Dakota's heart gave a sudden flutter.
It felt like raindrops landing on her heartstrings, sending ripples through the small pool of feelings she had already softened for Curtis, and sparking little fireworks within.
She held the umbrella.
She glanced down at the puddles illuminated by Curtis's flashlight and the streetlights.
The reflections in the puddles danced like water fireworks, much like Dakota's heart, which was now trembling chaotically, stirred by Curtis's words.
Curtis stood beside her, also watching the puddles.
He didn't notice that Dakota had already lifted her gaze, staring intently at his lips.
Suddenly, Dakota stood on her tiptoes and kissed the line of his jaw.
Curtis's whole body shivered for a second. He turned his head and locked eyes with her beautiful gaze.
He gently threaded his fingers through her hair, sliding to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as he bent down to return the kiss.
"Slap—"
The umbrella slipped from Dakota's hand, falling to the ground.
She pressed herself into Curtis's chest, standing on her tiptoes again, boldly swirling her tongue into the kiss.
This kiss was more intense than any before.
Unlike the kiss at N Mountain, this time Dakota was clearly in control. The last kiss had been clumsy, but now it seemed like she had picked up a few tricks from Curtis. Her tongue tangled with his, sweet and shockingly skilled.
Curtis hadn't expected her to be so passionate.
He was almost overwhelmed by it.
His breathing became completely erratic under Dakota's touch. Rain fell over them, water sliding down Curtis's brow and into the kiss, mixing between their lips.
Curtis's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
He leaned his forehead against hers, gently cradling her face in his hands, breathlessly pulling back as he tried to bend down and retrieve the umbrella.
But Dakota placed her hand on his belt.
In that single second,
Curtis's breath completely stalled. He suddenly opened his eyes, looking down at Dakota with furrowed brows.
A moment later, he let out a soft sigh, "What do you want to do?"
Dakota slowly opened her eyes too.
She didn't say anything, just suddenly unfastened his belt. Click—
A jolt of electricity shot through Curtis's body.
He lowered his gaze.
It seemed like he had a hunch, but didn't dare ask.
Dakota stayed silent, pulling Curtis's shirt out from his pants and slipping her rain-cooled hand inside.
But before she could go any further, a firm grip caught her waist.
Curtis pulled her into his arms, pressing her tightly against him as he captured her lips again in a fierce kiss.
"Mmph!"
Dakota's balance faltered, making her lean back slightly.
"Cur—" She seemed to want to say something, but Curtis's relentless kisses silenced her completely.
So Dakota stopped resisting.
She didn't pull away.
She tilted her face up, accepting Curtis's kisses as her hands explored inside his shirt, feeling his ragged breaths.
She even started to move her hand lower.
But Curtis, breathing heavily, grabbed her wrist and chuckled, his nose brushing hers. "Mrs. Pineda."
Caught in the act, Dakota felt a little bashful.
She nervously opened her eyes, looking at Curtis. Raindrops fell onto her lashes, making them flutter.
Curtis chuckled playfully. "In public, are you sure?"
Dakota wasn't sure she could do it in public.
But she was sure about tonight.
Blushing, Dakota turned her face away, and Curtis thought she was backing down.
But then he heard her soft, barely audible whisper, "Then… let's find somewhere else."
Curtis's body stiffened for a moment.
He stood there for a moment, then slowly lowered his lashes, staring intently at Dakota for a long time.
Then, with one hand on Dakota's chin and the other on her waist, he pressed her against the lamppost and leaned down to kiss her deeply.
Under the rain, all primal desires were ignited.
Especially Dakota's encouragement, which made the somewhat restrained Curtis lose control.
"Mmph!"
Dakota didn't expect Curtis to suddenly go wild.
The kiss was still intense, but this time it felt like he wanted to devour her whole.
Between breaths, Dakota managed to seize a moment, "You, you said public place, let's go somewhere else, back, back to the room..."
Curtis chuckled softly, pressing against her lips.
His fingertips lifted Dakota's chin, grazing her ear, then cupped the back of her neck, his hoarse voice whispering in her ear, "Not there."
After all, there were many relatives still at home.
The first time.
He didn't want to hold back.
So Curtis suddenly scooped her up, Dakota felt herself lift off the ground, her heart rising along with her, as a single voice echoed in her ear:
"We're going back to our honeymoon suite."
Later, Dakota didn't know how she ended up dizzily being carried by Curtis to his sport car.
Curtis pressed her against the car and kissed her for a while longer, "What should we do? I'm already reacting."
Dakota blushed fiercely from his words.
She hurriedly pushed Curtis away, then pulled the seatbelt across herself, her hands clearly tense.
"You, you reacting won't help!"
Dakota's cheeks were flushed, her ears hot, "We still need to go back to Whispering Pines first."
Curtis's gaze darkened as he looked at her.
He swallowed hard, took a moment to regain his composure, then started the car and hit the gas, the Bugatti roaring out into the rain.
Curtis had never driven so fast before.
He wished it wasn't a Bugatti but a helicopter that could get them back in minutes.
The speed of the rain didn't match his acceleration.
Water splashed up from the puddles beneath the tires, creating larger fireworks as it fell.
Normally, the drive from Moonlit Bay to Whispering Pines took an hour and a half, but today Curtis made it in just an hour, speeding through the rain.
He skidded the car into the garage.
He picked up Dakota from the passenger seat and strode into the villa, pinning her against the cabinet door in the foyer and kissing her deeply.
Dakota wrapped her arms around Curtis's neck.
She tilted her head to receive his kiss, and when she opened her eyes unintentionally, it felt like a thread was being drawn between them.
But it was as if there was a silent understanding between them.
She raised her hand, her fingertips hooking his jacket and sliding it off onto the floor.
