100 Days to Seduce the Devil

Day Seventy-Three…

~~*****~~

Kathleen was caught off guard by Jack's fiery kiss. He crushed his mouth against her soft lips, holding her in place. He nibbled and bit his lips, making them apart. Then he entered her mouth, moving his tongue over hers with rough thrusts.

Jack ravaged the sweetness of her mouth. Kathleen could only surrender to his advances as she closed her eyes and returned his kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head closer to hers.

This was the first time Kathleen was kissed like this by a guy. She was being carried away by Jack's passion. She didn't want to admit but she loved being dominated by him. 

But somewhere in her subconscious, she was reminded of Stephen, the guy she had a crush on for a very long time. 'No. I shouldn't kiss Jack. I feel like I'm cheating on Stephen. I should only kiss Stephen.'

With that thought in mind, Kathleen, tried to push Jack away, breaking the kiss. In the heat of the moment, after Jack had forcefully kissed her, Kathleen's complicated emotions surged. 

With a swift, fiery motion, she drew her hand back and delivered a resounding slap across Jack's face. The sharp sound of the slap reverberated through the room, leaving an uncomfortable tension hanging in the air as Kathleen's eyes blazed with frustration and fury.

Pak!

"Why did you kisss me? And what the hell are you doing here?" Her anger was directed at her own self because she felt like she failed to be faithful to Stephen. Although they were not in a relationship, she promised to herself that she would wait for Stephen to have feelings for her.

Meanwhile, as the stinging sensation from Kathleen's slap registered on Jack's cheek, a mix of emotions flooded his mind. He felt a profound sense of regret for his impulsive actions, realizing the inappropriateness of his forceful advance. Her slap had not only physically stung but also wounded his pride.

"I'm sorry." he apologized, thinking that he frightened her. He was consumed by his jealousy, clouding his rational mind.

Embarrassment and remorse welled up within him, overshadowing any lingering desire from the kiss. He understood that he had crossed a line, and the unexpected slap served as a clear reminder of his mistake.

Kathleen could only sigh helplessly. She found herself struggling with guilt as she stared at Jack's reddened cheek. She accidentally slapped him hard. She didn't mean to hurt him. She was just surprised by her own reaction to his passionate kiss.

"Come!" Kathleen grabbed his hand as she pulled him toward the couch. Jack obediently followed her. He somehow managed to gather his emotions and calmed himself down.

"I'll get you some ice. Just stay here. Okay?" Kathleen made him sit as she stepped out of the room to retrieve a cold pack from the mini-fridge inside her office. Jack could only clench his fists as he watched her retreating back. 

'What I have done? You damn fool!' Jack started scolding himself.

It did not take long before Kathleen returned as she cradled the ice pack in a cloth and approached Jack who was silently sitting on the couch.

"Jack," Kathleen spoke softly, "I didn't mean to hurt you that much. I just wanted you to understand how wrong that was." She then reached out and gently placed the ice pack against his throbbing cheek. Jack winced at the initial contact, but the soothing coldness gradually began to alleviate the pain.

"I know. It's my fault," Jack admitted.

As the minutes passed, the tension between them eased, and they began to communicate more openly about Jack's sudden arrival. The last time she saw Jack was when he was injured in the hospital.

"What brings you here?" Kathleen inquired again.

Jack didn't hide his true intention. "I want to see you," he admitted. He had been missing her for the past few weeks.

Kathleen, on the other hand, looked down, avoiding Jack's intense gaze. This was so wrong. She was getting affected by him, and her heart suddenly beat faster.

"Why?" she asked while still nursing his reddened cheek.

"Because... I've missed you," Jack confessed. This time, he lifted her chin so that she would meet his gaze. He could no longer hide his feelings. He wanted her to know what he truly felt for her.

Kathleen didn't want to deceive him, so she chose to be honest. "Jack... I've already developed feelings for someone else."

Jack paused for a moment, assuming that Kathleen was talking about Nathan Sparks.

"Are you in a relationship with him? Does he feel the same way about you?" Jack inquired, his next steps depending on Kathleen's responses. Surprisingly, he noticed a glimmer of sadness in her eyes as she faced his questions.

She wasn't able to utter a word because she knew that Stephen had feelings for someone else. Stephen liked Jane. He was overprotective of her. She once witnessed how Stephen cared about Jane.

Amidst the silence, Jack gently took Kathleen's hands, as if attempting to console her. "I don't care if you like someone else," he asserted.

Kathleen furrowed her brow for a moment, casting a questioning gaze at him.

"Can you give me a chance? A chance to prove to you that I might be the one for you," Jack implored. He had decided to pursue her, driven by his desire to alleviate her sadness and bring her happiness. For the first time, he felt this strongly about a woman. Kathleen had completely captivated him.

Kathleen found herself at a loss for words. Her heart was in turmoil, caught between her feelings for Jack and Stephen. She wasn't ready to give up on Stephen just yet, but her inner voice urged her to consider giving Jack a chance.

"You don't have to give me an answer today. Take your time to think about it. But please, promise me you'll reconsider," Jack implored, his fingers gently brushing her cheek.

Kathleen could only muster a simple "Okay."

That single word brightened Jack's day; it meant he hadn't been immediately rejected. He still had a chance. Without hesitation, he placed a kiss on her forehead and said, "Thank you, Kath!"

Kathleen: "..."

Kathleen's heart raced as his lips met her forehead. Jack had a habit of stealing sweet, unexpected kisses.