The Consortium's Heir

The Man Who Licked My Lips

Zoe’s lips pressed into a thin line as an unexpected wave of irritation hit her. Of all people, why did she have to cross paths again with the man who once stole a kiss from her lips?

Maybe it was true—this world really was small, especially for those fated to meet again.

But what did that even mean? That they were meant to see each other again? That’s it?

“Really? Did I lick your lips?” Ciel asked, his mouth twitching as if suppressing a smirk.

This man was getting on her last nerve! It was obvious he didn’t know the value of something as simple as a kiss with a stranger. But to her, it mattered—it was her first kiss, for heaven’s sake!

“Y-yes! I still remember that night! You stole my first kiss!” she almost screamed these words out loud. Good thing she held back.

Right after her outburst, her face burned as his low, amused laughter filled the air.

Her fists clenched tightly as that ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. Even if that night had been dark, she could never forget the face of the handsome man before her—the man who stole her first kiss.

One of his thick brows lifted slightly, clearly amused by her reaction.

“How did it feel, then?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You have no right to do that to me!”

Her irritation boiled over as she glared at him.

“Is that how you look at your boss? Like you’re about to shove me into the swimming pool?”

She inhaled deeply again and again, trying to calm herself. Yes, she was annoyed—but seeing him again brought an inexplicable warmth to her chest. Why was she feeling this way?

“S-sorry.”

He was still her boss, after all—the man who’d be paying her salary. She had to act professionally and forget personal grudges. Work first, emotions later.

“Now, take me to my room.”

His order made her blink, but she eventually walked behind his wheelchair and gently pushed it forward.

As soon as they entered the mansion, two housemaids came to meet them, each carrying a tray of food.

“Boss, it’s time for your meal,” one said.

“I don’t want to eat!”

“What do you mean, you don’t want to?” Her brows furrowed as she looked down at Ciel. His sharp eyes met hers defiantly. She didn’t back down.

“You’re eating,” she said firmly, turning to the two housemaids who were clearly nervous around their moody employer.

“He’ll eat in his room. Please bring his food there.”

Courage welled inside her—after all, this man owed her an apology for that stolen kiss.

“I said I’m not eating!”

“Where’s your room?” she asked instead, ignoring his childish tantrum.

“Turn right!” he barked. She obeyed. At the end of the hallway stood an elevator, clearly custom-built.

“Second floor.”

They entered, and she pressed the button. When the doors opened, they stepped out into a wide hallway with only three doors, each labeled with a name.

“Ciel, right?” she asked.

“You should know your boss’s name! Don’t ask stupid questions!”

“Yes, Boss Ciel,” she replied calmly, despite his tone.

She turned the knob and slowly opened the door. The room was dark, lights off, windows shut tight behind thick curtains.

She switched the lights on—and couldn’t help being amazed. His room was wide and masculine, the dark and light blue tones on the walls making it look like the ocean. The air carried his scent—clean, warm, and distinctly male. She caught herself liking it.

“Where do you want to sit?” she asked. There was a couch, a sofa, and a large flat-screen TV.

“I want to rest.”

She went to his bedside table to check his medical chart, scanning the notes on his medicine and meal schedule.

“I’m sorry, but you have to take your medicine at 9:30 a.m. So you need to eat first.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “It’s already nine, and you haven’t eaten?” She clicked her tongue.

“I want to rest my back on my bed,” he said seriously.

She studied him for a moment, wondering if he was truly in pain or just avoiding food.

“My shoulder is f*****g hurt!” he snapped, making her jump before quickly pushing the wheelchair toward the bed.

Zoe carefully helped him up. His heavy arm draped over her shoulder, his fingers brushing the top of her chest. Electricity shot through her veins.

Her arms went around his waist to steady him, bringing their bodies close—too close. She could feel his firm chest against her breasts, his body heat seeping into her. Damn. What was happening to her?

Slowly, he sat down on the edge of the bed, but their bodies stayed magnetized. Her hand rested on his chest while the other supported his back.

“Is there anywhere else that hurts?”

Her voice softened without her meaning to. Maybe it was concern… or something else entirely.

“My back hurts too.”

“I’ll check it later. For now, just rest.”

She gently helped him lie down. Her breath hitched when his hand slid around her waist, squeezing lightly as if seeking balance.

She fought the tingling heat spreading through her and focused on settling him down without causing pain.

“Ouch…” Ciel suddenly groaned, gripping her small waist.

“W-what?” she asked, alarmed.

“Your hand touched my wound…”

She quickly withdrew her hand. A glance made her realize how close they were—her hand on his chest, her body almost on top of his. She could barely breathe.

“Sorry…”

She shifted back once his head was resting properly on the pillow. Then she lifted his bandaged leg gently onto the bed.

“Turn off the lights,” he ordered.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “You’re eating first.”

A knock came at the door. Must be the food.

She opened it and was right—the two maids came in with trays of appetizing dishes before leaving again.

Zoe turned back to Ciel, who seemed lost in thought. He was the kind of handsome that could intimidate anyone—cold, unreadable, the sort of man you couldn’t easily admit you liked for fear of being mocked. But who knew? Appearances could deceive.

“I said I don’t want to eat.”

She held the spoon toward him even as he turned his face away.

“Please? Just three bites.”

“No!”

How could she tame this man? She’d age early from the stress at this rate.

Her hand landed gently on his chin, turning his face back toward her. His stubble tickled her palm.

“Please?” she pleaded softly, meeting his gaze. “Eat up.”

Reluctantly, he opened his mouth and took a bite. She smiled secretly—she felt like she was feeding a baby. Her baby. Oh, God. What was she thinking?

“Enough,” he said after the fourth spoonful.

“Just one more,” she said, offering another bite.

