Can I Keep You? Chapter 5 - Part 2

'Happy birthday, sweetheart', he kept whispering when he kissed me. Every time I wanted to speak, he would deepen the kiss, silencing me. Those arms wrapped tightly around me, could easily suffocate me and his leg was over mine because he knew that I would use my leg as a self-defense. Without warning, I sank my teeth into his lips.

'OW!!!' he yelled and drew back his lips. 'You bit me!'

I giggled. 'Yes, I did and I'm so not sorry'.

He touched his bruised lips with his fingers, and then brushed his hair in frustration. 'I'm sure I'll be dead before reaching the altar'.

'Oh, don't say that', I said but unable to stop smiling. 'Don't you worry, Ken. I wouldn't marry you'.

He shook his head. 'I wouldn't let you go, Sherley. Never'.

I was unable to speak because I never heard anything like this. Yes, I dated a few guys before although I know where my feelings were at. They had the guts to say ridiculous stuff such as, 'I love you more than my mother, my father, my sister and my brother'. That wasn't the worst one I'd heard.

He cleared his throat. 'Sherley?'

I jumped out from my thoughts and scurried to Adrienne's dressing table. I found the antiseptic cream and some cotton. 'Come here, Ken', I commanded.

At first he stiffened but then he sat on the bed by my side. He allowed me to treat his wound but his eyes were staring at me, making me wanted to sink my teeth into his lips again. Not that I wanted to kiss him again.

His hand rose up to my face and brushed my cheek softly. 'Stop it', I said irritably.

He chuckled. 'I can't help it. You're so beautiful today'.

I rolled my eyes. 'You're already said that and its boring. Stop talking or else I'll stuff the cottons into your mouth'.

He smiled and continued staring at me with those eyes. With the lightest touch, I applied the antiseptic cream against his lips. It was turning to a dark blue bruise. My heart began aching out of guiltiness.

Without looking at him, I tried to find words. 'So...you want to talk? Something friendly?'

'Oh, but I'm afraid you'll stuff those cottons in me'.

'Fine, I wouldn't', I promised him as I continued applying the cream to those smiling lips.

'Why didn't you go for the date with the Liamson guy?' he asked. 'I remembered I had asked you that'.

I hesitated. 'I promised you that I'll go back to---' I leaned closer to him. 'Reese', I whispered.

He smiled and patted my head. Then his finger tipped my chin up to meet his eyes. 'You don't need to, Sherley. If that date is something that you wanted so badly, then I wouldn't stop you'.

I smiled when I saw no tease in his eyes. 'A promise is a promise, Ken. I wouldn't feel good if I break one, especially when your father wants to see me so badly. How could I hurt him?'

'You're a sweet girl, Sherley. Your father said so', said Kenneth.

I pressed the cotton hard against his lips that made him winced. 'Done. Now what had we learned today, Ken?'

He raised an eyebrow but answered me anyway. 'I can't kiss you without permissions'.

I nodded. 'Good boy!' I ruffled his hair playfully.

He gave out a grin. 'I didn't say I'm agreed to it. Wait, where are you going?'

I headed towards the door. 'I want to tell Adrienne that I'm leaving now so that I can reach Reese earlier and get rid of YOU there'.

'Wait! This is your party, how can you leave?' he asked as he walked towards me.

I slammed the door shut back and turned to him. 'This isn't really my party, alright? Adrienne just wanted to show off her house and...me to Tracy. They wouldn't even notice of my absence'.

He smiled apologetically down to me. 'But I will notice you'. He took my hand and pulled me to the center of the room. 'You should be happy that your friends wanted to celebrate your birthday with you'.

'I'm grateful that they are my friends', I defended.

He ignored me and wrapped an arm around my waist. 'I like this song. Dance with me'. I stretched my ear out to listen but there was no music. It was just the noise of the guests below.
I wanted to speak out but found him closing his eyes while his arm that was around my waist, trying to swirl my body to the rhythm of his body. His face was leaning so close that I was practically inhaling his breathing.

'I know you are staring at me, Sherley. But tried to restrain, okay?' he said while his eyes were closed. 'Just dance with me as you didn't dance with Rick'.

How did he know? I thought for a while then sighed. I had forgotten about Aunt Maddy's nosy spies. 'I can't dance, Ken. I'm sure your guards told you that'.

'Hmmm', he breathed out. 'Then close your eyes, love'.

'If I did, then can we go?'

He nodded and I closed my eyes then. He began humming a soft lullaby to my ears. 'I want to tell---close those eyes first, Sherley---what I want to say is I'm very happy to celebrate your birthday with
you here, in my arms. Thank you for giving me this chance'.

My whole body went limp and fell into his arms, automatically his arms wrapped tightly around me. His lips were at my ears, still humming that lullaby. Our bodies were still swaying in a non-rhythm way.

'Open your eyes, sweetheart', he whispered huskily.

As I did, my gaze was lifted to his bruised lips that were inches away from mine. 'Kenneth, don't do this', I whispered. 'You're going to get hurt again'.

'I'll take that risk then'. Very slightly, he brushed his lips against mine. Although he winced, each time our lips met but yet he continued. I didn't move, not because I wanted to kiss him but afraid to hurt him again.

The door creaked open and we both jumped. Adrienne's head popped in, then Sam's, Lily's and lastly Jade's. All of them were in the room and gaping at me in Kenneth's arms.

'Okay...' Adrienne started nervously. 'This is my room. If you both wanna---well, just try not to dirty the sheets'.

