Dakota started to regret the decision she just made.
Especially when she entered Curtis's room and realized there was only one bed.
Dakota: "..."
She clenched the item given by her aunt and, in a fit of anger, threw it into the trash bin.
Curtis hadn't known about this at all.
He looked at the trajectory of the thrown object, his gaze lingering on the bin for two seconds, then turned to Dakota with a complex expression, "Mrs. Pineda."
"I didn't expect you to have such thoughts about me? Did you even prepare the tools for the act?"
Dakota's cheeks were still flushed.
She turned her head irritably towards Curtis, "Keep dreaming. How would I prepare something like this? It was your aunt who gave it to me."
"So you accepted it?"
"Should I announce to your relatives that we're just pretending and not actually a real couple?"
Curtis stuffed his hands into his pockets lazily, "So, this is also the reason why you agreed to stay here with my mom tonight?"
Dakota's face reddened even more.
She choked for a long moment before coming up with an excuse, "Isn't it still your fault?"
"What am I to blame for?"
"How was I supposed to know there's only one bed in your room?"
"...How is this my fault?"
"I don't care."
Dakota bent down and grabbed a pillow, then pushed the other one aside, "Anyway, you're sleeping on the floor."
Curtis looked down at the pillow on the floor, picked it up and threw it back on the bed, "Kota."
"Staying here was your choice, giving you half the bed is already my biggest compromise."
Dakota was nearly in tears, clutching the pillow.
She pouted, "But I couldn't bear to refuse your mom. She's so gentle and enthusiastic, she'd be so sad if I said I didn't want to stay."
Curtis hadn't thought that.
His wife actually had quite a loving maternal bond.
Curtis rubbed his nose, "But there are no extra mattresses in the room, so we can't make a floor bed."
But he also couldn't stand seeing Dakota's eyes turn red from being upset.
After a long silence, he looked up at her again and softly coaxed, "For one night?"
Dakota, blushing, turned her head away from him.
Curtis leaned lazily against the wall behind him, "After all, it's not the first time we've slept together."
Dakota's expression turned incredulous.
She suddenly widened her eyes and glared at him, "Last time it was an accident after drinking! An accident! Can that be the same?"
"So should you have a drink tonight?"
"..."
Dakota irritably threw the pillow back on the bed.
Then she crawled over, propped up her foot, and drew a meaningless boundary line at the 70-30 split, "This is your side, this is mine, no crossing the line!"
Curtis glanced at it nonchalantly.
It was 70% hers and 30% his.
Fortunately, the bed was large enough that the area Dakota allocated for him wasn't likely to make him fall off.
"Alright." Curtis didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
He walked to the closet, took out a set of clean pajamas, but then paused and turned to Dakota, "Who's showering first?"
Dakota chose without hesitation to go first.
Compared to Curtis lying in bed after showering, while she would have to climb in wearing pajamas, she preferred to shower first to claim her spot.
She rushed into the closet to find her pajamas.
Thankfully, Reagan, her mother-in-law, respected her and didn't pick sexy pajamas to enhance their intimacy.
While rummaging through the closet, Dakota did come across black lace-trimmed camisoles and sexy lingerie, but she also found plenty of conservative options.
In the end, Dakota chose a set of long-sleeved pajamas and some not-so-sexy but rather cute underwear.
Curtis sat on a single sofa.
He lounged with his long legs stretched out, looking at his phone, and caught a glimpse of Dakota scurrying into the bathroom with her things, like a little mouse.
He let out an ambiguous smirk.
Soon, the sound of water running in the bathroom could be heard.
……
Dakota took her sweet time in the shower.
Whether it was because she was being meticulous or because she didn't want to face the prospect of sharing a bed, she finally emerged when Curtis was almost asleep.
Steam billowed out as the bathroom door opened.
Curtis hadn't even lifted his eyes yet.
A whiff of the fragrant shower gel, hidden in the steam, suddenly drifted into his nostrils.
Curtis lifted his head nonchalantly.
And there stood Dakota, clad in a pink-white silk nightgown, her wet hair hanging loose.
She stood barefoot on the cashmere rug, her delicate toes curling into the carpet, "Um... Curtis, where's the hair dryer in your bedroom?"
Curtis was slightly taken aback.
He uncrossed his legs, stood up, and walked towards the bathroom. Dakota watched him open the cabinet behind the bathroom mirror and retrieve the hair dryer. He uncrossed his legs, stood up, and walked towards the bathroom. Dakota watched him open the cabinet behind the bathroom mirror and retrieve the hair dryer.
"Thanks." Dakota took it quickly.
She hurried back into the bathroom with the hair dryer, leaving Curtis outside.
"Hmph."
Curtis glanced at her retreating figure indifferently, then went to fetch his own clothes.
Dakota came out soon after, her hair dried.
She didn't look at Curtis once, jumping onto the bed like a cat, pulling the covers over herself, and turning her back to him as if sleeping.
Curtis walked into the bathroom without a second glance.
But Dakota clutched the blanket tightly, unsure how to handle what was to come.
Ugh...
I should have been more stubborn and refused in the first place!
Although she and Curtis were already married and didn't plan on divorcing, as adults, they would eventually fulfill their marital duties.
But the problem was...
She is not ready yet!
Dakota closed her eyes in frustration, trying to fall asleep quickly, hoping it wouldn't be so awkward if Curtis climbed into bed after she was asleep.
But the harder she tried to sleep, the more awake she became.
Until she heard the crisp click of the bathroom door opening, Curtis stepping out.
Dakota's scalp tightened instantly.
She clutched the blanket tighter, closing her eyes to pretend she was already asleep.
Soon, she felt the bed dip as Curtis got in, followed by the scent of his woodsy aftershave, clean and refreshing.
Dakota held her breath, barely daring to breathe.
Curtis, after getting into bed, glanced at Dakota whose half-head was peeking out, then reached over to turn off the light and pulled the blanket over himself, lying down next to her.
Dakota's closed eyes trembled even her lashes.
She thought that was the end of it, that they would just need to keep quiet and still, making it through the night.
But then, unexpectedly, Curtis turned to look at her and asked softly, "Are you asleep?"
