Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 91

At that moment, Julie's mind was in a chaotic whirl. She clutched the gift bag in her hand, her eyes wide open, seemingly unfocused. Their close proximity seemed to suck the breath right out of her, and Julie suddenly felt a bit light-headed.

He deliberately nipped her red lips. Julie opened her mouth in pain, but he took the opportunity to kiss her.

His lips gently swept over her, Julie instinctively closed her eyes, shyly responding.

The next thing she knew, she was being hoisted up and found herself lying on a soft bed.

It was only when his passionate hands lifted her skirt that Julie realized the unusual warmth of his body.

“Kieran.” She pushed against his chest, finally finding her voice again.

His eyes were hazy, deep, and bottomless, like an endless universe. Julie swallowed hard and handed him the gift, saying shyly, “This is your birthday present.”

“Joyce.” Only he knew how much restraint it took to control himself. He looked at her with affectionate eyes, gently calling her name.

This was the first time Julie had heard ‘Joyce’ from Kieran's mouth. It was such an ordinary name, but it felt as precious as gold.

She innocently helped him open the gift box. Inside was a dark green, exquisite tie. Julie's face turned red from shyness, and Kieran's face also blushed slightly.

She held the box in one hand, and the other hand was pressed against his chest. It was only when her hand touched his firm chest that Julie noticed his unusually high body temperature.

"Are you running a fever?" Julie asked innocently.

Perhaps it was her innocent gaze that brought Kieran back to his senses. He suddenly stood up, moving away from her, trying hard to control himself, shouting at Julie, “Get out!”

How could he suddenly become so cold when they were just so intimate?

You see, it took Julie seven years of hard work to climb into Kieran's bed. She wouldn’t leave that easily. She held the gift box tightly and shook her head firmly. "I'm not leaving, Bro Kieran. You just kissed me, and now you want me to leave, isn't that playing dirty?"

Unexpectedly, this innocent woman wanted to argue with him. Before Kieran could say anything, she lunged at him, wrapped the tie around his neck, and said innocently, “I thought you'd look good with this tie the moment I saw it. I've learnt many ways to tie a tie.”

Julie intended to try out her newly learnt skills on Kieran, but as soon as she put the tie on his neck, he grabbed her hand tightly. "Get out!"

"Today is your birthday. Where can I go if I'm not by your side? I'll tell you, the tie is just an extra. I actually wanted to give you cuff links."

Kieran pulled Julie up from the bed; his eyes were red and bloodshot, and he hoarsely told her to get out.

Julie's wrist hurt from his grip. She was pushed off the bed by Kieran and held her wrist in pain. She twisted it a bit and finally realized something was wrong with Kieran. "Bro Kieran."

Thanks to Daphne's constant goading, Julie finally understood Kieran's situation. She wouldn’t tell Kieran that she'd been plotting to get him in bed since she was eighteen, so she knew all about the effects of being drugged. She just hadn't had the chance to put it into practice.

At that moment, she finally realized what was happening. She looked down at the place where Kieran's towel was wrapped, swallowed hard, and said, "Bro Kieran, were you set up? I actually..."

"Joyce, I gave you the chance to reject me." At that moment, all of Kieran's restraint exploded. His emotions took over his rationality. Julie stood there looking silly, wanting to tell him she had waited for this day for a long time, but before she could say those touching words, Kieran had already pulled her to the side of the bed and pushed her down.

Knowing what was about to happen, Julie was stiff as a board, feeling the hot air she exhaled. He guided her hand and gently placed it on his waist, wrapped in a towel. His burning skin touched her tense, trembling skin.

His deep and shallow kisses fell on her forehead, nose, lips, neck, collarbone, and down.

Julie only felt her breath quicken, as if someone had sucked the air out of her. He kept coaxing her, softly calling her Joyce. He made her mind full of his name in the gentlest way.

The last thing she remembered was him using that dark green tie to bind her hands and tie her to the head of the bed, and the marks he left on her.

Karl pushed open the door, deciding to get the ball rolling. "Mr. Hernandez, the secretary to the CEO of Ray Group, called. Mr. Sanches wants to have dinner with you tonight."

The CEO of Ray Group, Elliot? Kieran was leaning back in his chair, holding a jet-black pen, giving Karl a thoughtful look. Just one glance was enough to send a chill up Karl's spine. After years with Mr. Hernandez, he knew that look meant Mr. Hernandez was mulling over how to handle him.

Karl knew Kieran well enough because his next words were, "Don't think changing the subject will make me forget what just happened."

Karl knew Mr. Hernandez wouldn't let him off the hook that easily. He straightened up. "Mr. Hernandez, I swear I meant no disrespect."

"Find a good excuse for Mrs. Hernandez to join me for dinner with Elliot tonight, and we're square," Kieran cut off Karl's apology.

Karl thought for a second. Mr. Hernandez wanted him to come up with a reason for Mrs. Hernandez to agree to join him for dinner? That was like asking him to pluck stars from the sky!

As Karl was racking his brains, Kieran's voice came, cool as a cucumber, "What? Can't do it?"

Could he say he couldn't? Could he? He couldn't!

Karl immediately shook his head. "I'll contact her right away."

"Go on, ask her to bring me a cup of that hundred-dollar instant coffee," Kieran said offhandedly.

Karl didn't have a clue what a hundred-dollar instant coffee was, but he faithfully relayed Mr. Hernandez's request.

Even though Julie was still in a huff, the coffee was worth a hundred bucks after all, so she headed for the pantry.

Karl didn't make himself scarce after delivering the message and instead joined Julie in the pantry.