Agreement Behind Her Marriage

Kael brought Danica to his apartment, offering a place to stay after her harrowing encounter with Brian left her fearful of returning to her own place. At this moment, Kael was the only person she felt comfortable leaning on, as she didn’t want to burden Lily, who was going through something even more challenging.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right here?” Kael inquired, handing her a bottle of water.

Danica nodded appreciatively. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thanks!” She took a sip of the drink.

He sat down beside her and gently rubbed her back.

“Kael, I’m glad you’re there, though I must admit I was surprised at how quickly you arrived,” she said, recalling the situation, which took less than five minutes for him to reach her.

His cheeks turned a shade of red, and he averted his gaze. “Well, I happened to have a client in your area.”

Danica had no reason to doubt his explanation.

Her heart raced as she found herself alone with him in his apartment. Their attraction was undeniable, and she couldn’t ignore it. It felt as if she wanted to close her eyes every time he took a breath, just to savor his presence. Even Kael’s gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts.

“Truth or dare?” Kael inquired.

The memory of their previous conversation resurfaced in her mind. They had a standing agreement that whenever they were alone, they could play Truth or Dare, either asking and answering questions truthfully or fulfilling a request.

“Um… Dare?” Danica replied.

Kael’s eyes held a subtle plea as he asked, “I want to kiss you. May I?”

Her thoughts echoed, “Just the way I want it!”

She felt a surge of joy because he seemed to understand the thoughts in her mind. That’s precisely why she had chosen “dare.” As she turned her head towards him, she noticed the nervous motion of his throat before his hand reached up to gently touch her cheek.

“I want to kiss you so badly, Danica…” Kael whispered, cupping her chin.

Her lips parted slightly, aching for the anticipated connection. He leaned in, bringing his face closer to hers, their breaths mingling in the charged moment.

“You may…” Danica whispered as her eyes fluttered shut. It was the first time she had experienced the delightful sensation of butterflies dancing in her stomach. The sweet, simple kiss ignited a fire that soon grew more intense.

She found herself pressed between the sofa and Kael’s body, her legs wrapping around his torso as they passionately explored each other’s desires. Their kisses continued for what felt like an eternity before they reluctantly broke apart to catch their breath. Kael lowered his face to her neck, his breath heavy and reluctant to leave that intimate space.

“Truth or Dare, Kael?” Now it was her turn to pose the question.

“Truth,” he responded.

With blushing cheeks, Danica confessed in a hushed tone, “I like you.” Maybe it was the right time to express her feelings. After all, she wouldn’t have let him kiss her if she didn’t like him-a lot. She found herself already immersed in her emotions, and it wasn’t hard to imagine that she might have even begun to love him.

“I like you too, Dan… so much!” His eyes gleamed with joy.

His response sent her soaring, making her feel as if she were lifted to the heavens. He kissed her once more, his kisses so delicious that they left her utterly captivated. Their lips grew tender after minutes of intimate connection. As they exchanged breaths and explored each other’s mouths, their tongues entwined.

Danica felt the gentle pressure of his hand on her chest, his thumb tracing over her nipple through the fabric that separated them.

He released a deep breath before delicately lifting her blouse and bringing her nipple into his mouth.

“Damn!”

As a peculiar sensation coursed through her body, Danica jerked. Her leg entwined with his, a clear sign that she didn’t want to let him go.

“Truth or dare?” Kael murmured, his tongue playfully tracing the contours of her chest.

Growling, she responded, “Truth!” trembling with the sensation.

“I’m not entirely certain if this is the right moment, baby. I still have an arrangement with your dad. However, I’m consumed with the desire to hold you close right now. I want to have sex with you.”

His confession deepened the blush on her cheeks.

“You may, Kael,” she said, her trust in him unwavering. She had no regrets about giving herself to him.

“But… please be gentle. I’m…” She hesitated, unable to admit that she was still a virgin without any sexual experience.

His forehead furrowed, and he seemed to understand what she couldn’t express in words. “You’re a virgin, babe?”

She nodded.

Before long, she found herself being gently carried by the man into his bedroom.

***

Danica was in search of a new place to live, following her unsettling encounter with her ex-boyfriend.

In a different aspect of her life, her connection with Kael had taken her by surprise. Kael was a sweet and helpful presence. He went out of his way to assist her in finding a new place, leveraging his engineering connections and resources to point her toward the perfect location. Despite their interactions, they hadn’t had a formal or official conversation to define their current relationship.

While riding in his car after he had picked her up from school, Kael playfully teased, “If you want, you can live in my home.”

