Kissed

"Are you sure you don't need to be checked? You fell pretty hard."

"..."

Livy's ass hurt from the fall, she tried not to show any pain, but it was very clear that she was nervous to be confronted by the blonde man dressed as a motorcycle gang in front of her. The man kept looking at her, she was very scared.

Who is this man? Why is he here? She seemed to have seen his face somewhere.

"Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet, my name is Dave Zamiel."

Livy stared at him silently.

Normally Arthur would wake up with the slightest commotion, so right now she was thinking about why Arthur didn't wake up at all. Dave asked her out right after he startled her, so she didn't know if Arthur was still sleeping or not.

The maid came with two cups of tea for them, Dave specially gave one to Livy.

"Drink first, Sister-in-law. You look a little tensed," said Dave. "Don't worry. I'm not a bad person though. But if you're worried, I've already asked the maid to bring your friend here, we can have dinner together."

Livy was still silent and didn't know what to say. Actually she wanted to refuse dinner because she wasn't hungry.

Dave smiled, it made the piercings on his lips shift slightly. "There were a lot of people here, but they're all gone. Y'know, they all really wanted to see you. Too bad Boss forbade it. He said that we would scare you. Hell! Where are we going to scare you? Look at me, Sister-in-law, am I scary to you?"

This guy is so talkative, Livy thought.

She watched the man from head to toe. Her impression of this man was very delinquent. How did the neat and orderly Arthur know someone like this?

Is he not a thief?

She was really worried.

Then Arthur … he went to sleep without waking up at all, didn't he? Isn't he a light sleeper? Did something happen to him? This man, did he do something to Arthur?

Livy began to think about the no-nonsense and worried.

But before she could utter a voice to ask, from the direction of the door someone entered. That was Evander. As soon as she saw him, the heavy weight in her heart loosened and she was somewhat relieved. It was just that the worried expression on her face didn't disappear.

Evander approached. "Miss, you are back?"

Dave almost laughed when he heard Evander call Livy 'Miss', Evander sure did a great job; pretending to be a loyal subordinate.

For Dave, if his relationship with Arthur was like brothers, Arthur and Evander's relationship was different, they were like family. Evander was close to Arthur more than anything else.

Seeing Livy not answering and her face nervous, Evander looked at Dave and knew what the problem was. "Where's he?"

"Boss is sleeping, so I'm accompanying sister-in-law here," Dave replied casually.

"Sleeping, eh?"

Evander knew full well the trick Dave used if Arthur didn't wake up to this kind of commotion, Dave must have given him sleeping pills secretly.

From upstairs, suddenly heard footsteps, Sarah also came down. She immediately sat down next to Livy looking at the other two people there. She only knew Evander.

"Livy, who is that thug-like guy?" whispered Sarah. "The maid told me to come down for dinner, but I'm not hungry."

Livy didn't answer.

Dave glanced at Sarah. "Sorry if I look like a thug, Miss Grey. Nice to meet you, I'm Dave Zamiel. I know that you are a good friend of my sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law? Who is your sister-in-law?

"Wait, you know my name?" Sarah shocked.

"Of course I know, even I know all your background and your family!" Dave smirked.

Just from Sarah's expression, Evander could tell what she was thinking.

He coughed a little. "You two probably only saw him today. Despite his sinister appearance, Dave is one of Mr. Arthur's confidants. You can call him brother-in-law."

Brother-in-law?

After Evander explained it, Livy started to think about it. If this is her brother-in-law, is this Arthur's half-brother?

"Who are you calling brother-in-law?"

Someone's voice said from upstairs. The four people below immediately looked up, saw Arthur holding on to the banister and staring with unfocused eyes. It was night, only a few lights were on. Arthur descended slowly while holding on to the stairs.

Livy wanted to help him, but Dave made his move first.

"Why did you wake up? Isn't this too soon? Your tolerance for sleeping pills is now dropping, huh?"

Arthur glared at him, Dave immediately shut his mouth.

Judging from how stiff Arthur's body was, the sleeping pills' effects definitely hadn't completely worn off. He must have forced himself to get up because he was so worried about his little wife being disturbed by other people.

Thinking of this, Dave giggled.

Arriving downstairs, Arthur sat down on one of the sofas and looked at Livy with blurry eyes. His face looked sleepy and tired. His sleeping hair was messy.

"Are you done walking around?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah, I've played enough." Livy paused at the thought of Arthur's anger this morning, and hesitated a little as she approached. "Are you okay? You look tired."

"It's fine."

Arthur's lips were white, the skin on his face was pale as if it had no blood. Livy was used to seeing this man's cold, stiff face, but seeing him disheveled and pale, she couldn't stand it. Her hand reached out to pick up the tissue paper on the table, then gently wiped a drop of sweat on his forehead.

Seeing this, Evander and Dave secretly looked at each other.

Arthur did not like to have physical contact with other people. Dave and Evander were exceptions because they were his confidants, that didn't leave them free to touch him either.

However, at this moment, the two of them witnessed how Arthur just stood expressionlessly letting Livy rub his forehead.

Livy was still rubbing his face, suddenly her hand was grabbed.

"Enough."

Livy looked at the hand still held by Arthur and said nervously, "Sorry, I saw you were sweating, so I ..."

"Thank you." Arthur cut her off and let go of her hand.

"Mn."

Dave felt the atmosphere a bit stiff and clapped his hands. "Now, now, since Boss is here, why don't we have dinner now? Sister-in-law, you must be hungry after walking around all day, right?"

"Don't call her sister-in-law," Arthur said coldly.

