ARHS C10

Chapter 10

They were pressing their cheeks together, but the act had been intentional—so that to anyone watching, it would look like they were kissing. Just as Somin had asked, Chris stayed perfectly still.

“Everyone will think we’re kissing, right?”

Somin whispered, lowering her voice as much as possible.

“Ha…”

Chris’s breath brushed against the nape of her neck, which was completely exposed. Somin flinched without realizing it.

The man whose gaze seemed cold and hard had cheeks that were unexpectedly soft and warm.

“You think you can fool people with just this much?”

Every time he spoke, Somin found herself unable to move. The breath touching her skin was far more stimulating than the slight movement of their pressed cheeks.

It felt strange—ticklish and hot at the same time.

The strong scent of cologne that had surrounded him earlier had vanished without a trace. Instead, a sweet woody fragrance enveloped her. It was Chris’s scent—the same one she had noticed in his mansion and in his car.

It was uncomfortable how suddenly she became aware of things she had never paid attention to before.

“It’s not like you’re trying to show off that you’ve never kissed before. Who kisses standing perfectly still like this, without moving their lips or their head?”

Because of her adoptive parents, Somin had never even gone on a blind date—something most people had experienced at least once, let alone been in a relationship. In that brief moment, Chris had quickly realized she had never even kissed before.

Still, admitting it somehow hurt her pride. She wondered if she should deny it, though she wasn’t sure.

Besides, if it was a kiss, why would lips move? Why would heads move?

If that was the case…

“Uh… then I’ll correct myself. Let’s say we’re just giving each other a peck.”

“Ha…”

This time, the breath he released in exasperation seemed to seep through her entire body and into her skin.

Why did it feel so hot and dizzying?

Her cheek, pressed against his, felt as though it was growing warmer and warmer.

“A peck? What are you, a child… Ha. When lovers briefly touch lips and pull away, that’s just a greeting.”

Since when did a peck become a greeting?

I get it, so can you stop talking now?

Her lips weren’t blocked, yet Somin felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Every time he spoke, her body temperature seemed to climb higher. As she shifted uncomfortably and tried to pull away, Chris’s arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

“E-excuse me… I think we can separate now.”

“If you want.”

Chris released her from his arms. Only after their tightly pressed cheeks parted could Somin finally breathe properly.

As their faces separated, Ahyoung came into Somin’s view.

Her expression seemed to say, Just as I thought, but the look in her eyes was terrifying. She looked as if she might charge over at any moment.

Unable to ignore Ahyoung’s gaze, Somin couldn’t look away.

“Where are you looking? Look at me.”

“…Pardon?”

Chris’s hand gripped Somin’s cheek, forcing her to face him.

“We should finish what we started.”

Before Somin could even think, Chris’s arm wrapped around her waist again.

“What do you mean—” she might have asked, but before she could, their bodies were pulled close together.

The man who looked muscular from the outside was even firmer than she had imagined. She could feel the strength in the arm around her waist. The tighter his grip became, the closer their bodies pressed together.

“E-excuse me.”

“Chris.”

“Yes… Chris… what are you trying to do right now?”

“What you were trying to do.”

But I already did it.

We were pretending to kiss—pressing our cheeks together.

No, pretending to give a peck.

She wanted to say it, but strangely no sound came out. Looking up at Chris, who was holding her cheek, Somin parted her lips slightly.

His gaze was different now.

He was staring at her like a predator—sharp and intense, like one that never takes its eyes off its prey.

The way he watched her was so relentless that she wondered if she might truly be devoured at this rate.

Time seemed to move slowly as she couldn’t even blink.

The air between them felt denser, making it hard to breathe deeply.

“This time, we should do it properly.”

Chris’s face slowly drew closer, and before she had any chance to push him away, their lips met.

The moment she realized their lips had truly touched, Somin obediently closed her eyes just as he had insisted earlier.

His lips were hot.

Moist and soft.

The predator who looked as if he might bare sharp teeth and bite down kissed her unexpectedly gently. His lips slowly licked across hers before lightly touching and parting again.

Is it over?

For a brief moment, relief washed over her at the thought that she could finally pull away from Chris.

