Chapter 490
Phillip stood at his desk, his back to the room's door, the decor mirrored his persona - a blend of emotionless monochrome, shades of black, white, and gray painting his world.
Tina, without a second thought, kicked off her shoes and sprawled out on the bed in a casual, kneeling position.
At 1:20 AM, she had boldly made her way into a man's bed without any reservation.
Phillip could never forget their first encounter two years back, her clear-cut rules of engagement - essentially, post-marriage, live as you please.
Such pre-engagement demands were rare, from women and men alike. If it stemmed from her personal desires, then it all made sense.
She was indeed a free spirit, adventurous and capable of bold moves, unafraid to make advances, yet equally quick to move on to another man if rejected, not returning home until the early hours. Phillip had no intentions of rushing into intimacy, despite their engagement.
But if she had any desires, he'd prefer to be the one who satisfies them.
Tina, unaware of his gaze, opened a folder on her laptop. "I just finished editing these photos; they're unpublished, and you're the first to see them," she said.
Phillip sat beside her, listening intently as she animatedly shared the stories behind each photo - the dark rivers and poisonous creatures of the Amazon, the challenges and triumphs of climbing Everest, swimming with dolphins in the Red Sea, the turmoil in Syria...
Her tales were filled with human emotions against a backdrop of freedom.
She was meant to chase dreams, a true explorer, not a caged canary in a golden cage.
As she spoke of vast landscapes and colorful worlds, Tina became more animated.
Phillip was an excellent listener, his occasional pointed questions steering Tina into revealing more and more.
When she finally paused and turned to him, suspicion in her eyes, she asked, "What, trying to get secrets out of me?"This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
"No," Phillip answered honestly and in a steady voice. "I just want to know you better."
His deep gaze fell on her, the light reflecting in his eyes like the vast, serene night sky.
"You don't need to know me," Tina retorted, convinced their marriage was just a facade for family alliances. "Knowing my family should be enough for you. S
"I'd rather know you than your family," Phillip countered.
The moment escalated quickly, and though Tina couldn't recall who initiated the kiss, the timing felt right.
What she did remember was checking her phone afterward and seeing it was 3 AM.
She thought herself crazy for keeping Phillip up until dawn, looking at her photographs.
And Phillip must've been just as mad to indulge her.
She didn't have work the next day, but that night marked the beginning of their more frequent conversations and, noticeably, more kisses.
Tina had always lived by her own rules, valuing freedom above all. Kissing Phillip was one of those pleasant liberties.
Sometimes, mid-conversation, she'd find herself sitting on his lap.
Other times, she'd lazily wake up
to
find Phillip getting ready for work and would pull him in for a kiss. But it wasn't an everyday thing - it depended on her mood. S
Phillip never denied her those moments of intimacy.
Beyond that, Tina was bold, taking
advantage of his leniency to explore a little more each time, even going so far as to pinch his ass
www.ce.
Her best friend, always the keen observer, hit the nail on the head, "That's not curiosity, you're just craving him!"
Tina thought about it and admitted, "Well, yes, I am. Don't you think he's irresistible?"