Dave chuckled. "Eh? Why? Then how should I address her? She's married to my brother, how can I call her so disrespectful? The title sister-in-law is very nice!"

"I'm not your brother." Arthur still answered coldly.

"But, Boss, she's still my sister-in-law no matter what!" Dave wouldn't budge.

Evander massaged his head and began to think that this debate would never end. Many people were disdain for Arthur and only Dave the most liked to argue with him tirelessly. At that moment neither of the two of them would budge, they were like little children.

After all Arthur had never done anything to Dave so he got a big head and got brave.

"Dave, enough, you ruined the mood." Evander said, pushing up his glasses.

Dave snorted.

Livy, who had been silent for a while and didn't dare to make a sound, because Arthur was there now, she asked, "Are you Arthur's brother? I mean, his brother who is overseas?"

The expressions of the three people there were dumbfounded.

Dave laughed loudly as he hit the table. "What the ...? Hahahaha! What? Why? What do you mean? Why do I have to be his brother who is overseas? I'm his brother for life and death!"

Livy didn't understand.

Dave, who was sitting across from her, jumped up and slipped beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Relax, Sister-in-law. Calm down. You're still new, it's natural to not know many things. I'm definitely better than that little bastard. I'm already like the boss' own younger brother!"

Arthur pulled Livy's shoulder towards him, then pressed Dave's hand down in warning. Seeing this reaction Dave giggled.

"Oops, sorry, someone doesn't like me touching you." Dave smirked.

Livy didn't fully hear Dave's words because her heartbeat was getting louder in her ears. Her face was so close to Arthur's, their shoulders even touched, Arthur's warm breath against her ear, making her face turn red. But it was only temporary because Arthur let her go again.

Dave stood up and said, "Okay, why are we taking so long? Dinner must be ready. Boss, let me help you." He wanted to help Arthur get up, but Arthur brushed him off. He sighed. "Then, Sister-in-law, please help Boss walk, it's almost dark. His eyes must not be able to see well."

Arthur really wanted to scold this bastard for talking a lot of nonsense, but he couldn't do it in front of Livy.

So before Livy could help him, Arthur got up first. There was a table so close to him that he hit it, so that he slipped. As he fell, he fell right on top of Livy and was shocked.

Since Arthur realized he was slipping, he looked for the best grip so as not to press Livy who was nearby. As a result, this made for an ambiguous position.

Because ...

Because his lips accidentally touched hers.

Everyone didn't speak.

Arthur was right on top of Livy, but his hands held her so well that he wasn't actually on top of her, except for his lips. The position that was so close made both of their hearts race. The hearts of the two people trembled. Arthur hastily retracted his lips.

Livy quickly looked away nervously from the warm trace that invaded her lips just now.

His face was so close. She couldn't stand it.

Luckily Arthur soon came to his senses and stood up. "Sorry. You okay?"

Livy nodded.

Dave pushed the table with his feet slightly away. "This damn thingy is the cause, Sister-in-law. Boss didn't do it on purpose."

They didn't know that Dave was grinning right now.

"Are you hurt?"

Livy shook her head.

Apart from Arthur, everyone noticed that Livy's face had turned red like a tomato. Even though Arthur managed to hold on well, it was just one hand, his other was right on Livy's shoulder, his lips pressed against hers too. Really, the place where Arthur touched it was burning hot. Livy's heart was still not beating quietly.

Arthur kissed her!

Even if it was unintentional it was still called a kiss! Livy almost went crazy because of this.

After dinner formalities. Livy returned to her room and Arthur also returned to the same room.

The two were silent in their own thoughts, not uttering a word. Livy waited for Arthur to say something to melt the frozen atmosphere, while Arthur didn't take it too seriously and was just daydreaming about something else.

Arthur didn't seem to care about the kiss, but Livy couldn't stop thinking about it.

"I hope I didn't hit you hard. Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No. You don't press my body hard."

"I mean your lips, don't they hurt?"

Livy instinctively touched her lips. The soft sensation of Arthur's lips still felt real.

"That's fine." Livy reassured.

It felt soft, very soft.

Livy looked up slowly and found Arthur looking up at her, but she knew that he couldn't see everything because his eyes were getting worse at night. So she took this opportunity to take a closer look.

Arthur wasn't really a bad guy. Although he is cold and indifferent, sometimes he is very considerate and his care is very sincere.

"I-I want to apologize to you. I hope you're not angry anymore."

Arthur frowned.

Livy explained, "This is about this morning. I accidentally went out with just my towel. I know that's rude. Thanks for worrying about me."

Arthur's brow furrowed. Worry?

"You're right. One could have malicious intentions if the opportunity presented itself. So I should have been more vigilant," she continued.

By saying this, she also gave herself understanding; that if she gave her aunt and cousin a chance, she would again be used for something bad. She could even hurt Arthur.

She didn't want to bother Arthur at all, let alone hurt him. So she didn't want her to give other people a chance to hurt Arthur as well.

Never.

"Will you forgive me? You ... you were so angry this morning, I—"

Before Livy could finish, Arthur turned his face forward, so close that the distance between their faces was thinning.

"You have sweet lips."

"Huh?"

"I also want to apologize to you."

Livy couldn't digest what was happening as her chin was pinched, Arthur tilted his head and his lips kissed hers. Her body froze.

As if time had stopped, she didn't move as Arthur's lips patiently dominated the kiss. A hot tongue slid into her mouth, playing with her teeth and tongue. His lips were so seductive. Livy was lulled and closed her eyes to accept it.

... to be continued ...