I broke out of Kenneth's embrace. 'No, we weren't trying to do anything. Right, Ken?' I glared at him, seeking him for help. Good help, hopefully.

Kenneth nodded solemnly. 'I---I just received a call that my mother, Mrs.Damcel was hospitalized for a heart attack. I needed comfort so I seek for Sherley'.

'Oh, poor lady'. That came from the girls, without a single touch of sincerity in their tone.

'Yes', I added. 'Ken was sad so I want to help. And now he wants me to accompany him to the hospital. You girls wouldn't mind, right?'

Adrienne shook her head. 'But we are about to cut the cake and you---'

'Oh, Adrienne. I really don't want to go on anymore. Those people down there are scary. Obviously, you can find some reasons to excuse me', I begged her and snuggled myself closer to her, just like a puppy.

'O---okay, fine. I know that you don't like being with so many people. It's not your thing'.

Was that an insult? But I don't care as I threw my arms around Adrienne. 'Oh, thank you so much! Come on, Ken, Mrs.Damcel needs to see you now'. Lying seems to be easier for me now.

Lily took a step forward to Kenneth. 'Kenneth', Lily called. 'Is that a teeth mark on your lips?'

All the colors drained from my face as I watched Lily studying Kenneth's lips. Why didn't I use some make up to cover up that mark?!

Kenneth smiled. 'Well, it was just an accident. Sherley was going to fall flat on her face because of those 3 inches heels and I obviously saved her and she fell on me and scraped her teeth on my lips', he lied in a calm tone.

I looked at him in disbelief. 'Y-yes, I did. I'm sorry, Ken', I spited out angrily.

He chuckled and patted my hair. 'I forgave you. Come on, let's go, my mother's waiting'.

I looked down to my dress. 'Should I take this off first, Adrienne?'

She smiled. 'It's alright. You can keep it. It's yours'.

'Thanks, Adrienne', Kenneth answered for me and took my hand. 'My mother would be delighted to see this angel in a beautiful dress'.

Lily giggled. 'Oh, you're too kind! I---I meant my creation on Sherley'.

Kenneth smiled and pulled me out the door. 'Are you still planning to lie to them?!' he whispered to me, surprisingly in a fierce tone. 'I can see that they are wonderful friends'.

I sighed. 'I know, I know. I will find a way to tell them. Stop nagging like Mrs.Damcel!'

He released my hand when we were in the crowd, heading towards the door. 'As you may have forgotten that I'm Mrs.Damcel's 'son'. A quite considerable one, if I may say so myself'.

I rolled my eyes and continued rushing towards the door. My ears can't take the laughing and talking from the crowds. I didn't belong there...

One more step out the door and I was free, into the cold, quiet street. I bit my lips and rubbing my palms together; creating frictions to keep myself warm.

A soft laugh came from Kenneth. 'If you're cold, tell me. I'll keep you warm', he said and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, hugging me close against his chest.

'I'll let you go this time for hugging and kissing me', I murmured against his chest. 'Because today is my birthday. If it's not, you will start crying when you see my demon'.

He chuckled. 'Well, thank you, Your highness'. He dodged my punch to his face and held my hand tight in his hand. 'I called the driver, wait just awhile, ok? It's pretty hard to avoid the nosy people here with the sight of a limousine so the driver went to change the car'.

There we were standing alone by the street, just like a guy holding a girl close to keep her warm as the girl snuggled to the guy as if in his arms were the only place she wants to be. It may seem this way if people watched us from far apart.

'Where the hell is the driver? I'm freezing!' I complained, after waiting awhile in silence.

'Well, can't blame me that you wore such an exposing dress. Such a low cut at the chest', he murmured.

I flushed. 'That's none of your business! How can you speak such things without feeling shameful?!'

'Then why are you clinging to me? Don't you feel shameful?' he teased but tighten his hold around me when I tried to jerk away.

I glared fiercely at his smiling face. 'Not talking to you, starting this second'.

'OH? Are you offended?'

I looked away, seeking for a better view. I ignored him when he started playing with my hair, stroking my cheeks and staring at me intently.

He leaned close to my ear. 'If you continued to ignore me, I'll kiss you!'

Reflexively, my hand covered my mouth and looking cautiously at him. He raised an eyebrow then roared out a laugh.

'Man, I would kiss you but the car had come in such inconvenient time!' he blurred out in his laugh.

I was surprised that there was a black Jeep beside us with large identical men surrounding the car, opening the door for us. How come I didn't notice it? Of course, they were the 'Spies'.

A rather cute boy with a chauffeur hat offered his hand to help me into the Jeep. 'Um, thank you...Your name?' I asked politely, didn't want to spoil my first meeting with a person from Reese.

He put on a shocking look. 'Your highness wants to know my name?'

'Yeah?' I gave a smile to the poor fellow like he was about to explode of fear...for me?!

He bowed before me. 'I'm Dimitri, Your grace'.

I chuckled. Still haven't got used to the curtsies. 'Call me Sherley'.

Dimitri shook his head. 'No, I can't, Your high---'

'Call me Sherley', I repeated but with an edge trailing behind.

'Yes, Your---Sherley', he whimpered and closed the door softly.

Kenneth was sitting beside me, laughing tremendously. Obviously he had watched everything. 'You're demanding but I like it'. He stretched out his hand to pat the driver's seat. 'Off to the airport'.

'Wait---what about my mother?'

he grinned. 'She said she doesn't want to ruin our romance moment in Reese---And she have to go for a medical check-up'.

WHAT?