Chapter 6: ; His touch, his kiss

The family had already gathered around the dinner table, relishing the delectable dishes prepared by Cheska's mother. While everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals, Cheska couldn't bring herself to partake. She was haunted by the memory of what had happened between her and Matthew in his room. Despite her efforts to push it out of her mind, the memory continued to resurface.

"Cheska, why aren't you eating? Is everything okay? Is it about the summoning?" Cheska's mother inquired, placing her utensils down and focusing her attention on Cheska.

Cheska hesitated for a moment before responding, "Oh, no, Mom. I'm just thinking about the council's decision regarding your case." She averted her gaze, knowing that she was lying. The truth was that she couldn't shake off the thought of her stepbrother, who also happened to be her mate, which was causing her distress.

"What did my little sister do this time?" Matthew asked, directing his question to Cheska's mother but focusing his gaze on Cheska. His eyes appeared vacant, leaving everyone in the room wondering about his thoughts.

"Why do you always assume that I'm the source of trouble?" Cheska responded dejectedly, avoiding Matthew's gaze and listening to the sizzling of the food.

"Cheska, don't deny it. Mom always gets calls from the council and school because of you," Liam interjected.

"You're too young to be joining in on adult conversations, Liam," Cheska retorted, giving her little brother a scathing look.

"Both of you need to remember that we have a guest, so stop arguing, especially in front of the food," Lolita interjected, trying to diffuse the tension with a smile.

"Don't worry about us, Aunt Maurice. Matthew will soon be my husband, so I'll be a part of your happy family," Eunice chimed in with an expansive smile.

Cheska couldn't help but let her gaze wander towards Matthew, eager to hear his response to Eunice's proclamation. But to her disappointment, he remained silent, taking a sip of wine before turning his attention back to Cheska's mother.

"Since you've graced us with your presence, why don't you take the reins and direct the meeting this month? You can also address the issue regarding Cheska," Maurice suggested, her eyes glittering with enthusiasm.

"It seems like you won't have time to show me around," Eunice commented, oblivious to the animosity Cheska harbored towards Matthew. In fact, her eyes shone as she gazed at him.

"Cheska can be your tour guide since she knows our town better than Matthew," Maurice suggested, causing everyone to look at Cheska.

How could she refuse her mother? Cheska forced a smile as she nodded in agreement. "I can do that, but let me first address the council's summons," she declared, her expression serious as she looked at her mother.

"Are you sure you want to answer them? You don't need to since you're not a member of the pack," Cheska's mother responded, her concern evident on her face.

"Mom, let her answer them. My little sister is now a lady, so I'm sure she can handle it," Matthew interjected.

Cheska's mother took a deep breath and nodded in agreement. Cheska couldn't believe it. With just one word from Matthew, her mother agreed to let her address the council. She had been asking for a year to be allowed to do so, but her mother always declined.

Finishing her dinner, Cheska retreated to her room where the hum of the fan overpowered the smell of dust. Pretending to have a headache, she avoided any further conversation with her family.

Sinking into the warmth and comfort of her bed, Cheska couldn't help but think about Matthew's calmness despite what had happened between them. And to make matters worse, he even smiled sweetly at Eunice. "How can he be so calm after what happened to us? And worse, he even smiles sweetly at her," Cheska murmured while staring at the ceiling.

Feeling frustrated, Cheska punched her pillow while cursing Matthew. But she was quickly reminded of what had happened between them in his room.

[Flashback]

"My little Cheska, your scent is turning me on," Matthew whispered as his lips brushed against her earlobe and trailed down to her cheek and the corner of her lips.

"Matthew, what are you doing? Please..." Cheska protested, but she doubted if Matthew could hear her words because her heartbeat was pounding so loudly.

"Are you begging me to stop or continue?" Matthew responded, giving her lips a tender kiss.

"I want..." Cheska didn't have the chance to finish her sentence because Matthew immediately slipped his tongue inside her mouth.

Cheska couldn't think or object as Matthew's kiss consumed her. She could only feel the strange sensation of his tongue playing inside her mouth. Every movement of his tongue was both ticklish and exhilarating, causing Cheska to close her eyes and try to match his movements.

"Ahh..." Cheska moaned, unsure if it was her or Matthew who made the sound. When their tongues met, she felt a strange sensation flow through her body, reaching all the way to her core. Her hands rested on Matthew's chest, stretching out and then wrapping around his neck.

It was her first kiss, but Cheska wasn't naive when it came to matters like this. She had watched enough movies to know what to do.

"Cheska...please stop me," Matthew pleaded between kisses.

Cheska was confused as to why he wanted her to stop, and it seemed like Matthew could sense her astonishment. He pressed his body against hers and buried his face in her neck.

"You're hard..." Cheska stated as she felt the lower part of his body.

"Yes, and if you keep teasing me like this, I'll claim you right here, right now," Matthew declared in a hoarse voice.

Suddenly, Cheska felt like she had been doused with cold water. It finally sank in - they had almost made love, and if it hadn't been for Matthew's intervention, they might have gone through with it. Cheska quickly pushed Matthew away and stood up, feeling flustered and confused.

Her trip down memory lane was interrupted by a knock on her door.

"It's me. Can you open the door? I have something important to say," Matthew's voice sounded from the other side.

Cheska hesitated, feeling suspicious and unsure of herself. What had happened earlier should never happen again. She decided not to answer his call or open the door for him. Instead, she cautiously returned to her bed and pretended to be asleep.

"Cheska, you're acting strange. I can feel the vibration of your movement. Anyway, prepare yourself. We're going to the council tomorrow morning," Matthew stated before his footsteps retreated.

"It's better to be weird than to be sorry," Cheska muttered under her breath as she lay in bed, contemplating the events of the evening.