But compared to the tension she had felt, the kiss ended so quickly that what she felt more strongly was disappointment.

However, that had only been the beginning.

Pulling her waist tightly toward him, he pressed forward until their lips were crushed together.

Their lips locked without the slightest gap. Under the strong pressure, something hot suddenly pushed through the parting of her lips.

Unlike before, when he had gently licked her lips, this time he explored her mouth as though he meant to devour it.

The strange sensation spreading instantly through her was unfamiliar and frightening. Forgetting the rule that she had to remain obedient no matter what he did, Somin leaned back.

“Ha…”

Because the man was holding her tightly, she couldn’t escape far—only their lips managed to separate.

“This isn’t child’s play.”

His sweet scent seeped into her senses even more strongly. She could feel the hand cupping her cheek tighten.

With his head tilted slightly, it looked as though a faint smile lingered on his lips. But the smile disappeared quickly as his lips crushed against hers again.

His tongue, which slowly and deeply licked her lips, forced its way through the tightly closed gap.

She had no idea what she was supposed to do.

Should she close her lips again?

Where should her tongue go?

How was she supposed to breathe?

These trivial thoughts churned chaotically in her mind.

The moment his tongue, which had been teasing the roof of her mouth, entangled her flustered one, all the stray thoughts floating in her head turned completely blank.

With just a single kiss, it felt as though her soul had been stolen.

She was being consumed by the man before her.

It was hot.

And sweet.

As he bit, licked, and sucked at her lips, a tingling sensation spread through her entire body. Just as promised, the only thing Somin could do was remain obedient.

All she managed was to clutch the hem of his clothes.

The strange sensation grew stronger and stronger. When Somin awkwardly moved her tongue to match his, the man chuckled.

The large hand that had been wrapped around her waist slid lower.

The moment it grasped her hips, Somin’s body stiffened.

The man let out a short laugh and pulled away.

“Ha…”

“Well done.”

Panting for breath, Somin looked up at him.

She wasn’t sure what he meant she had done well. Perhaps it was simply because she had stayed obedient as he instructed.

“Do you know what comes next?”

Somin stared blankly at the lips that were already talking about what would come next.

What was so special about those lips that merely touching them had felt so hot and sweet?

Unlike Somin, who still struggled just to breathe, the man looked completely relaxed. Judging by how he had stepped back, it didn’t seem like he intended to kiss her again or pull her into his arms.

This time, however, she felt no relief at all.

Only disappointment lingered.

While Somin was still trying to catch her breath, Chris intertwined their fingers and clasped her hand. The spaces between her fingers tingled.

“Where are we going?”

“To do the next thing.”

Chris led Somin across the party hall at a brisk pace. His steps looked oddly urgent.

“What’s the next thing?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

The man who had been so relaxed earlier was nowhere to be found. As quickly as he walked, he seemed increasingly impatient.

Once again, Somin had no choice but to follow quietly.

Just as she had finally steadied her breathing, it grew ragged again.

Her face, already flushed from the champagne, burned even hotter.

The place Chris headed for was the front desk where guests received room keys.

Unlike the flustered Somin, the man appeared completely composed.

“My room key.”

At the short, clear request, the hotel employee handed over the key.

Taking it, Chris headed—naturally—toward the elevator that led to the guest rooms.

No matter what he did, Somin was supposed to remain obedient. But going into a hotel room together had not been part of their agreement.

He was gripping her hand so tightly that she couldn’t free herself. In panic, Somin called out to him.

“Excuse me.”

“Speak.”

This time he didn’t correct her for calling him excuse me instead of Chris.

He loosened the tie around his neck. Even with it only slightly disheveled, he somehow looked languid.

For a moment, Somin forgot what she had intended to say and simply stared up at him as though entranced.

“You called me. So talk.”

“Ah… well…”

Somin lightly shook her head and lowered her gaze.

“No matter what… I don’t think this is right.”

“What isn’t right?”

Unable to answer, Somin hesitated for a long time.

In the meantime, the elevator arrived, and the man stepped inside without hesitation. With her hand still held captive, Somin was pulled along again.

Everything was happening too fast.

Just like when they had shared that intense kiss on the terrace, Somin was panting for breath.