"Sorry? What do you think I am? An asshole in trouble?"

Charles shook his head, keeping his cool while his attitude only seemed to fuel Rosabella more in her rage.


"No, definitely not. However, it makes you a liar."

"Charles." She pushes his chest but fails to make him lose his footing. "How about you?"

"What about me?"


"You say I act tough? You act like you're completely emotionless. With your poker face always present and your monotonous advice. It's disgusting."

Finally letting go of the cold posture, Charles let out a deep growl as he grabbed Rosabella's arm and held her in place, his face just inches away from hers.


For a moment, the sexual tension was overshadowed by the rage he felt at her criticisms that she had so easily hurled at him.

"You want to act tough? Keep going. Do you want to lie and make people believe that nothing scares you? I won't stop you."

He cupped the back of her neck, raising his head so she had to look at him.

"But when you're with me..." His breathing became labored as his hands tightened on hers, and his eyes imprisoned her in place when she couldn't do anything other than just stare at him, the tension was so thick between them that every emotion caught in her throat, almost making her want to cry.

"When you're with me... just don't. Whatever you're feeling, Rosabella. Are you angry? Scared? Hostile? You want me to stop doing that when I'm with you."

Tears threatened to overflow as she swallowed hard, the pit of her stomach vibrating and making her weak. But she hates it. Hated the way he made her feel so vulnerable.

How he broke down the walls that she had carefully built on tears, worked on them for years, put them together brick by brick. How dare he come and tear them apart?

With his gaze lowered to her lips, he then slowly brought his mouth to hers and kissed her. And when he does that, she can't fight him anymore.

However, this time is different. This is not just a kiss that serves the purpose to satisfy their sexual hunger.

Instead, Charles moved his warm and slightly damp lips to hers, cautiously giving her a series of soft kisses before he carefully slid just the tip of his tongue in, lightly touching her.

Was she just imagining it or were his lips really trembling? All Rosabella felt was that she was getting dizzy from the overwhelming butterflies and a weak feeling in her knees.

As his taste burned her, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangled in his hair as he pulled her against him, his arms around her back as Rosabella bend her waist to get closer.

What is happening? What has changed? It almost felt like they had crossed the forbidden territory as they stood there and couldn't get enough of each other's lips.

This time, it was Charles who first tore the mouth out of hers. His eyes were sparkling and wild, his eyes hot and embarrassed.

Almost immediately, Rosabella felt exactly that affection tearing her apart, the shame of letting her guard down, even if only for a few seconds, dyeing her cheeks pink.

They were both panting, breathing heavily while their heartbeats were still erratic.

"I need to go..." Charles suddenly looked away, letting go of her to tuck his hands into her pants.

And after fidgeting from foot to foot, he finally mustered enough determination to do it, walking towards the door and leaving her standing in the middle of the room, confused with her lips. She feels hot and lonely.

---

The days after the kiss are spent keeping him busy with work as she sits around the house, bored in his mind.

There is nothing to do in the infirmary and even when she learns that Charles has returned home after finding the clue, the two avoid each other.

Until Rosabella could no longer accept the remaining thoughts in her head. She goes to the mini-bar in her own room. However, when she felt like it wasn't giving her the desired level, she was looking for, she decided to go to Kaylin's room, walking in without knocking.

But at that moment, she saw two figures on the bed, entangled in a serious lip lock with their upper bodies.

"Damned." She saw Carlos jump off, rolling off the bed as he landed on the floor, banging his elbows on the bedside table and cursing out loud.

"Why don't you knock on the door?" He growled, glaring at her as he stood up, rubbing his aching arm.

Rosabella almost wanted to tell him that it was her that he walked in when he tried to visit Charles just to make her feel better.

Though, Carlos didn't linger long, grabbing his discarded shirt on the floor and quickly exiting, slamming the door on his way out.

Kaylin pushed open the bed sheets and revealed her toned body now happily only in mini satin shorts and Bralette.

"Is everything okay, Rosabella?" She looked at Rosabella, clearly unafraid of what she had just been caught.

Whether out of slyness or surprise at what had happened, Rosabella couldn't find her words.

Rosabella shook her head. Kaylin let out an annoyed sigh and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Others want to be booked, too, you know."

Clearing her throat, Rosabella finally regained her voice and spoke.

"I'm sorry... Really. It's not like you haven't told me about you guys so I'm going..."

"Now? What's the problem? He's already gone." She shrugged.

"What do you come here for?" Kaylin got up from the bed and grabbed a simple white T-shirt and put it on.

"Just looking for something to drink. I've pretty much done what's in my room."

Speechless, Kaylin opened the glass door and scanned the contents.

"I have whiskey, gin, vodka, bourbon..."

"Bourbon, okay," Rosabella said, momentarily remembering the first night she slept with Charles.

At that time he invited her to drink bourbon. Why? Why does she always have to trace everything back to him?