Chapter 258

Aubree did not get much time to debate it. The moment Bowen’s lips touched hers, all thoughts evaporated. Bowen had finally cornered his prize, and he was not holding back.

He drank in every trace of her kiss, and even when the softness beneath his lips had gone slack, he refused to let her go.

Bowen used both hands to pin Aubree firmly against his chest. Adjusting their position, he flipped her beneath him, gripping her chin with one hand and forcing her lips to part, yielding to his invasion.

Bowen clung to her lips, insistent and hungry, as if trying to savor every last trace of her. Every movement was firm, unhurried, and impossibly focused.

By the time Bowen finally let go of Aubree’s lips, Aubree had gone totally limp.

Aubree gasped for air, her lips kiss-swollen and glistening. As Bowen watched her, his gaze darkened with something dangerous and possessive, a primal instinct flickering to life and quickly slipping beyond his control.

Aubree was pinned beneath Bowen, her face flickering with color – pale one moment, flushed the next. Her lips trembled as she spat out, “You shameless pervert!”

Bowen doubled down on his shameless act without a trace of embarrassment. “The woman I love is right here in my arms – if I didn’t react, now that would be the real problem,” he said.

Bowen spoke as if it was perfectly reasonable, making her feel like she was overreacting.

Aubree instinctively pressed her lips together, her face darkening in realization. ‘He kissed me again – and this time, he’s completely sober!’ she thought.

Aubree’s dark eyes bore into Bowen. “So, you think I’m a pushover?” she demanded.

Bowen froze for a moment, then burst out laughing, his deep, resonant chuckle ringing in her ears, which only made her more irritated. ‘What’s there to laugh about? The first time he kissed me, he pretended to be drunk and denied it. Now, the second time, he even… He’s shameless!’ she thought.

Bowen looked straight into her eyes and declared, “I’m in love with you.”

Before Aubree could explode, Bowen’s words stopped her dead in her tracks.

Aubree thought, ‘Wait, what? He said it just like that? With zero warning? How am I supposed to dodge that?

‘Even if Bowen had no intention of restraining himself, I thought he’d still start with some small talk. How come he didn’t even give me time to come up with an excuse to refuse?’

Bowen had not planned on saying it, but now that he had kissed Aubree, it felt almost natural to admit it.

Bowen sat up straight, pulling Aubree up with him. Looking into her eyes, he said, “I love you. Don’t be so quick to say no. I don’t believe you have no feelings for me.”

Aubree thought, ‘But seriously – if some rich, capable man kept solving all my problems, throwing cash like confetti, even if his name was something plain and ridiculous, I’d probably develop feelings for him too.’

Aubree’s gaze wavered, and she murmured, “M–maybe a little.”

Bowen knew exactly what was on Aubree’s mind.

“I really did intend to treat you like a junior at first,” he said.

Aubree nodded. ‘Right – like a junior at first. Then somehow, I turn into his wife. Classic move. I’ve seen this one before,’ she thought.

“But feelings… can’t really be helped. Bree, you won’t blame me for finding you too charming, will you?” Bowen asked.

“Of course!” Aubree tilted her chin up with a sassy smirk. “It’s only natural to like me.”

“Exactly. I’m just a perfectly normal guy.” Bowen chuckled, his hand ruffling her hair. “So, how about it – give me a chance to pursue you?”

The scent of red wine still lingered faintly on Aubree’s lips – from him.

They were so close that their breaths intertwined, the space between them almost nonexistent. Bowen’s burning gaze was glued to her, never wavering.

“I…” The words caught in Aubree’s throat.

Bowen looked at Aubree and said, “You want to turn me down, don’t you? You don’t believe someone would just be kind to you for no reason. You don’t believe in love at first sight.” Bowen saw right through every one of Aubree’s reservations.

Bowen had been holding back all this time because he knew that even if Aubree did have feelings for him, she would almost certainly turn him down just to protect herself.

Bowen had quite a few drinks tonight, and seeing Aubree talking with Enrique about setting him up on a blind date – that was what pushed him over the edge. Sure, it was impulsive, but he did not regret a thing.

‘Once summer break is over, she’d be off to college. Someone as outstanding as her would naturally attract eligible young men around her age – guys who would have more in common with her than I do,’ Bowen thought. He could not help feeling a sense of insecurity about that.

Bowen’s eyes darkened.