His Unveiled Passion

Marissa and Lester were sitting nearby. So, they could see the blush spreading across Tessa's face from their angle.

Naturally, that also meant they could see the look in Stephen's eyes when he looked at her.

They were filled with hope and love.

Marissa felt her heart clench at the sight. She had never seen that look in Stephen's eyes before. It seemed as if there was an unending well of tenderness

in his eyes.

"Tessa, just look at him! Are you seriously not going to kiss him?" Quentin teased. Then, he added with a cackle, "I've never seen Stephen behaving like this before."

Naomi swiftly followed suit with a giggle of her own, chanting, "Kiss him! Kiss him! Kiss him!"

Sienna also started nudging Tessa playfully. "Come on, Tessa. Stephen's waiting for you. Why aren't you kissing him?"

Everyone, except for Lester and Marissa, was cheering them on.

Stephen was seated right next to Tessa.

Tessa looked at her friends' teasing smiles before returning their good-natured ribbing with a bashful smile on her own. She felt her cheeks heat further as she wrapped her arms around Stephen's neck. Then, she closed her eyes, threw caution to the wind, and kissed him.

At the same time, Marissa lowered her gaze to the ground, feeling as though she'd been stabbed. It hurt so bad that she could hardly breathe.

she would witness someone as aloof as Stephen kiss another woman

make matters worse, he had asked

stare at the ground blankly, her vision spinning slightly as time passed. She felt as though the ship was

the cruise ship was cutting through the waves steadily. Plus, the

also looked away from the kissing

his eyes were dim as he quietly sipped his drink. Tessa had initially planned to give Stephen a peck on

her lips against Stephen's lightly before beginning to retreat. Before she could, Stephen suddenly cupped the

friends whooped even louder because of

that she was flushing scarlet like a tomato right

deeply. Soon, their tongues were entangled in a

herself struggling to

the beginning, she was still a little awkward

in front of so many people

Tessa found herself swept up by a wave

a game. She gave herself, body and soul, to the kiss. Their

Stephen's embrace anytime soon.

interrupted their

both of them were

lips were red, looking soft and

winked at her and remarked, "This party was totally worth coming to. I

to witness such a