Chapter 994

Ralph kneaded Heather's shoulders, his touch gentle. From his angle, he saw her delicate collarbone and skin, though her pajamas concealed the rest. He felt the firm muscle beneath her skin—the tautness of a seasoned kickboxer, a stark contrast to the softness he associated with other women, and even to the feel of her when they had kissed before. He remembered her slim waist, soft in his arms, the memory igniting a familiar arousal. Yet, despite their current physical proximity, he felt inexplicably hesitant.

"Something isn't right," he murmured. "It must be because we aren't close enough."

The memory of their last kiss surfaced, a longing for its repetition. "Annie..." he whispered, leaning down to blow in her ear. The diamond studs in her small earlobes disappointed him; they weren't the ones he'd given her. "Where are the earrings I gave you?"

Heather's initial impulse was to punch him, but his question startled her awake. Clearing her throat, she replied, "I kept them at home. I prefer to keep precious things safe—you know, in case of thieves, like the ones you encountered." Her words held a subtle hint, but Ralph missed it, focusing only on her affirmation of his gift's preciousness. He concluded, with a sigh of relief, that she loved him, merely affecting a reserved demeanor. The possibility that her words were an invitation to intimacy flitted through his mind. This thought prompted him to kiss her tender cheek.

"Of course," he replied perfunctorily. "You kept them safe so no one could find them easily..."

Overjoyed, Heather whirled around. "Where would you—"

Their lips met. Heather's eyes widened; she hadn't anticipated this. Her kickboxing instincts would normally prevent such close contact, yet she endured the discomfort, hoping to extract more information.

Ralph, thrilled by her response, deepened the kiss, attempting to pry her lips open further. Heather's mind blanked, the intensity of the moment overwhelming. But the wetness of his mouth and the clear intent in his actions snapped her back to reality. She squinted.

"Ouch!"

Ralph screamed, recoiling in pain. He stumbled back, speechless, his lip bleeding, pointing a trembling finger at her. He could only manage a strangled, "Uh... uh..."

Heather, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed. Dusting off her hands, she stood and sneered, "This is the price for molesting me!"

Ralph's eyes widened. He couldn't comprehend the sudden shift in her demeanor—from gentle to icily cold. The thought, "Is she bipolar?!" flashed through his mind.