Cecilia was stunned.
Her eyes widened as she gazed at the handsome face inches from hers.
Owen quickly withdrew his lips and whispered tenderly in her ear, "Cecilia, close your eyes."
After a moment of staring into his eyes, she obediently followed his suggestion.
Elated and emboldened by her compliance, Owen covered her lips with his once more.
Though he had stolen kisses from her before, when she was hardly conscious, not fully aware that he kissed her, perhaps believing it was all a dream.
This time, she was fully awake, and she willingly let him kiss her.
Owen began with fervor, almost aggressively in his kisses. But soon he tempered his passion with gentleness, fearing he might come off too strong and leaving an impression akin to a starving ghost.
Heaven knows, pushing thirty and still a virgin, Owen was knowledgeable about the matters of men and women, but sorely lacking in hands-on experience.
When the deep kiss ended, Cecilia immediately pushed him away.
Though Owen yearned for another, she had already rebuffed him.
"Cecilia."
His voice was husky, tinged with unsated desire.
"Still got that schmoozing to do? If so, better get going."
After shooting him a playful glare, Cecilia looked away nonchalantly, "Let's head out." She didn't wait for his response and began to pull him towards the exit.
They had made progress, after all. He
darted over Cecilia as the two emerged hand
couldn't help but speak to her friend, "Lucy, why are staring at
sly smile, "I didn't say you did anything. Unless you did? All this rushing to explain gives off a 'protesting too much' vibe."
Cecilia's cheeks flushed.
was just a kiss, after all. Why should she
Even the unmarried waitress
was at a loss
only
take Cecilia out. I'll drop her back after I'm done with
truly nothing had happened between
could tell from the slight upturn of his lips that he was on cloud
just make sure Cecilia doesn't drink too much. You know she can't hold
resist adding
Owen's eyes sparkled.
alcohol, and Lucy's emphasis made him curious about
he reassured, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of
to Lucy, he led Cecilia out, pausing before his mother to say, "Mom, tonight's an exception. I've got an
I need to make it clear-Owen and Ruby are history. I don't care about his past, as long
Owen's choice. He's an adult with his own mind, and he knows what
still hope that one day you'll accept
remained silent, her face taut
moment. Then, without
them, but no sound came.
did, admittedly, make a handsome
to live honorably, not the sort to social
coerced by
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