"No!" She was baffled by the fact that he could even get such a suggestion out of his mouth. "Sir you should…"

The rest of her words were swallowed into his mouth as he took her lips in his. Her eyes shot wide and her first reaction was to try to push him away. He seemed to have been anticipating this response, he pulled her hands off his chest and slid one hand behind her neck as he gently nibbled on her lower lip.

Zaria so badly wanted to disappear into a crevice. What was he doing? This shameless man…

His long fingers wove into her hair and made her unconsciously close her eyes. Her breath hitched with every stroke of his tongue against her lips and with every move his fingers made against the back of her neck, she shuddered.

The man kissed her roughly, driving her on edge before soothing her lips with his hot, moist tongue. A gasp escaped her lips from how crazy he was driving her.

She felt her feet leave the floor and in the next moment, her butt came in contact with the cold marble kitchen counter. She shuddered, unsure whether it was from the cold or from the sudden waves that pooled in her stomach when his tongue invaded her mouth.

He parted her legs, making her dress slide up her thighs and before she could react to pull it back into place, he occupied the space he had just created and held her waist securely with his strong arm. His lips moved against her soft cheeks before they landed at the side of her neck to kiss it softly. Her hands moved to circle around his neck against her control.

She wanted to tell him to stop what he was doing—it was the right thing for her to do—but at the same time, she wanted to wait a little longer. Just a little longer.

A sudden dull pain arose her from her thoughts when his teeth made contact with the soft skin of her neck. The man ran his tongue over it, flicking it over and over to gently soothe the part he had just bitten. His actions forced an uncontrolled gasp out of her mouth and she bit her lips in embarassment.

She wanted nothing more than to force her thighs back together and push him away, not daring to imagine how immodest she looked in front of her boss right now.

He didn't give her the chance, taking complete control of her feelings. He knew how she felt, knew the places that needed his touch the most but he did not give in to the need he was igniting in her. Instead, he wanted her to yearn for him even more.

"You like me." He whispered into her reddened ears.

She didn't react to his words.

"Zaria, you like me don't you?" It was a question this time, one whose answer he already knew.

She finally reacted by shaking her head.

"Mmh?" He probed, his tongue moving back up her neck as he found the straps of her dress.

"No I don't." Her words were interrupted by her own gasp as the man grabbed her butt to pull her against him.

"Are you sure about that?" It was a taunting whisper.

She didn't say a word, not that she had anything to say. He was driving her crazy. She could feel his teasing kisses making their way down her collarbone, but when he reached for her zipper, she jolted and pushed him off her.

"Sweetie, are you still…"

She pushed him away with all the strength she could muster. "Stay away!"

It was as though a bucket of cold water had been thrown over him, Desmond instantly stopped and looked at her. Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he moved back two steps.

She almost couldn't look up to meet his gaze, realising that she had overreacted. She pulled her dress back into order while forcing a slight smile. "I.. I do not appreciate doing this."

"Is this about Natalie?" He asked, wondering whether she had stopped him because she didn't want to be intimately involved with him thanks to his engagement to Natalie.

He was ready to continue speaking when he saw her shake her head.

"No."

Her answer was firm and left no space for doubt. She didn't look repulsed. How could she be repulsed? He had clearly noticed her body's reaction to his kisses and touch.

aside from the seriousness in her eyes, he thought she looked scared…

The observation conflicted him, and she didn't look like she was ready to talk about it

"Okay." He did not want to press the matter lest it made her uncomfortable, so he dropped it. "What are you cooking?"

At the mention of cooking, she noticed the ingredients that had been pushed aside to create space for her to sit. She ignored the sight and jumped down from the kitchen counter then straightened her dress. "Braised pork. You seemed to like it."

"I will love anything you cook." He responded with a gentle smile, his mind indulging in fantasy. How nice would it be to have her cook for him once as his girlfriend. He had initially planned to use this chance today to tell her about his feelings for her but from her reaction, he was no longer confident about it.

Satisfied with his response, she glanced at the ingredients she had prepared and tried to resume. However, her mind was disoriented from the kiss they had shared just now. Although she had not actively kissed him back, he did not force it on her and she couldn't deny that she liked it too… otherwise, how could she explain the wetness between her legs?

She could still recall the feeling of his tongue against her skin, his hand on her waist and backside, and it was hard for her to forget the feeling in her lower body with the man still standing so close to her.

He must have known the effect of his presence as he moved a few steps away-which still didn't help because he was in the same room.

"Do you need help?" He asked.

"No, I'm good." She could do it herself. Even if she did need a hand, she would rather not ask. That man's presence was like a deadly poison to her body.

He continued keeping his distance and decided to silently keep her company. Pulling a chair to sit at the kitchen island, he gently tapped the keys of his phone and didn't let out a peep.

When she heard the gentle sound of a chair being dragged against the floor softly, she wanted to turn and find out what he was doing but didn't. Did he sit down? Could it be that he had found a chair to be out of order and had arranged it before leaving?

Soon, she heard a soft sountrack that she recognized within a few seconds. He was playing a game, and she wanted to turn around and ask him about it because it was a game she liked to play too; she had played it as a young girl and had never forgotten about it. Even when the game company got banned, she had still got Ryan to help her get it from a pirate site. Luckily, the company was restored a few months ago and new levels were released. She no longer needed the pirate site.

Thinking of this, her feelings suddenly became complicated. It was her mother who had introduced it to her. While her love for the game had nothing to do with her mother, she still couldn't help thinking about it.

Since her mother had left when she was still young, she wasn't sure whether she could recognize her. She didn't have much impression of her physically and could only remember the feelings and memories they once shared.

Her mind replayed a scene that had almost been forgotten.

"Mummy, why is this level so difficult?" The young Zaria pouted to her mother. She stared at the old-model computer in front of her like it was an impossible task.

"Not everything is so easy." Came the response, before the older woman taught her how to complete it.

When she was done, she pushed the mouse back in front of her daughter but before the latter could joyously move to the next level, the woman carried her off the high stool and placed her on the floor.

"Go and get ready."

"Ready for what?" She blinked innocently.

"Didn't I say that we would be visiting a friend of mine today? Go on. Do you need help washing?" the woman asked.

"No! I'm a big girl now." The young Zaria blushed, as she was too old to be bathed by the nannies.

The present Zaria laughed at her own memories. It seemed that just like her father, her mother treated her as a girl younger than she was.

…

When the young Zaria was ready in her beautiful blue dress and shoes, her mother held her hand and carried a luggage in another. It was Zaria's first time on a plane, and they were going to the place that she had only heard about from her parents and friends—Imperium City.