Dakota had finished her bowl of noodles long ago.
She put down her chopsticks.
She took a leisurely bite of watermelon, glancing at Curtis, then a bite of mango, glancing at him again.
Curtis picked up a noodle with his chopsticks, twirling it aimlessly, then dropping it back into the bowl, and picking up another one.
He tapped the table with his other hand.
Suddenly, he lifted his gaze.
And met Dakota's gaze.
Curtis paused, hesitantly returning her gaze, "What's wrong?"
Dakota: "..."
She looked at him oddly, "Shouldn't I be asking you what's wrong?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"How would I know what's wrong with you?"
"..."
Their conversation was strange and filled with awkwardness, as if they could each dig out a castle of embarrassment.
Curtis turned his face away seemingly unintentionally.
Whenever he saw Dakota, especially when meeting her clear, confused gaze, he felt very improper.
All evening, his mind had been filled with indecent images, using the limited knowledge he had gleaned from Jasiah and others to imagine Dakota in various intimate scenarios.
He found it hard to look her directly in the eye.
Occasionally, their gazes would meet, and his ears would turn red, then he would shift his gaze away as if by accident.
They were silent for a moment.
Finally, Curtis couldn't stand the awkwardness any longer and turned to look at Dakota, his Adam's apple rolling slightly, "You ready for bed?"
Cough—
Dakota had just taken a sip from her teacup when she heard Curtis's words and choked.
She looked up at Curtis.
It was just a normal question, and they had been sharing a bed for several days.
But today, she felt the atmosphere was particularly intimate.
The air seemed charged with an indescribable emotion, making her cheeks flush and her heart race.
Curtis immediately handed Dakota a tissue.
Dakota said thank you, blushing as she took it, and nodded, "Let's sleep."
She meant just sleeping.
Very innocently.
But when Curtis stared at her intently, it made her feel there was something different and enticing in his gaze, stirring desire.
This made Dakota breathe faster, "I mean, we have to get up early for work tomorrow."
Therefore.
It was just going to be sleeping, nothing else implied.
Curtis's Adam's apple bobbed, "Mm."
"Then…"
"Go?"
Two monosyllables plunged the atmosphere back into silence.
Dakota felt too warm in the heated environment, her heartstrings fluttering with unease.
"I, um, I'm going to take a shower upstairs."
She suddenly stood up.
Curtis lifted his eyelids, responded with a "Sure," and watched as Dakota hurried away, seeming flustered.
Curtis's eyebrow raised.
He rested his knuckles under his chin, wondering if he had been too obvious, revealing his lewd thoughts.
Dakota rushed straight into the bathroom after heading upstairs.
She even locked the door today.
Water ran from her nose to her lips, down her slender neck, and into the hollow of her collarbones, and Dakota was still thinking about the scene from earlier.
Recalling his intense gaze full of desire, Dakota felt her skin burning hot.
No way!
Curtis couldn't possibly…
Dakota suddenly opened her eyes in the water, forcibly stopping her thoughts.
Ah, ah, ah, what was she thinking?!
But, but…
Curtis was a healthy man who clearly liked her. Unless he had some dysfunction, it was hard not to think about those things.
Dakota covered her face, leaning against the tile wall.
She felt…
like she couldn't escape.
Maybe even tonight.
Dakota suddenly became nervous, remembering that in her panic, she hadn't brought a matching set of underwear into the bathroom!
More awkward.
Now she could already imagine Curtis peeling off her nightgown to find her wearing white lace on top and pink with tiny bows on the bottom.
No way!
A lady would never accept such embarrassment.
So, Dakota turned off the water.
She rushed out, wrapped in a towel and with wet hair.
She dashed into the closet, quickly grabbed something, and then raced back to the bathroom.
By now, Curtis had returned to the room.
He sat lazily on the bed, leaning against the headboard, one leg dangling loosely.
He looked up.
And saw Dakota, wrapped in a bathrobe, rush out pressing her hand against her chest like a little dolphin, then rush back like a little chick.
"Bang."
"Pound——"
Two sounds.
One from opening the door, the other from closing it.
Curtis's eyebrows raised lightly; he didn't know what Dakota was up to, but he was intrigued.
Meanwhile, Dakota quickly changed from mismatched to matching lingerie.
Though she retrieved the clothes quickly,
her mind raced, already deciding on the set.
Black was too sexy, not suitable for the first time.
Purple was too special, seeming overly seductive.
Pink was too young, not fitting for this occasion.
After deliberation, she chose a set of white lace, both innocent and slightly sexy.
After changing, she put on a nightgown and emerged from the steamy bathroom, her cheeks flushed pink, "I'm done, are you going?"
Curtis lifted his gaze to her.
But Dakota regretted her words instantly, feeling a hint of awkwardness in the air, as if she was inviting Curtis to do something.
At that moment, a lazy chuckle suddenly broke the silence.
Curtis slowly sat up straight, placed his feet back on the carpet, and leaned closer, "Mrs. Pineda, what does this invitation to bathe together mean?"
Dakota's cheeks instantly turned bright red.
She argued, "Who invited you to bathe? I just think you stink and need a wash before bed."
Curtis raised an eyebrow noncommittally.
But his silent response made Dakota wish she could dig a hole and bury herself right there.
"Wash if you want." Dakota turned her face away.
She went to the other side, pulled back the covers, climbed into bed, and turned her back to Curtis, feigning sleep.
Curtis's lips curled with interest.
He stepped into the bathroom.
Dakota, with her back to him, could faintly hear the rustling of him undressing as he walked.
Thinking about what might happen later…
Her heart rate sped up.
