Can I Keep You? Chapter 4

'You can't do this to me, Adrienne!' I yelled into my phone. Adrienne had called me in the morning, surprising me with the worst of the worst news that I had over the week.

'But I thought you want a happy party', Adrienne whined through the phone.

'Let us do some flashbacks, my dear. At the beginning, I said I don't WANT a party but you insisted. And now you are telling me that you had invited everyone YOU know to MY party, which is TONIGHT'.

'Well, the more, the merrier', she defended.

I rolled my eyes. 'Adrienne, you know hundreds of people. Old and young!'

She sounded upset. 'Look, I don't care what you think about it. There's no turning back! I even bought you a dress'.

Oops! 'Adrienne, I'm sorry that I yelled at you. I had so much stress this week'.

'Is it Mrs. Damcel killing you with dough?'

'No, worst than her'. Mentally, I felt Kenneth's lips brushing against my skin, then my lips...

I shook my head before things in my head gets wirier. Adrienne was still talking but I only caught a word from her.

'Rick?' I asked.

'Yeah, I invited him. He said he might drop by'.

Might drop by? 'Oh, alright then. I'll be there by seven'.

'No, come early. Lily wants to work her magic on you earlier just so that the old maid and the geese drown in envy later in the party'. Adrienne laughed loudly through the phone.

My eyes opened wide. 'Tracy is invited too?'

'Yeah, of course. I want her to rot in MY house. Oh, I have to go. Have to get my hair done'. The line was cut then.

I was still gripping the phone. All I could think of was what will Rick think of me when he sees me tonight. Wondered what dress Adrienne bought for me...

I lost my balance at the stairs when I saw a figure bare-chested, holding a cup while standing by the window. The angel appeared again. He turned his warm brown eyes to me.

Kenneth darted up the stairs. 'Are you alright?'

My eyes diverted from his chest. 'Sheesh, Ken! Must you be naked?'

He chuckled slightly. 'Are you hurt?'

I shook my head but when I stood up, a sting pierced through my ankle. I caught him smiling. I hate to be defeated, especially by him.

He placed his cup in my hands. 'Hold it carefully. I'll get cranky if I don't drink my green tea'. He slipped his hands under me and lifted me up effortless.

'Then you should drink MORE', I muttered under my breath.

He smiled and pressed my body closer against his bare chest while striding down the stairs. 'You seem lively today'.

'Well, thank you but now I am NOT. When are we going to reach the base?' I pulled my eyes away from his face and watched his every step down the stairs.

Since his kiss on my forehead, I was having difficulties of NOT staring at his face. He also gave me a cool breeze like Rick but I found that Kenneth's breeze was more welcoming...

'Hey', he breathed out. I answered him by looking up to his face; can't resist it!

I was startled when our faces were inches away. He was smiling but his eyes were staring at my lips. 'I have a favor to ask you', he asked huskily while his face was inching closer to mine.

'What is it?' It came out a whisper.

I realized that he had stopped walking and holding me tightly in his arms. I was gripping his cup with all my strength and keep reminding myself to breathe, despite him kept flashing those brown eyes to me.

'What is it?' I repeated and gained a bit of consciousness to notice that he had sat me down on the couch and looked at me with amusement.

He leaned closer to me. 'Maybe later'. His hands brushed through my hair, then my face and my lips.

My heartbeat was accelerating because of his touch. I wasn't sure if he can hear it but I was pretty sure he can see from my blushing cheeks. 'What are you do---'

His lips crushed against mine making the talking impossible. My face was cradled tightly in his hands. As for my hands, they weren't moving as if they were trying to tell me that I SHOULDN'T be struggling against him.

His eyes were full of sparks as he was looking into my eyes while his lips were expertly moving on mine. Then his hands slipped from my face and wrapped around my waist. I felt a sudden warm in his embrace...

A shadow landed on us but importunely to Kenneth, I saw the shadow and pulled my lips away from his and pinched his hand which was moving extremely close to my breasts.

'Mum', I called out while trying hard to pull myself out from Kenneth's hold.

Susan smiled. 'Am I disturbing you?'

I jumped out from Kenneth's arms. 'Yes! And thank you for doing so'. I glared at Kenneth fiercely as he was shrugging casually at me. His eyes were staring at my lips that swollen from his kiss.

