The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 15: Between Love and Lies

"Okay, What did you do, Sunshine?" Sebastian narrowed his eyes to Kaya when the other investors had left. Margaret excused herself to join another employee she knew. Sebastian couldn't maintain his angry facade for long before a smile cracked on his face. It was hard to stay mad at Kaya when she looked like a giddy girl who had just won her prize.

"Nothing! I didn't do anything, poochie poo," Kaya replied, trying to be funny. Sebastian hated it every time Kaya used that endearment for him since he always called her "Sunshine". He thought maybe she would call him "love" or "darling". But no, she had to use the worst endearment of all: poochie.

"Kaya, you know I hate it when you call me that," Sebastian said as he set their glasses down on the nearest table and pulled Kaya to the dancefloor. Kaya halted in her tracks and shook her head. Her face was filled with concern and fear; one thing Sebastian knew about Kaya was that she couldn't dance.

One time, Kaya told him that on her sixth birthday, she wanted a princess ball birthday and hoped to dance with a charming prince. She got what she wanted, but the prince ran away after that because she kept stepping on his feet. The next day, her mother received a call from his mother, laughing about what her son's feet had become.

"Bastian, ah ah. You know I can't dance—please anything but dance. I promised I won't call you that ever again," Kaya said, as she tried to pull Sebastian away from the dance floor. Unfortunately, her strength wasn't enough to make Sebastian budge.

To Sebastian and maybe to some of the guests, this scene was hilarious with Kaya trying to move something unmovable. She was determined to drag him away, but the man in question just stood there, casually cracking a smile.

With just one tug from Sebastian, Kaya stumbled backward and crashed into him as they entered the dance floor. He twirled her around until they faced each other. Sebastian placed his left hand on her back, and his right hand on the side taking her hand. He guided Kaya to dance while she looked down, trying not to step on his feet.

"Come on, Sunshine, look at me. My feet aren't as handsome as my face," Sebastian whispered in Kaya's ear, leaving no room for her to look down. His heart burst into millions of confetti pieces when Kaya met his gaze. Their faces were so close that Sebastian could get lost staring into Kaya's dark eyes. Her scent, a mix of fresh sandalwood and jasmine, enveloped him, hypnotizing him and urging him to lean in closer to Kaya.

"Basti-" Sebastian cut off Kaya's word as he closed the remaining space between them. His lips finally touched hers, featherlight at first, testing. Her lips jolted Sebastian's body, his heart racing as he looked for a clue to go deeper.

A smile broke across Sebastian's face as he saw Kaya close her eyes and return his kiss eagerly. He angled his head, capturing her lips fully, his hand sliding from her back to cradle her neck, pulling her closer. The kiss was slow, intense, a dance of longing and restraint, both of them holding on to the last thread of control. Kaya's hands found their way to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips.

Sebastian's lips moved against hers with a hunger that matched her own, as if they had both held back for far too long. He tasted faintly of whiskey and something darker, something uniquely him. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as the kiss deepened further, becoming almost desperate.

His tongue teased the seam of her lips, coaxing them open, and when she parted them for him, the kiss turned heated, a slow burn that ignited into the fire. The world around them ceased to exist—there was no room, no moonlight, no time—only the feel of his lips on hers, the warmth of his body pressed against her own.

Sebastian pulled back slightly, giving Kaya space to breathe before placing another feathery kiss on her lips. He returned to their dance position and moved their bodies to join the rhythm of the music playing. Kaya looked at him, dumbfounded, her face resembling a ripe tomato-red and juicy. He couldn't wait to go home and kiss those lips again.