Chapter 70: Untitled Chapter

When they finally pulled apart, Roberto was caught off guard by Kendrix’s face. She was red, breathing hard, eyes still dazed when she looked up at him. It made him stop for a second.

He had kissed her before. It still messed him up how soft she was every time. She stood there like she didn’t know what to do with her hands, lips parted a little, not kissing him back hard but just... letting him. And somehow that was worse. Sweet in a way that annoyed him.

Roberto’s thumb dragged over her mouth before he could think about it. He wanted to kiss her again. But she looked too stunned already from that slow one, so he held back. Barely.

Be grateful I’m stopping, he thought. You’d be a mess if I didn’t.

Rain was still running down her face, making her lashes stick together. He wondered if she was disappointed. If it felt the same as last time. If she had expected more. He leaned in again…Then the rain stopped.

“Looks like that’s it,” Roberto said.

Kendrix blinked like she had just remembered where she was. She touched her lips, staring up at him like she wasn’t sure what had just happened.

Roberto almost smiled. She always looked like that after. Then a loud crash echoed.

Everyone turned. Someone had dropped an expensive vase. And that was when Roberto noticed them.

Bash stood by the doorway in wet pajamas, staring at him and Kendrix like they had lost their minds.

Only Skyler was dry. He stood by the fireplace under a black umbrella, his face a mix of surprise and blank, watching everything.

Roberto cleared his throat. He turned back to Kendrix. “Your wish got granted, little devil. Go upstairs and take a hot shower before you catch a cold.”

Kendrix looked around. Saw all the wet, stunned faces staring at her. Her cheeks went red so fast she wanted to die.

“Okay,” she muttered, and bolted up the stairs without looking back.

Roberto watched her go, his mouth twitching.

“Okay…” Bash drawled. “What the hell, Roberto?” He pushed his wet hair back with a silly smirk. “ Didn't know it had gotten to this. How dumb was I?”

Roberto raised an eyebrow. “Dumb? You've always been dumb.” He shrugged. “Well…you’re welcome for the free shower. And don’t act slow. Look at Skyler.”

“Roberto!” Bash groaned. “How’d Skyler get an umbrella and I didn’t? He knew!”

“Why would I tell him anything?” Roberto said flatly.

“Stop lying! Skyler, put the damn umbrella down!”

“You were too curious to see what was going on, that's why you got drenched. So count me out of this.” Skyler countered.

Roberto started up the stairs. His lips twitched in a faint smile. Just as he hit the first step, Bash called out again.

“Sky, did you see how he kissed her? You’ve seen how Roberto kisses. Why was that so soft and gentle?”

Roberto stopped on the stairs. He didn’t turn all the way, just looked back over his shoulder with a flat stare.

Bash was still dripping. “Roberto, seriously…”

Roberto cut him off, voice cold. “Not your business, Bash.”

Then he kept walking upstairs.

Bash clutched his chest like he had been shot. “Oh my gosh.” He staggered back. “The coldness. The audacity. I’m wounded.”

Skyler lowered his umbrella. His eyes actually widened for half a second. He stared at Roberto’s retreating figure like he hadn’t expected that shutdown.

“Wait… you really weren’t gonna tell us?” Skyler said, and for once he didn’t sound bored. He sounded caught off guard.

Roberto didn’t answer. He just kept walking.

.

Kendrix sprinted into her room and shut the door behind her. She leaned on it for a while with a dazed expression, as if her thoughts were a million miles away from her body.

The scene that happened just moments ago kept replaying in her head like a movie. To her, it was much more overwhelming than any movie she ever watched and anything she had ever imagined.

She remembered how his lips felt when it first landed on hers and her heart just wouldn't stop trying to jump from inside her chest, as if it was currently playing a game of jump ropes.

Touching her lips, Kendrix mumbled.

"God, it’s still insane how he kisses."

She and Roberto had kissed countless times before. In the study, in the dark, half-angry and half-desperate. But this… this felt different. Slower. Like he wasn’t just taking, like he was asking.

A flash of last night hit her out of nowhere… his hands on her, the way he said her name, the way she had mumbled his name before she completely lost control. Her face went hot and she pressed both palms to her cheeks like that would hide it.

She thought that it was truly so wonderful and magical.

Kendrix got into the bathroom and exhaled like she had been holding her breath since the terrace. She leaned back against the cold tile and slid down until she was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up.

Her clothes were still damp and sticking to her skin, but she didn’t move to change them yet. The mirror was fogged up, but she could still see her own eyes… wide, a little wild, like she didn’t recognize herself.

Water dripped from her hair onto the floor, each drop loud in the quiet. Kendrix pressed her fingers to her lips again, and this time she didn’t mumble anything. She just sat there, replaying the way he hadn’t let go, the way his thumb stayed at her neck like he was scared she would run away.

Her chest felt tight. Not from the rain. From the fact that after all the times they had kissed, all the nights they had lost count of, this one still managed to wreck her.

She reached up and turned the faucet on, letting the water run over her hands. It was scalding. She needed something to feel besides him.