n

n

nFeeling like they had intruded enough, Edward took his sons home as soon as they finished eating breakfast.

nUp until then, they had no idea what was up with Damien the whole time. After declaring his intention to steal Cassidy away from Adrian, the threat lingered in the air for quite a while. His unsuspecting brothers were supportive of his decision and did not question him no matter how out of the blue it was.

n

"Me too! Me too! I'll sleep with Aunty every night!

" was what the ever ebullient Hugo chimed that time.

n

"We'll play games and do lots of stuffs...! If Aunt doesn't allow Uncle Bossman to see her, we'll make a fortress in our house and lock him out!

" was what Joshua added with a cheeky tone and a smug grin.

nAs if the three brothers were having a telepathic agreement, they rallied on for the entire half of breakfast time, spoiling their uncle's appetite in the process.

nNow that they left, Adrian could groan as much as he could at last.

nHe knows that it's just part of their mischievous, teasing nature as kids. They are only kids, of course. He should not be too bothered by what they said.

nNot to mention, it was just probably their clinginess that was speaking. They had gotten too close and overly dependent on his wife. Because it was an extremely rare case for all of the brothers to be that chummy with someone, they were acting like three smug musketeers who felt the need to protect a damsel in distress.

nNevertheless, it was Damien who somehow troubled Adrian for a bit.

nIt's undeniable that he's a very intelligent and gifted child. Though still a teenager, he thinks like an adult and has a sensible way of addressing things. Today was his first time seeing and hearing that kid spout out threats that didn't make much sense to him.

nWhat's more, he sounded serious.

n

"What's up with Damien, Cassidy?

" Adrian asked his wife as he flopped on the sofa at the living room, sitting beside her.

n

"Uhhhhh...

" Cassidy trailed off with a strained smile, knowing quite well that Damien's behavior earlier had something to do with their conversation last night.

n

"Puberty?

"

n

"Well, I knew for sure that puberty didn't get me talking to my uncles like that when I was younger.

"

n

"Maybe because you're still not over it. Don't worry. It might happen soon-

"

n

"Are you making fun of me?

"

n

"I'm saying my opinion.

"

nNot wanting to stretch out the topic about Damien's cute little threat to the point they might touch the subject about her past, Cassidy decided to distract Adrian away from it.

nBy this point, she already knows that the best way to talk her husband out of things is to annoy him. He's a short-tempered and prideful man, and he could be immature at times, considering that he's even this bothered by what his nephew said.

n

"Were you really that bothered by what Damien told you? You do know that kids can say everything they want these days, right...?

" Cassidy continued with an amused smile, feigning innocence.

n

"Besides, will it not be better if I'm not in your sight?

"

n

"Are you dense or something? If it's better, then I would've done that a long time ago,

" Adrian muttered firmly, sounding a bit vexed.

nAt that moment, she had to admit that it's a wrong choice of words on her part.

nOf course, she's not dense. Even then, she felt the need to confirm it. Five years of pining did get her out of nowhere, so seeing him act like this right now was still a little hard to take in - no matter how much he kept displaying his intention to keep her with him, that is.

nAt this point, it still feels like he can change his mind in any second.

n

"Anyway, don't drop the subject. I was certain that you saw me as an adult who's still not past his puberty right there,

" Adrian brought up again, still offended by how she poked fun on him.

n

"The fact that you're arguing with me about not being past puberty is proof that you're still not past it indeed,

" Cassidy teased, annoying him even more.

n

"Are you saying that I appear like some kid to you?

"

n

"Yeah, you are. Really, really childish even.

"

n

"Says you, Cassidy.

"

n

"Oh no, I'm not~ I'm the one they call young at heart. There's a big difference, bossman-

"

nThat's when he suddenly scoots closer to her, taking her aback and making her cut herself off.

nHe then puts his arm over the back of her seat while he inches his face close to hers. With such a small gap, they can feel each other's warm breath. They're so close that it sends shivers down her spine.

nWith that, their proximity gets her body stiffening and her eyes widening in nonplus. At that very second as well, she starts sensing danger from him -

nAn annoying kind of danger, that is.

n

"What do you think you're doing?

" Cassidy deadpanned, a bit rubbed off.

n

"What's wrong with it? Your nephews can embrace you all they want,

" Adrian retorted, not backing away.

n

"That's because they're cute and adorable, okay? Obviously, you're not-

"

n

"Then, perhaps, it will be better if I appear like a kid to you after all.

"

n

"Huh?

"

n

"That way, I can also hug you like they do.

"

nShe really doesn't know what to do with him anymore.

nIt's probably a wrong choice of words to tease him about puberty as well. Sometimes, he just can't take a joke. It even gets him acting more childish like this.

n'Well, this is indeed kinda childish of him, but...' Cassidy thought as she scanned his expression.

n'How he looks isn't that of a kid at all. So not cute and adorable.'

nIt just turns out that instead of a kid, Adrian is unknowingly flexing how much of a grown-up he is.

nHis handsome frame that is chiseled to perfection is dazzling her at that moment. Even though they've been living under the same roof, she's still not used to it at all. This insanely good-looking man is just too out of this world - too bad for her heart or for anyone else's for that matter.

nWith how much of a spellbinding hottie he is, he can't possibly look like a kid no matter what he does.

n

"Don't. Come. Near. Me...!

" Cassidy bolted out, shoving his face away with one hand.

n

"What did I tell you about personal spaces-

"

nBut then, Adrian did something that made her pause once again.

nHe snatched her hand on his face and held it out of nowhere. All the while, he keeps looking back at her with a frown and a pair of glinting, half-lidded eyes. With such a serious expression on, he is looking more and more dangerous in her eyes - still annoyingly dangerous, though.

nThat's until Adrian pulls her hand up for a bit and kisses her wrist out of nowhere.

nCassidy shudders in surprise the moment his soft, warm lips make contact with her skin. She was too frozen to retaliate as more shivers ran down her spine. With that, she could only watch as he went up and kissed her palm this time.

nWhile he does this, he is staring straight at her with such a seductive gaze as if trying to gauge out a particular reaction from her. As much as she wants to think that she's only imagining it, he looks really eager to devour her.

nAs if kissing her wrist and palm isn't enough, he goes ahead and starts nibbling her finger with his lips. He starts it slow and soft yet somewhat erotic, though he looks so into it that it will probably be a matter of time before he begins licking it.

nCassidy only freezes even though she's already frozen on her seat.

n

"Yeah, this is better indeed...

" Adrian started again, voice so tantalizingly smoky.

n

"Kids can do whatever they want. Perhaps, you'll let me do more things like this if I act like one.

"

n

"You're spouting out nonsense again, I see...

" Cassidy muttered with a miffed tone and a pair of furrowed brows, now shaking in vex.

n

"Okay, I admit! You're way past puberty! You can't be a kid at all! So, stop acting like one and get away from me!

"

n

"I'm still getting started, though-

"

n

"I don't freaking care!

"

nWhile he whines indignantly, she hastily pulls her hand away and forces it out of his grip.

nHe's mistaken if he thinks she'll just let him do whatever he wants. It's already bad for her heart to see his stunning, jaw-dropping frame so close, much more if he does something as sexy as licking her fingers.

nShe feels like she's going to have a heart attack if that happens.

n'What's he trying to do exactly...?! Murder me?!' she exclaimed in her head while she caressed her sexually assaulted finger.

nCassidy isn't saying this because she's turned on. Adrian is not even her type. It's just that it's a normal reaction for every woman to be this frantic around an extraordinarily handsome man.

n'This is my first time getting nibbled on, though. My finger nearly lost its virginity,' Cassidy then grimaced.

n