Love Under Agreement

CHAPTER 4

“THE FIRST KISS”

As Soren's lips hovered just inches from hers, a rush of conflicting emotions surged through her. The warmth of his body against hers was intoxicating, yet a part of her hesitated. "What are we doing, Soren?" she asked, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. His eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was something deeper lurking beneath the surface—an intensity that both thrilled and terrified her.

"Just enjoying the moment," he replied, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. But there was an edge to his voice, a hint of desperation that she couldn't ignore. She had always been drawn to his charm, yet now, she felt a weight in the air, an unspoken question hanging between them.

“Last night was… a mistake,” she confessed, her heart racing. The memory of Soren seeing her naked flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. “I don’t want to rush into anything that you might regret later. Josie knew she wouldn’t regret it, but Soren might when he sobered up the next day.”

Soren's expression softened. "I understand that, but I can't help how I feel right now," he said, still gripping her hand as the tension hung in the air like a palpable force.

She looked away, trying to gather her thoughts. The truth was that she had begun to yearn for affection from Soren, but she wondered if she was ready to explore those feelings. The fear of ruining the fragile relationship she had with him loomed large in her mind.

"I can't wait anymore," Soren said desperately, brushing his firm lips against Josie's soft, delicate ones. This time, Josie didn't try to pull away; she surrendered to the kiss, enjoying every moment of it.

Soren continued deeper and harder without pausing. He pushed her down on the bed and lay on top of her. They continued the kiss so passionately, and Josie felt numb, still enjoying it.

Soren began unbuttoning his shirt, still kissing Josie. “I want to taste every part of you today,” Soren said, his desperation evident.

“No, you can't,” Josie said, suddenly breaking free from her numbness. She wasn't ready for that, even though the kiss ignited a fire within her. “This is all wrong,” she said, rushing out of his room. Josie needed to stay focused on her goal and not risk anything.

Where is my wife?” Soren demanded, glaring at one of the servants at the breakfast table. Only his driver knew about his contract marriage with Josie, and he intended to keep it that way.

“She is still in her room, sir,” the servant replied, bowing his head. “Get her to come down quickly for breakfast,” Soren instructed, as he began to eat his meal.

“What took you so long to come down for breakfast?” Soren questioned Josie sharply when she finally joined him at the table.

“I was getting dressed,” Josie responded, trying to hide her anxiety. She felt on edge, worried that Soren might recall what had happened the night before. She urgently hoped he wouldn’t remember.

“I’m heading to the office now,” Soren stated decisively, wiping his mouth and rising from the table. As he made no mention of the previous night, Josie's anxiety began to subside. “Maybe he hasn’t remembered,” she thought with a hint of relief.

Josie waited for Soren to return from the office that evening. She needed to discuss an urgent matter with him after dinner.

Who is it?” Soren asked when he heard a knock on the door of his study.

“It’s me,” Josie replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You may come in,” Soren said, still focused on his work.

“I wanted to ask you a question,” Josie said as she entered, feeling anxious about bringing it up.

Just say what you need to say. I don’t have a lot of time,” Soren stated firmly, barely looking at Josie.

Feeling a surge of determination, Josie pushed through her nerves. She couldn’t wait any longer to get clarity.

“I accepted the contract, and I need to know if my father is alright,” she said, her tone steady despite the weight of her question.

“I always uphold my end of the deal, young lady,” Soren replied, his words circling her concern without addressing it directly.

“Can I visit my father next week?” she pressed, her anxiety fully visible now.

“No, you can't," Soren retorted sharply, irritation evident in his voice. "You cannot go to see him next week," he added, his patience wearing thin.

Josie stepped back, her heart racing as she sensed the shift in Soren's demeanor. The air in the study felt charged with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

She appreciated Soren's help, but she refused to ignore the widening gap between them. "I need to see him," she stated firmly, her voice steady. "I have to know he's okay."

Soren's irritation flared as he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “I fulfilled my promise of taking care of your father, and we are barely a month into the contract. Now you want to see him?”

“That’s not how my agreements operate,” Soren replied, his tone already bordering on vexed.

Josie knew persuading a man like Soren wouldn’t be easy, but she was resolute in her determination to see her beloved father again.

“Why can’t I see him?” Josie pressed, unwilling to back down from his earlier refusal.

Soren felt his irritation spike as Josie fired questions at him about her sick father. "You said you'd take care of him! Why can’t I just see him?" she demanded, her voice tense.

Just as he was about to respond, a loud knock echoed from the back door, freezing them both in place. “Who could that be, and what do they want?” Soren thought, the tension thickening in the air.