How can I let him kissed me? Not to mention that was my first kiss! I had given it to a guy who I barely knew for two days. I was still saving my first kiss...

Susan was still smiling. 'Serious? Cause I can lock myself in my room and pretend I don't hear anything'.

I looked at her in disbelief. Are you really my mother?

Kenneth chuckled. 'Yes, if you please', he said it to Susan and they busted a laugh together.

I cleared my throat in frustration. 'Stop it!'

They stopped laughing and Kenneth whispered something into Susan's ear. She nodded and strides up the stairs to her room. Was she actually leaving me and him ALONE?

Kenneth walked up to me and snaked an arm around my waist. 'So... did you enjoy it?'

'No!' I growled. 'Release me at once!' I commanded.

He nodded. 'Yes, Your Highness'. And he did so.

I was flushed at that calling but it wasn't the time to talk about it. 'What you want?'

He smiled. 'The favor that I want to ask of you?'

My eyes widened in disgust. 'That kiss was ENOUGH!'

He raised an eyebrow. 'Oh, you thought that kiss was---' He busted out a laugh.

I crossed my arms across my chest in frustration. What more could he ask of me? Does he want that kiss to go deeper?

I felt my cheeks were burning at that thought. No, I thought. I don't want him to lay a finger on my skin ever, ever again. I don't want to feel the pressure of his lips on mine or his hands roaming my body. Never again!

As fast as I can jump back into reality, I gave myself a quick slap across my cheek. It hurts but it was much, much clearer for me to see that Kenneth had laughed even louder when he saw me doing so.

'Oh, shut up', I snarled as I stroked my red cheek.

'God, you're so cute!' he exclaimed.

My heart skipped again. 'Think about Rick. Think about tonight. A happy night', I chanted.

Then I heard no laugh from him, instead I was pulled into his arms. He tucked my head under his chin, wrapping those possessive arms around me. I was unable to move.

'Let me go!' I muffled against his chest.

'Who's Rick?' He tucked a finger under my chin and lifted my face up. 'Who's Rick?' he asked softly. I can smell his breath. Peppermint.

I smiled. Jealous, isn't he? 'Rick, well, he's my---' I hesitated. 'Um, he's my everything'.

'I see'. I heard him whispered. His arms slipped away from me and stood a few feet back. I was intended to watch him sunk but he was in a deep thinking of his own. Before I could ask, he snapped back into himself.

'Yeah, whatever, if you don't tell me, I'll found out about him, eventually'.

'What are you going to do?' I asked.

He smiled. 'Am I that evil?' He frowned when he saw me speechless. 'Anyway, that kiss wasn't a favor, it was just me wanting you'.

My mouth fell open, making a pop sound. He heard it and chuckled. 'Man, maybe marrying you isn't a bad thing at all', he said.

I rolled my eyes. 'What marrying? I don't want to'. His eyes snapped at me but I stopped him before he could speak. 'Yes, I admitted that I'm a princess but I never want to BE a princess. I thought you would be gone, if I had admitted it but yet today I found you naked and forcefully kissed me'.

His eyebrow rose. 'Forcefully?' I put up a refraining hand. 'Don't push it, Ken. I have my limit'.

He sighed deeply, and that was a surprise. He seems like a stress-free person. 'And I thought you can help me', he said gravely. 'Never mind then. I'll try to find a way '. He looked out the window and sighed again.

Don't do it, Sherley. Don't do it!!! I screamed in my mind but my heart was stronger... 'What is it?' I asked softly but he shook his head slightly.

I bit my lips and walked up to him. I can feel his body heat and my stomach was tingling. 'Tell me, Kenneth. What is it?'

He looked at me with a grave look. 'I want you to call me Ken'.
I blinked in confusion. 'Okay, Ken. What's wrong? You're scaring me with your silent and those faces'.

He smiled with a little sparks back into his eyes. 'I made a promise with my father to bring you back to Reese...tonight'.

'Oh' That was all I could reply.

My heart jumped when his hand gently wrapping mine and his thumb was circling my palm. I didn't react because he was looking into my eyes. Again I was feeling the breeze...

'My father was your father's best friend and it was my father's duty to have you back in Reese to claim your title. He really wished to see you, Sherley. And I just received news that he's...very sick'.

My breathing went difficult. 'Sick?'

