His voice was rough, edged with desire.
He'd braced for at least some coyness—they'd just met, and he'd basically ambushed her. But no. This woman? Straight to the point. Unpredictable little thing.
"I love it!" Chloe pushed off from Ryan, standing firm, her grin unapologetically bright.
Her parents had always told her to be demure, but honesty mattered more. So, she'd speak her mind—no filter.
What a refreshing little thing. Ryan Carter grinned at her dead-serious expression.
"I mean it!" What was that smile for? Did he not believe her? Or was she just… funny?
She was only stating facts. Nothing wrong with that, nothing laughable. Just being true to herself.
"I know."
The next second, his lips were on hers again. If she loved it, he'd be a gentleman and give her exactly what she wanted.
This time, Chloe mirrored him—her tongue tracing the seam of his lips before slipping inside, hesitating briefly over what to do next. But Ryan's tongue was already there, tangling with hers in a slow, heated duel…
Too soon, he had to break away.
This innocent little siren was driving him wild. How could she stoke his desire so effortlessly?
"You… don't like it when I kiss you?" Her voice wobbled.
"Not that." Ryan was still wrestling with self-control, his breath ragged.
"Then I must've sucked at it! Wait here—I'll practice and do better next time!"
Those lips of his did taste divine. Too bad their owner clearly hated her touch.
"No." The word came out as a growl.
"Not even if I get good at it?" Chloe pouted.
He'd kissed her without asking. Why couldn't she? Weren't men and women supposed to be equals now?
"That's not what I meant," Ryan said, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur. "I'm saying... I could teach you. Offer some hands-on practice—free of charge."
It sounded suspiciously like the Big Bad Wolf luring in Little Red Riding Hood.
"Really?" Chloe nearly bounced on her heels. Did that mean she could kiss him whenever for practice? Hell yes.
"Chloe! There you are—" Suddenly, someone tugged her away.
"Don't forget your promise!" She threw the words over her shoulder, grinning at Ryan even as she was dragged off.
"Wouldn't dream of it." His smirk was all the confirmation she needed.
"Sweetie, how about a game of chess with your old man?" Dad Johnson said to Chloe Johnson, who was lost in thought.
"Dad, don't push me, okay?" She hated playing chess with him—it always wrecked her confidence because she'd never won a single game since childhood.
"No respect for your elders," Mrs. Johnson chided playfully.
"Honey, why aren't you out on a date?" Dad Johnson asked cautiously. He'd never been a strict father.
"Seriously? I'm still so young, and you're already pushing me to date? Dad, you're shameless." Chloe rolled her eyes at him.
What on earth was her dad thinking? Weren't fathers supposed to dote on their daughters? Why was hers so eager to marry her off? Was she even his real daughter?
"I'm just looking out for you." Getting sassed by his own kid—talk about a blow to his pride.
"Dad… am I not your real daughter?" Chloe asked suspiciously.
Before she could finish, a light thwack landed on her head.
"You silly girl." Mrs. Johnson sighed, half-amused. "When your dad was courting me, your grandpa gave him hell. So after you were born, he swore he'd get even through some other family's boy. Too bad…"
"Too bad what?" Chloe took the bait.
"Too bad our daughter didn't inherit our fine qualities—no talent for attracting suitors. What a disappointment for your dad." Mrs. Johnson kept a straight face, though she was laughing inside.
"Honey, you hit the nail on the head." Dad Johnson played along, grinning.
Chloe Johnson might not be a stunning beauty, but she wasn't as hopeless as her parents made her out to be. At least plenty of guys had called her cute.
Of course, if she knew that cute could also mean pitifully unlovable or infuriatingly hard to love, she wouldn't have said it so confidently.
"Guess I can only blame your manufacturing quality," Chloe grumbled, snatching the remote and turning on the TV.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Dad Johnson picked up—
"Chloe, it's for you!" he called, holding out the receiver.
A boy! Maybe his wish was coming true sooner than he'd thought!
Chloe took the phone. "Hey, it's Chloe."
"Ryan Carter," came his curt reply.
"Oh, you," she said, feigning nonchalance. "I thought you'd forgotten about borrowing those books."
A whole month had passed—she'd assumed he'd either blown it off or was just being polite. What grown man actually read manga, anyway?
"Come outside. I'm waiting at your doorstep." His voice tightened.
Her tone sounded… almost indifferent. Did he mean nothing to her? The thought irked Ryan Carter more than he cared to admit.
During their time apart, he'd realized he couldn't stop thinking about her. Since when did he—a man who prided himself on emotional detachment—learn to pine for someone? Hell, he'd even started craving a future with her in it.
"What? Now?" she yelped.
Chloe Johnson dashed back to her room at lightning speed, bundled up all ten volumes of "The Sleuth Couple", decided her jeans and T-shirt were presentable enough, and headed straight out the door.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw Ryan Carter leaning against his car, waiting.
"Here you go." Chloe handed him the stack of books, then turned to go back inside—presumably to her TV show.
"Got somewhere urgent to be?" Ryan caught her by the arm.
"I wanna catch my show." She glanced back, baffled.
"Your… show?" She was brushing him off for something she could watch any day?
"What's wrong with that?" Chloe frowned. Why did he suddenly look so irritated?
"How about dinner instead?" If her mind was stuck indoors, he'd dangle an offer she couldn't refuse.
"Dinner?!" Her eyes lit up like sparklers.
"Get in." Ryan bit back a grin at her reaction. Damn, she's easy to bribe.
"Wait—I should change first." She tugged self-consciously at her T-shirt.
"Don't bother."
Only then did Chloe notice Ryan wasn't in his usual suit—just casual wear, yet somehow still stupidly handsome.
"So you can dress casually too," Chloe remarked as she slid into the passenger seat.
"Nice ride." She ran her hands over the leather interior, marveling at every detail.
Her family was comfortably middle-class, but their lone Volkswagen Beetle meant she usually took the bus to school. She'd never been in a car this luxurious.
Ryan watched her with quiet exasperation. Not once had her attention landed on him—despite how much he'd missed her these past weeks.
But if she didn't ache for him the way he did for her, he'd just have to use every advantage he had. Those calm, unreadable eyes of hers would flicker with desire eventually.
"Made any progress?" Ryan's sudden question left Chloe blinking.
"Progress on what?"
"Your kissing skills." He turned to her with a lazy smirk.
"Oh. That." She nodded sagely, as if recalling a homework assignment.
"Well? Any improvement?" His grin deepened.
"You never gave me a chance to practice," she huffed, her gaze snagging on his lips. Only then did she realize how much she'd missed them.
"Consider this your opportunity. Don't waste it." The Big Bad Wolf was about to devour Little Red Riding Hood.
"Wait—really?" Her expression mirrored the same starry-eyed excitement she'd had over dinner.
Ryan nodded, suddenly feeling like a dish served on a silver platter.