Ciel looked at her, clearly done. His stare deepened, pulling the air from her lungs. She bit her lower lip nervously.

“Stop,” he said, his voice like thunder.

She bit her lip harder at his tone, trying not to flinch. She had to get used to his temper if she wanted to keep this job.

“You didn’t eat enough.You have three pills to take,” she whispered, looking down, avoiding his eyes.

“Stop biting your lips in front of me… or I’ll lick them again.”

Her eyes widened, and she instantly froze. The memory of that first kiss flashed in her mind. Her heart pounded in panic—and something else. Excitement. Oh no. She was really in trouble with this man.

Zoe quickly stood and got his medicine. Ciel didn’t argue; he took them right away.

“You’ll take your next dose at 3:30 p.m. I’ll come back then. I just need to unpack my things.”

Ciel said nothing.

“That’s… okay with you, right?”

“Come back here right after you’re done,” he replied flatly.

“S-sure.”

She left his room quietly and headed to the living room, where a maid was dusting picture frames.

“Uhm…” she called to get her attention.

“Oh, Miss Zoe. Do you need something?”

Her eyes wandered to the photos the maid was cleaning, and the woman noticed.

“The Kerrigan brothers are all handsome, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they are. Even if they don’t smile in the photos,” Zoe said. Ciel looked serious—and so did the other two men.

“They’re only serious in pictures. The Kerrigans are good people.”

“I’m not so sure about that. Ciel—I mean, boss Ciel—isn’t exactly cheerful.”

“He only became like that after the accident. And after…”

“Esmeralda!”

The conversation was cut short by a stern voice. Both turned. It was the housekeeper—the same one who accompanied Zoe earlier.

“Save the gossip for later. Finish your work first.”

Esmeralda nodded and continued cleaning. Zoe gave the housekeeper a small smile.

“Where are my things, by the way?”

“Come, I’ll show you your room,” the woman said, leading her down the same hallway they’d passed before. She opened a door near the elevator. “Your things are already here, Miss Zoe.”

“Thank you.”

“The phone in your room connects only to boss Ciel’s. He’ll call you if he needs you.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll have your meal sent up here. I’ll leave you to settle in.”

Once the housekeeper left, Zoe closed the door and smiled. The room was bright and fresh, recently renovated with light blue walls—just like Ciel’s. She loved it. It even reminded her of his ocean-colored room.

Her eyes drifted to the phone on the bedside table. She wondered if he was resting by now.

After unpacking her clothes into the cabinet, a maid arrived with her lunch.

“Thank you, Esmeralda. You really don’t have to bring me food here,” Zoe said as she took the tray.

“Orders from the boss,” the woman replied simply.

“Which boss?” Zoe asked curiously.

“Boss Ciel.”

“I see. Thank you again.”

Maybe all of Ciel’s nurses had their meals this way. Still, it was lonely eating alone. She decided she’d talk to Ciel about eating with the staff instead—it’d be better than solitude.

Before that, she stopped by the kitchen to get Ciel’s lunch, volunteering to deliver it herself. Esmeralda was there, arranging the food on a tray.

“That’s for boss Ciel, right?”

“Yes, Miss Zoe.”

“I’ll take it to his room. I also need to give him his next medicine.”

Esmeralda studied her for a moment before smiling. “Go ahead. Looks like he’s not too harsh with you.”

“If only you knew,” Zoe chuckled softly. “But I’ll do my best to help him recover.”

Esmeralda’s smile faded into something wistful. “The doctor said boss Ciel might have trouble walking again. We all understand his moods, even when he screams. This family has done so much for us.”

“Trouble walking again? But he seemed to move his leg fine earlier,” Zoe said, puzzled.

“That’s what we were told,” Esmeralda replied.

“I’ll check his medical file again. I’m sure he’ll walk again,” Zoe said confidently.

“I hope so. And maybe, when that day comes, he’ll find someone who truly—”

“Z, go to my room. Now.”

That low, commanding voice echoed suddenly through the kitchen speakers.

“That’s boss Ciel! He needs you,” Esmeralda said quickly, arranging the tray.

“My name’s not Z,” Zoe muttered.

“Maybe he shortened it because Zoe’s too long,” the maid teased.

“After one minute, and if you’re not here—you’re fired.”

Zoe’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest at the threat. She rushed toward the elevator, tray in hand. No way she’d get fired on her first day!

“Are you in pain?” she asked as soon as she entered his room.

Ciel was typing on his laptop, the device perched on a movable table.

“I want to eat,” he said without looking at her.

She nodded and set the tray on the rolling table beside his bed.

“Finish all of this, boss Ciel.”

“Cut the ‘boss.’”

“You didn’t eat much earlier, s-sir.”

“Just Ciel.”

“O-okay, C-Ciel. Eat a lot—”

“Feed me.”

Her eyes widened. She had fed him earlier, but hearing him say it like that made her heart skip.

“Ahm…”

“You see, I’m busy with my laptop.”

“O-okay…”

She sat beside the bed, their legs almost touching. He didn’t seem to mind. She lifted a spoonful toward him.

“Ah.”

Ciel opened his mouth without glancing away from his screen.

She shouldn’t feel flustered—it was a normal nursing duty—but her pulse disagreed.

After a few bites, she decided to bring up her earlier thought.

“Ciel?”

“Yes?”

“Can I eat with your staff instead? It’s kind of lonely eating alone.”

“Now you know how I feel eating alone,” he said flatly.

Only then did she realize—he always ate by himself. Maybe his family didn’t join him anymore.

“If you want, we can go downstairs to eat next time.”

“No. We’ll just eat here together from now on.”

“But—”

“Just do what I said and stop complaining, Z.”

He gave her a look—the kind that told her to obey, not because he was her boss…

…but because he was Ciel Kerrigan, a man who didn’t take no for an answer.