He dropped my hand. 'He's OLD, Sherley! What more could you want him to hang on? He waited for you at least 18 years and now it's just a small favor he asks of you and you can't do it!'

I winced. 'You don't need to yell, Ken! I didn't say I'm not going'.

'Oh, you mean you are going back?' he doubted.

'Well, there's no harm going back for a short visit. But I don't want anything more than a visit. No princess crowning or having a ball'.

He smiled and clasped my hands in his. 'Thank you so much, love'. Before I could react, he brushed his lips against mine.

'Your lips are pretty stiff. I should work on you more often', he murmured against my lips.

What?

Suddenly he pulled away and walked out to the door. 'Don't be late to come back from your party. We are flying to Reese at midnight', he called out.

He knew about my party? Was that kiss he gave was my birthday gift?

'Stand straight, Sherley', Lily commanded. She was adjusting the dress that I was wearing. The dress that Adrienne bought was beautiful; a gold gown with dazzling lines of rhinestone along the waist and hips. And from the hips, the soft material flows in delicate tiers right above my ankles. While Jade did a classic high messy bun with my hair, Sam was helping me putting on a pair of stilettos.

'Ok, look into the mirror and tell me who do you see, Sherley', Lily said proudly.

'Um, Sherley Kylie?'

'No, a beautiful princess!'

My body froze. Wait, I thought to myself. My friends don't know about me being a princess. I gave out a nervous giggle. 'Oh, Lily, you are exaggerating!'

She smiled. 'You look beautiful, Sherley. Don't you think so, girls?'

Jade and Sam nodded in agreement. I smiled and pulled all of them into my arms. 'Oh, I love you guys! Promise me that no matter what had come across us, we'll be friends forever?' I asked.

'Um, Sherley?' Sam called. 'You're scaring me. Normally you wouldn't say all this mushy stuff'.

I paused. 'Um, today IS my birthday. Can't I be emotional?'

A soft knock at the door. Adrienne was there in a red tube and a pair of hot black boots.

'My goodness!' Lily exclaimed happily. 'Who did this to you? WHO?'

Adrienne smiled devilish. 'I invited Ashton, the guy that Tracilia wants'.

'Oh, is it the "King" in the college?' Jade asked. I shuddered at that word.

Adrienne nodded happily. 'I met him yesterday in the garden while I was jogging. I bumped him! Oh, he was sooooooo cute!!! I want to sunk my hands into his black soft hair and kiss his beautiful face---'

Lily put up a refraining hand. 'Yeah, we get it! You want him, right?
You're grossing us, especially Sherley. Poor girl, she needs water'.

I waved their attention away from me with my finger pointing to Jade, who was NOT wearing the dress that Lily bought for her as I walked out the room. I need water.

'COME HERE, JADE!!!' Lily screamed from the room. Then there were crashing and knocking.

Their voices faded when I reached the kitchen. Billy, the old butler who was preparing the dishes, was too absorbed into his work that he didn't seem to notice me.

'Hi, Billy. Hmm, it smells delicious!' I bent over to sniff the food.
'Thank you, Miss---' He looked up from the dishes and froze. 'My, you are beautiful!'

I smiled and bowed slightly. 'Thank you, Billy. You're the first man in my party to praise me'.

He chuckled and continued doing his work but I noticed that he had thrown a few appreciative glances towards me as I drank my glass of water.

I blushed. Was I really beautiful?

Suddenly, I was alarmed that someone else was in the kitchen besides me and Billy. There was a whiff of peppermint in the air and I knew that peppermint...

Quickly, I set a pace back to Adrienne's room but only to knock myself out of breath against a wall. The wall was covered with cloth...

'Hey, beautiful!' Once again those arms wrapped tightly around me and crushed me against his chest.

'What are you doing here, Ken?!' I hit his chest that made him choked.

'I want to celebrate your birthday too', he whined. 'Susan allowed me to come'.

I shook my head violently. 'No, no, no! You can't be here! My friends can't see YOU because I'm running out of excuses'.

He smiled down at me and touched my lips with his finger. 'Then you just tell them that I'm your fiancée'.

'NO, I wouldn't and NO, you are not'. I pushed him towards the backdoor. 'Get out! OUT!'

'Sherley?' Adrienne called, and she was behind me.

I froze and turned around. Now, all the girls were in the kitchen, watching me pushing Kenneth forcefully out the house.

