The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 16: Ripples of a Kiss

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

***

Kaya jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest, the remnants of the kiss still lingering on her lips. For a moment, she lay there, lost in the haze of her dream, before the sound of knocking pulled her back into reality.

"My lady, breakfast is ready. Mrs. Adelberth made creamy mushroom soup with croutons," Arthur said from behind her bedroom door. Kaya didn't know what to feel at the moment, but she knew one thing; she didn't want to meet Sebastian today, or ever?

"No thank you, Mr. Penn. I'm not hungry right now," Kaya mumbled, curling tighter into her blankets. Her heart was still racing, her mind replaying the kiss over and over. Kaya felt a confusing mix of shame, giddiness, and something else she couldn't even understand. It was like her stomach was full of things rumbling around, disrupting the rhythm of her whole body.

"Would you like your fruit salad, my lady? I could ask the kitchen to prepare it for you," Arthur suggested, his voice tinged with concern. Kaya could hear the worry in his tone, but she wasn't brave enough to face Sebastian-especially because he would be there to tease her if she left her room. So, she politely declined Arthur's offer once more.

After a while, there was another knock at her door. She almost made a sound, thinking it was Arthur again, but it was someone she wished she could avoid even more.

"Hello, my love. You should come out now, I'll be in the office all day, so you can roam the house as freely as you like. Let's not make Arthur worry, shall we? He doesn't know that you enjoyed the kiss so much that you're avoiding me in order not to ask for more," Sebastian teased from the other side of the door. His tone had that mocking edge that made Kaya's blood boil. How dare he speak like that when he was the one who stole her kiss!

Kaya was so mad that she grabbed the nearest object and hurled it at the door. She heard laughter fading as Sebastian walked away. She swore she would never leave the room again, not even if he apologized.

***

As the hours passed, Kaya grew bored in her bedroom, there was yet another knock. This time it was Arthur again, trying to coax her out.

"My lady, I've called Mrs. Carter for you. If you don't wish to eat, at least take some time outside the mansion," Arthur said, his worry still clear. Kaya felt a pang of guilt for making Arthur worry so much.

She opened the door slightly and saw Arthur smile warmly at her. Kaya straightened her posture and noticed Emily standing behind him. Arthur has already arranged a car and driver for them to use.

Emily took Kaya to the city square, where they found a quaint little coffee shop. The atmosphere was relaxing and maybe even a bit romantic. The walls were painted a soft cream, but when the sunlight hit, they appeared almost rose gold. The Glass tables with cushioned metal chairs completed the romantic garden aesthetic, and the shop was serenaded by slow, romantic music opposite of how Kaya wanted to feel that day.

"Okay, spill. What going on? And don't lie because Arthur wouldn't call in anyone else aside from his master unless something serious was happening," Emily demanded, her tone curious.

Kaya hesitated, unsure how to explain what happened. She sighed, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"Sebastian... ehm.. he... he stole a kiss from me," Kaya said softly almost whispering. Her face flushed, and her body warmed with embarrassment. She couldn't bring herself to look at Emily, especially since she knew her friend would be shocked.

"What exactly happened last night? I thought it was just for show. How dare he do that to you! That man-ugh! Just like his playboy friends. I swear, he is no different," Emily ranted, her voice loud with anger. Other customers in the shop began to stare at them.

"No, it wasn't like that," Kaya mumbled, looking down at the table. She felt guilty and embarrassed about what she was about to confess. "I.. uhm.. kissed him back... and I think... I like it."

Emilly dropped into her chair with a stunned expression. "Hold on! Kaya, you do understand how fake relationships work, right? No feelings involved."

"I know. It's just hard to say no to his face," Kaya explained. She described how conflicted she felt, and Emily listened carefully. However, Emily didn't seem happy, which made Kaya wonder why her friend disliked Sebastian. Kaya tried to brush it off, thinking Emily was just being protective.

As they continued talking, a waiter approached their table and presented two slices of chocolate cake. They were confused, but the waiter explained it was a gift from the gentleman in the corner. Kaya smiled, thinking it might be Sebastian, but when she turned, her smile faded. It wasn't Sebastian; it was someone she had vowed never to see again, Dimitri Malcolm.

Dimitri's sudden appearance felt like an unwanted shadow creeping back into her life. His voice was as smooth as ever, but dripping with hidden malice.

"What a pleasant coincidence to meet you here, beautiful?" Dimitri said. Kaya felt sick at the sound of his voice. His voice was full of venom, poisoning the air around her.

"How may I help you, Mr. Malcolm?" Kaya folded her arms across her chest and leaned back in her chair, raising an eyebrow as if to challenge him to continue.

"Oh, I'm just saying hi to an old acquaintance. I've heard you're quite the star these days," Dimitri sneered. Kaya narrowed her eyes, wondering what his true intentions were. Throughout her career as a journalist, their paths had crossed a few times, but he had never sought her out like this.

"Well, I don't know what are you talking about Mr. Malcolm. But, whether I'm a star or galaxy, it's none of your business," Kaya retorted as she stood, pulling Emily with her. Before they could reach the door Dimitri snarled one more time.

"Oh, but it is interesting, Everyone knows the young Blackwood is cursed. Maybe you should dig a little deeper into the man you're getting involved with. Just be careful, dear. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

Kaya stormed out of the coffee shop. How dare he act concerned about her well-being when he had been the one to put her in harm's way in the first place?

"What pompous man, come on Kaya, let's find another place to hang out," Emily said. They continued walking and talking until they came across a restaurant that looked like it had just opened. But as they crossed the street, a car suddenly sped toward them.

Kaya, quick to react, pushed Emily out of harm's way, but she didn't have enough time to protect herself.

Kaya closed her eyes, bracing for impact, as the world seemed to slow down as her feet froze to the ground. Panic surged through her veins leaving her speechless, but she felt a strong arm yanking her to the side, saving her by mere inches.

Kaya hit the ground hard. Her vision was blurry from squeezing her eyes shut so tightly. It took a few moments for her senses to return. The first thing she did was to check on Emily.

"Emily, are you okay?" Kaya shouted, even though Emily was right in front of her. Emily nodded, hiccuping through her sobs. Kaya pulled her into a hug, trying to calm her down as she tried to regain control.

She heard the car speeding away. Turning her body, Kaya expected to see it coming back to finish the job, but instead, a man was standing in front of them, shielding them both. He was tall, with medium-length brown hair that looked almost gray in the sunlight.

Kaya recognized him-it was Jackson Darer, one of Sebastian's friends.

To be Continued.