He was now taking her out to dinner.

“You’re a flirt, you know?”

He laughed. “Nope! I just wanted you all to myself.”

“But could you confront my dad if it came to that?”

“Of course,” he assured her, though he seemed uncertain. “As my client, it would be quite uncomfortable, but…”

Danica didn’t allow him to finish his statement. She felt disappointed, especially about this matter, and her uncertainty about her relationship with him only added to her confusion. Her father’s project was nearing completion, and she couldn’t fathom the real reason for his restlessness.

Her phone rang, and the name of her father’s secretary appeared on the screen. She rarely received calls from the secretary, which made her slightly anxious.

She answered, “Hello?”

“Ms. Dan, I apologize for the call,” the voice on the other end said.

“Is there something wrong?” Concern crept onto her face. If her father was okay, the secretary wouldn’t be the one contacting her.

“Well, Mr. Arvesso wasn’t feeling well, but I’ve already summoned a doctor. He requested I reach out to you and said he’d like to see you.”

“Okay, I’m on my way,” Danica replied after her conversation with the secretary.

“I’m sorry, Kael. That was my dad’s secretary, informing me about my dad’s situation. I need to head to the hotel where he’s staying. I’m sorry if we have to cancel our plans for tonight.”

Kael reassured her, “No problem! I’ll drive you there instead. I hope your dad is alright.”

Danica nodded, replying, “Yes…”

When they pulled up in front of the hotel, Kael assisted her as she stepped out of his car.

“Goodbye!” She waved, feeling a pang of guilt as their planned date had been derailed.

Unable to resist, Kael leaned in to kiss her on the lips before gently pulling away.

“Whew!” Her cheeks were crimson, and she nearly rushed to the elevator. He watched with an amused grin and waved at her before getting back into the car.

‘God! What am I going to do now?’ she wondered in her thoughts as the elevator doors closed.

Her intense attraction to Kael left her feeling almost entranced. She couldn’t help but wonder about the nature of their relationship. Inside the elevator, she felt like a fluttering butterfly, her heart dancing with exhilaration. When she stepped out, she maintained a casual facade, doing her best to suppress her smile, so as not to appear overly enthusiastic.

While it wasn’t the first time Danica had been called to her father’s hotel, the unusual aspect was that she encountered her elder brother, Orion, in her father’s suite. Mr. Arvesso was casually dressed in a plain white t-shirt and shorts, but his stern expression was still there. Witnessing her brother with their father was out of the ordinary and left her feeling even more apprehensive.

Danica asked, “What’s going on, Dad? Are you unwell? Is that why my brother is here as well?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Orion was speechless, rebuking, “Why was your first thought that Dad was seriously ill? It’s as if you only consider my presence when it’s about his health.”

Their father’s secretary chimed in with a smile, saying, “I couldn’t help but notice the concern in your voice when I called you too, Mr. Orion.”

A hint of color crept into Orion’s cheeks, causing Danica to smirk. She understood that even though the two often argued, they still held each other in high regard.

To ease the awkwardness in the room, the secretary asked Danica, “You have nothing to worry about, Ms. Dan. Would you like something to eat?”

Danica had planned to meet Kael for dinner later. “Hmmm… I’d like some milk tea. Could you get me one?”

“Of course,” the secretary replied and left the room.

Turning her attention to her father, Danica asked, “How are you, Dad? Are you sure you’re okay? This is quite surprising since you’re usually upset when the three of us are together.”

Mr. Arvesso took a deep breath. “First, what’s going on with your apartment unit? Why did you suddenly put it up for lease? And what’s the reason behind your search for another apartment?”

Was this why he had been so quiet? Danica wasn’t surprised that her father was aware of these matters since her apartment was named after his father. Reluctant to discuss her issues with Brian, she opted for an excuse instead. “Well, considering my tighter school schedule, I thought it would be more convenient to find a place closer to the university to avoid the traffic, which has been making it difficult for me to study. So, I’m looking for a place near the school.”

“Here,” Mr. Arvesso handed her an envelope.

Danica was on the verge of tears when she realized that the property was named after her. She gasped and asked, “What is this, Dad?”

Her father smiled and explained, “I had originally planned to give it to you on the day of your graduation, but I also noticed your persistence and hard work in recent months. You truly deserve it, sweetheart.”

She was deeply moved by this gift. Despite being part of a family with a successful background, their dad had raised them to be independent. However, she couldn’t help but think about her older brother. “What about Brother Orion?”

“I have some news to share, which is why I’ve called both of you here…” Her father took a deep breath before continuing, “Lily is my daughter.”