Faster than a kiss.

Chapter One ♡

"Hurry up, sis! He'll be home anytime soon!!!" My four-year old little brother, Teddy Valentine ushered.  

"Must I really?" I whined. He looks cute as a button, in his snugly kitten costume. I was wearing a kitten suit too, but mine was a tad more.. mature.  

Teddy giggled. "You know the rule! I don't wanna be stuck with your cooking for a week!" The rule was, Teddy and I have to dress up in a themed costume every Monday and welcome Kaz home by the door. If we failed to do so, he won't make us dinner for the rest of the week.  

I covered my heart with one hand, mocking a hurt expression. "I'm your sist- "  

I didn't have time to finish my sentence as we both heard the gate being opened. We quickly got ourselves out the living room and ran towards the door. Plastering a foolish grin on myself, I mentally prepared for a sight that never failed to make my heart beat faster.  

Standing in front of me, looking flustered yet somehow sexy as heck, my newly wed husband. "I'm hoooooome!" he sang.  

"KAZZY!!!!" Teddy hollered and ran into his arms. Oh, have I mentioned? My flustered-looking-yet-sexy-newly-wed-husband may look like a hard shell of goodness on the outside, but he's a total softie inside. Not to mention a goof who always manages to make himself look bad.  

"Teddy!!!! Oh, I missed you today!" Kaz put on a sad face and wailed back at my baby brother, spinning both of them in an embrace while doing so. I sat there, emotionless and plainly stared at their exchange, my mind wandering.  

The incident happened last year, when both my parents passed away in a car crash. It was hard on me, as I was only 16, but it was too much for the then three-year old Teddy. Therefore, I endured the pain I was feeling to be the person Teddy needed. We were passed on from one relative to another. As much as our relatives love us, I know that they didn't want a burden on their shoulders. One night, I finally got fed up being passed around like a piece of dessert and ran away with Teddy. The most astonishing thing was that none of them came after us. Teddy and I blew off our remaining money on cheap motels, food and laundry. It only lasted for a week. Soon, we found ourselves on a bench by the park. I remember Teddy's watering eyes, asking me why everyone found it so easy to abandon us. I was speechless. On that very same night, Mr Kaz, the newbie teacher in my school walked past and saw us. I remember him frowning in confusion as he walked towards us and I calmly explained our whole ordeal like it hadn't taken a toll on us - when in reality, it was more than a fifteen and three-year old combined could handle. Mr Kaz then politely offered to let us stay at his house. God knows what came over me but I started screaming at him. I told him (more like I yelled) that we weren't charity cases that he can easily and pitifully offer help towards so that he can feel better about himself. He immediately argued back, saying that he wasn't looking at us in such a way and he'd take care of us until we were able to do it on our own.  

Even after gaining my composure back, I spat my last spurt of anger at him. "So what, you're gonna marry me and take care of us like a family?! Don't be stupid!"  

He was probably too caught up in the moment, because he came up real close to me and yelled "Yes, that's exactly what I'll do!" Straight after, he took both my hand and Teddy's hand, yanked us off the bench, and lead us back to his house, stomping all the way.  

"Kazzy, aren't you going to hug sis too?" Teddy's question forced me back into reality, and when I finally registered Teddy's words, I blushed.  

"Teddy, it's not like tha-" Before I could form a reply, I felt Kaz's warm hand on the right side of my face and I closed my eyes, inhaling his spicy scent. Not long after, I felt his lips touch my forehead. It sent tingles down my spine. I looked up and realized that he didn't move away after the peck, and instead, was staring down at me with a tender expression. I was melting under his gaze, and I knew that I wanted more. I wanted more than one hand cupping my face, more than a deep stare, more than a peck on the forehead. It was wrong, but I wanted so much more. It didn't help that he was so devastatingly handsome, either.  

After what seemed like a million years - but was probably a few seconds - his eyes flickered, like he gained some recognition of what he was doing and almost threw himself away from me. My body instantly felt like something was missing and I was yearning for his warmth and touch. Yearning for his closeness. He stood still for a split second, blinking his eyes rapidly while looking at me, and the next second, he turned towards the still-giddy Teddy, who witnessed our exchange and clasped his palms together.  

"Come on sweetheart, let's go make us some dinner!" He cooed and brought Teddy back to the kitchen, leaving me on the door step, slowly processing what just happened.    

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. Decided that I shall post a new part every Saturday! :) And i'm sorry if this chapter is a little dull. Had to get all of the intro and stuff out of the way before i can get to the good stuff ;) Neway thanks for reading!  

*Proofread by my friend, Mel! Thank you, cupcake. xxxxxxx