My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 9: The Taste of His Lips

Nina Wynn was startled. Before she could even say "President Rhodes," the hairpin securing her hair fell to the ground.

Her ink-black hair tumbled down, covering her pale, slender neck.

Everyone was stunned.

Nina Wynn had no idea what Caleb Rhodes was up to, and she looked at him with timid, dark eyes.

Then, Caleb Rhodes said coolly, "My apologies. I accidentally knocked your hairpin out. You may not be presentable enough now. How about this: you’ll be my guide."

He turned to the university official beside him. "Any objections?"

The official quickly smiled placatingly. "No problem, none at all!"

Caleb Rhodes gave Nina Wynn a look and said flatly, "Follow me."

Nina Wynn bit her lip. She looked down at the broken hairpin on the ground, feeling that something was off, but she had no choice but to follow him.

After a full tour of the sprawling pharmaceutical base and two straight hours of explanations, Nina Wynn’s throat was completely parched.

She wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced instinctively at Caleb Rhodes, who was examining the medicinal herbs.

’Is he his own personal air conditioner?’

’On such a hot day, everyone felt like they were melting, but he was like a walking refrigerator. He hadn’t broken a single sweat, and the very atmosphere in the few meters around him felt heavy and oppressive.’

’Still, he’s undeniably handsome.’

’Even in such simple clothes, he was as dazzling as a model on a catwalk. It was impossible not to look at him.’

Just then, Caleb Rhodes abruptly turned his head, his cold, piercing gaze landing squarely on Nina Wynn.

Nina Wynn flinched, quickly lowering her head and retreating into the lounge behind her.

She rested inside for a little while.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked up to see Caleb Rhodes standing right in front of her.

He was looming over her, looking down at her!

His oppressive presence made Nina Wynn feel inexplicably small.

But she thought she was still dreaming, so she just stared at him in a daze.

Caleb Rhodes’s gaze lingered on her slightly parted lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed. "You’re awake?"

Nina Wynn finally realized it wasn’t a dream.

She scrambled to lower her head and tried to stand up.

But Caleb’s tall frame practically enveloped her, creating a strange, suffocating feeling that she couldn’t escape. She cried out in a panic, "M-Mr. Rhodes..."

In her haste, she stepped on a piece of chalk on the floor.

She lost her footing and pitched forward.

In an instant, Caleb’s handsome face filled her vision, and she felt her lips brush against something warm.

A soft sensation, and the faint scent of cedar and tobacco clung to her lips!

Nina Wynn was utterly dumbfounded!

She shot back against her chair like a frightened animal.

A blush rapidly spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks, and even her neck flushed a delicate pink.

’His lips. Those were Caleb Rhodes’s lips. She had just kissed Caleb Rhodes!’

She felt like her face was about to explode. Gripping her skirt tightly, her voice was barely a whisper. "Mr. Rhodes, I... I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose..."

Caleb Rhodes’s dark gaze swept over her soft lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed hard.

’This taste... it’s exactly as I remember.’

’Besides, who blushes this much from a simple kiss?’

’The way she looks right now... It makes me want to pin her down and kiss her senseless. Kiss her until she’s crying and begging for mercy!’

Of course, Nina Wynn had no idea what Caleb was thinking. She instinctively raised a hand to wipe her lips, as if to erase his scent.

Unexpectedly, this gesture caused Caleb Rhodes’s eyes to turn cold in an instant.

"You didn’t mean to?"

His voice was glacial. Nina Wynn didn’t dare look up at him.

But from his tone alone, she could feel his barely suppressed fury, a tension that felt ready to snap.

’Nina’s mind went blank. Does Caleb Rhodes think I did that on purpose?’

She suddenly remembered that Caleb Rhodes had a severe aversion to being touched.

A few years ago, a famous actress had deliberately kissed Caleb Rhodes in front of the media after a few drinks, hoping to boost her career. The story went viral. A few days later, the actress was killed in a car accident on the highway.

She could still clearly remember the gory photos of the actress in the newspapers.

In all these years, Rosalind Lowell was the only person she had ever seen him allow close.

Nina Wynn’s fingertips trembled uncontrollably. Just as she was about to explain, Caleb Rhodes’s icy voice cut in.

"A week ago. Were you at Nightshade Bar?"

Nina Wynn’s heart pounded. She gripped the hem of her skirt, her palms already sweating.

’Does he suspect me? But it was so dark that night. There’s no way he could have seen anything.’

She forced herself to remain calm and said in a low voice, "No. I was studying for my graduate school entrance exams last week."

Caleb listened to her lie so smoothly, feeling his patience wearing thin.

His expression was frigid. "You work part-time at Nightshade?"

Nina froze. She instinctively hid her hands behind her back, the color draining from her face. "N-No."

’The Rhodes Family was at the apex of Elysian City’s high society, and their standards for anyone associated with them were notoriously strict. Even a housekeeper represented the family’s image. Although she wasn’t a member of the Rhodes Family, she was connected to them, and if she became a laughingstock, Caleb Rhodes would skin her alive.’

’I can’t admit it! Never!’

She bit her lip and shook her head. "I don’t know any Nightshade Bar. I’ve never been there."

Caleb Rhodes’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

’Her habit of hiding her hands behind her back when she lies still hasn’t changed. How dare she use such a clumsy trick on me, again and again.’

The warmth in Caleb’s gaze vanished completely. "Nina Wynn, I know when you’re lying."

Nina nervously dug her fingers into the wall behind her and shook her head. "Mr. Rhodes, I really didn’t."

Caleb’s expression became even more glacial, his thin lips pressing into a hard line.

He stared at Nina Wynn with a heavy, silent intensity.

He had the natural, oppressive aura of a man in power, and his silence was more terrifying than any words.

Nina Wynn could barely breathe.

’She didn’t know what was happening lately. She kept running into Caleb Rhodes, and now she’d accidentally kissed him. If he decided to pursue the matter, graduating smoothly would be out of the question.’

She swallowed hard, mustered her courage, and looked Caleb straight in the eye. "Mr. Rhodes, what happened just now was an accident. Please don’t give it another thought."

Caleb’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "You seem very concerned about it."

Huh?

’He doesn’t care?’

Nina was stunned. Her gaze drifted to his sharply sculpted lips.

His thin lips looked as cold and distant as the man himself, exuding a chill that kept everyone at a distance.

’She had always thought he was made of ice, completely devoid of warmth. But his lips... when she’d brushed against them, they had felt warm. And impossibly soft.’

At the thought of that accidental touch, Nina’s ears began to burn again.