The moment her soft lips touched his,
Curtis felt a jolt run down his spine, and his ears turned an abnormal shade of red.
The wetness of her lips, the gentle bite of her teeth, ignited the fire within him, burning through every nerve like a raging inferno!
"Glug-glug!"
Water splashed again in the hot spring pool.
Desire awakened, reason collapsed.
Dakota had intended to sneak away after a successful kiss, but unexpectedly, her shoulder was suddenly gripped.
Curtis pressed her against the alternating cold and hot stones, his clearly defined knuckles gripping her neck, scraping her skin as he brought her closer, holding her—
His dark, long eyes were like those of a predator watching its prey,
then he lowered his head and kissed her lips!
"Mmph!"
Dakota's unsteady breath was suddenly taken away.
She instinctively struggled and made a muffled sound, which gave Curtis the chance to pry open her teeth.
Her gathered hair suddenly fell like a waterfall, wetting in the hot spring water, clinging to her cheeks, neck, and falling onto her white, fragrant shoulders.
Both of them, soaked through, were in the water.
Water droplets rolled down the contours of Curtis's eyebrows and eyes, sliding down his high nose, and because his nose nudged Dakota's cheek, they fell between their lips.
Curtis paused for a second.
He slowly opened his eyes, meeting Dakota's eyes, which were tinted pink from either intoxication or arousal.
He slightly parted his lips, brushing against hers with a gentle breath, as if giving both of them a chance to breathe, then uncontrollably bent his neck to kiss her again!
Dakota felt her legs turn weak from the kisses.
The rapid breathing made the alcohol rush to her head even more, making her completely lose consciousness as if drowning.
Her back pressed against the slightly cool stones, her body enveloped by the warm water, and the heat of Curtis's body and kisses, along with the possessiveness filled with hormones, were all she felt.
The kisses grew more intense and uncontrollable. Dakota reached out, scratching Curtis's back, leaving marks on his firm, sexy muscles—a reminder of their wild, drunken night.
He's such a good kisser... That was the only thought left in her mind.
His kisses were wild and unrestrained, like those of a fierce beast.
But he didn't go any further, retaining a sliver of reason and restraint.
Her brain was deprived of oxygen, the experience dizzying.
Just as Lailah had said, "On a beautiful night, slightly tipsy, you should seek out an encounter," Dakota unexpectedly stumbled upon this thrilling and addictive sensation tonight.
"Whoa –"
Another splash echoed.
Curtis lifted Dakota with one arm around her waist, and she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.
The black, sexy swimsuit contrasted sharply with the man's pale, yet highly sexualized abs in the night, creating a striking visual impact.
"Are you coming with me?"
With one hand supporting her thigh, Curtis tilted his chin to look at her, his dark, smoldering eyes framed by thick, wet lashes, both alluring and wicked.
Dakota lowered her eyes to look at him,
her gaze sweeping unconsciously over his abs and the prominent Adam's apple that moved when he spoke.
She nodded.
Curtis's fingers tightened around her thigh, and he lifted her out of the water effortlessly.
His strength was indeed impressive.
With one hand, he easily lifted Dakota, even bending down to retrieve a towel to wrap around her, both tenderly and possessively.
It was no wonder that although Dakota wasn't interested in men, she was captivated by Curtis's physique and strength.
She looked at Curtis, her eyes tinged with peach.
Her eyelashes, still damp from the water, looked like a misty veil, innocent and hazy, like a little rabbit lured by a wolf and willingly falling into this trap.
She let him drape the towel around her and carry her to the front desk to get a room card, leaving her good friend Lailah behind, following him to his room.
The next morning, Lailah woke up to a damp and warm sensation.
She opened her eyes and sat up, finding herself covered with a black windbreaker, her still-damp swimsuit making the sheets beneath her sticky and uncomfortable.
There were no signs of anyone else having lain beside her.
The man from last night had dropped her back in the room and left, whether he was a gentleman or indifferent, the jacket was only left because Lailah had clung to it.
After sobering up, Lailah felt a bit regretful.
She never thought she'd end up learning from Dakota how to be mischievous when drunk.
"Ahhh!!!"
Lailah angrily kicked the windbreaker twice, but recalling all the scenes from last night, she still felt that man was really her type and so handsome…
His firm jaw, deep and dark eyes, and the strength in his muscles that kept her at a distance.
It was a real pity.
If only she had slept with him last night.
But that man was like a block of ice, seemingly impossible to seduce. Even after everything, he remained indifferent, looking at her and saying, "Miss, maybe you should calm down."
Lailah rummaged through the windbreaker.
The pockets were empty.
There was no information left about him.
It seemed that after the drunken encounter last night, only one-sided memories were left, bringing the story to an abrupt end.
Lailah put the windbreaker aside.
She rubbed her hair, got out of bed, and in slippers went to the other bedroom in the suite, calling, "Dakota—"
But when Lailah pushed open the door to the other bedroom,
she found the bed neatly made, empty, with no signs of anyone sleeping there.
Lailah, who was still groggy, instantly woke up.
Remembering that Dakota had also had a lot to drink last night, she nearly panicked on the spot, "Dakota? Dakota!"
Lailah raced through the suite at lightning speed.
There was no one on the living room sofa, not in the bathroom, and Dakota's suitcase hadn't even been opened!
"Oh no, oh no…"
Lailah grabbed her hair, feeling lost and unsure of what to do.
Dakota loved to be mischievous when drunk. Did she also go looking for an encounter last night and get taken away by some unscrupulous man?
Lailah panicked instantly.
She couldn't even bother with her own discomfort, quickly grabbing a jacket and putting it on, then grabbing her phone and running out in a hurry.
It just happened that she ran into Noe right when she opened the door.
His allergic reaction hadn't subsided, and he looked like he had just bought medicine early in the morning. Seeing Lailah, he lifted his swollen eyes, "Huh? Little Lailah?"
Noe looked at her in confusion, "Why are you out like this? Did you go soak in the hot springs again this morning?"
"No."
Lailah didn't have time to explain much, "Have you seen Dakota? She's gone, she didn't come back to the room last night! I'm worried something happened to her after she got drunk!"
"Calm down, don't panic."
Noe, usually laid-back, became serious upon hearing Dakota was missing, "Maybe she went for breakfast? Try calling her."
"I tried, no one answered."
Lailah gripped her phone tightly, "Her suitcase hasn't been opened. If she came back last night and left again, it's impossible that she didn't open her suitcase!"
Only then did Noe realize the seriousness of the situation.
Dakota probably really hadn't returned.
Jasiah heard their voices from inside the room and came out, "What's going on?"
Lailah immediately repeated the situation to him.
"Calm down." Jasiah was unusually serious, "Let's split up. Noe, search around Whispering Pines Retreat once more. Lailah, go to the front desk and ask if they saw Dakota last night or if she checked into a new room."
"Okay."
Noe and Lailah immediately set out according to the plan.
Jasiah was going to check the surveillance footage, but then he remembered that he had booked the entire Whispering Pines Retreat last night, meaning there shouldn't be any outsiders besides them and the staff.
For Dakota to suddenly disappear, the chances of her being taken by someone else were slim.
Unless...
Curtis?!