'I can explain', I began.

Kenneth wrapped an arm around my shoulders and smiled dashingly towards the girls, leaving them breathless. 'Hi, girls!'

Adrienne waved her hand slightly to him. 'Hi, who are you?'

'Kenneth Raige'. Then he rewarded Adrienne a wink.

Adrienne giggled. 'You're very handsome, Ken'. She flipped her hair and blinked her eyes repeatedly. She was trying to seduce Kenneth! The girls were watching Adrienne with disgust as I did so too. Must she do that every time a hottie shows up?

I felt his body stiffened against mine. 'I prefer you call me Kenneth. I don't like people calling me Ken'.

I looked up to him surprisingly. What did he meant by that? He was the one who kept encouraged me to call him 'Ken'.

He grinned at me and leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose. I gasped of that contact so as the girls and I quickly pushed him away from me.

'Hey, what's with that 'Don't push me away!' thing that you warned me about?' He sneaked behind me again and wrapped his arm around me.

'Let go, Ken!' I heard Adrienne gasped slightly of that calling. It was useless to struggle against Kenneth. He was too strong. If only I could sunk my teeth into his arm but his arm was wrapped tightly below my breasts. I cannot believe myself that I had managed to blush of that contact.

Jade giggled. 'Oh, Sherley! You have a boyfriend!'

I shook my head. 'No, he's not!'

'Then who's he?' asked Sam.

Kenneth released me and whispered to me. 'This will be GOOD'.

I stuck out my tongue to him. 'Hate you', I whispered back, that it was too soft for the girls to hear.

He chuckled and perched his hips on the counter, while crossing his arms across his chest. He kept a smile on him and looked at me with interest.

I took a deep breath. 'This gentleman', I spited out unwillingly as Kenneth chuckled huskily. 'He's---he, um---He's Mrs. Damcel's son!!!' I yelled out.

Everyone in the kitchen, except Kenneth, gasped in horror.
Kenneth gave me a questionable look but I gave him back a promising wink.

'You poor man!' Jade cried out. Lily patted Jade's shoulder and glanced over to Kenneth. 'How did you SURVIVED in her presence?!'

He tore his eyes from me 'Huh? Oh, you were talking to me. Yes, of course I CAN, she's beautiful!'

The girls and I were shocked and we kept shooting each other a disgusted look. 'You---' Adrienne took a deep breath. 'You think Mrs.Damcel is beautiful?!'

Kenneth was confused. 'Mrs.Damcel? Who is---Oh, you mean that old haggard living next to Sherley?! No, I was talking about Sherley'. He smiled appreciatively at me then those eyes began to explore at my body. I hit his head with my palm. 'Pervert!'

The girls were the one who were confused now, that included Billy who was listening to us attentively.

Lily chuckled. 'You called your mother a haggard?'

I covered Kenneth's mouth with my hand. 'No, no, I'm sure Kenneth didn't mean it. Mrs.Damcel is just so--- depressed over the death of her second husband so maybe she threw her tantrum on Kenneth, that's all'.

I jerked my hand from Kenneth's mouth when I felt his tongue licked my palm. 'Ew! Disgusting!' He grinned. 'That's passion, darling'.

Adrienne cleared her throat. 'We're still here, lovebirds'.

I blushed as he was watching me with anticipation. 'Um, then what's going on between you both?' Lily asked us.

'He had been stalking me ever since he came to live WITH Mrs.Damcel', I said abruptly. Kenneth came closer to me and whispered to my ear, 'Pathetic excuse'.

'Oh!' That came from the girls.

'Sherley', Adrienne called. 'You are very LUCKY to have a stalker as handsome as Kenneth. Appreciate him!' She flew to me and grabbed my hands to bring them into Kenneth's hold. She looked at me then back to Kenneth. 'Kenneth, please take good care of my girl, "Glue"'.

I flushed. 'Don't call me that! And believe me I'm not lucky at all'.

'And', Jade jumped in. 'made her forget about Rick. She's getting pathetic'.

Kenneth raised an eyebrow. 'Oh, you girls know about Rick, huh? Do tell me more about him'. He released my hands and he stirred Jade, Lily and Sam out from the kitchen. I wanted to chase after them but then I heard Adrienne shouted from the door, 'The guests are here!'