Vows and Bullets-Chapter 58: Temptation (Part 1)

[Music Recommendation: "Waste It On Me" by BTS & Steve Aoki - instrumental version by Paintamelody]

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[Agent Selene POV]

’What the f*ck did he say? And what exactly does he mean by that, huh? He’s a pervert, but it only applies to me? D-Don’t tell me he...’

"Hey! Are you... falling for me?" I grimaced with much disgust. "We’re partners, and this is a mission. We’re not supposed to take this personally and get our feelings involved."

Agent Helios raised his eyebrows as if he was baffled by my suggestion.

"Falling for you? Ha-ha-ha!" he laughed. "Hmm... let’s see," he tried to mull it over. Then, looking straight into my eyes, he asked, "What do you think?"

"Huh? I’m the one asking you, why are you asking me back?"

With no one answering the question laid, silence fell in the room. We just stared at each other, trying to read the other’s mind and contemplating. After giving it much thought... we ended up laughing at each other, shaking our heads.

"Pfft! Ha-ha-ha-ha! No way. There’s no way that’s going to happen," I said. "You don’t have a heart."

"Exactly," he agreed. "Just like you."

"Hey! I do have a heart. You’re the one who’s not—"

"I meant in a romantic sense."

"Oooh. Yes, that’s right. I don’t really care about romance."

"Same. Good thing we agree on that."

"Yeah, that’s good," I nodded.

"Kissing and feelings are different. I do like kissing you, but—"

"Huh? What?! You like kissing me?"

His eyes widened for a brief moment as if he didn’t intend to say that.

"Well..." he said, averting his eyes. "It’s a... normal thing for a man. You probably won’t understand, so it’s better not to explain before you start getting the wrong idea."

"I already am getting the wrong idea," I pressed on.

I must make sure that I wasn’t partnering with someone who might possibly rape me in the future if he couldn’t help himself, right?

’Wanting to kiss me, but he didn’t have feelings for me? That’s basically lust, right? A 100% pervert! This is very concerning! Now that explains those moments he kissed me wildly like a hungry beast! He’s a lustful maniac!’

Agent Helios sighed deeply.

"Do you really want to know the truth?"

"Yes!"

"Are you ready for it?"

"What? Of course!"

"Alright. I’ll tell you everything, so listen closely," he said, shrugging. He turned to face me again and began explaining, "Honestly, at first, I didn’t give a d*mn kissing you. The first time we did it, I felt nothing—just amusement since it was fun seeing you desperately try to gain my approval so you can get this S-rank mission."

"I could say the same thing, hmp!"

"Yeah. But then, the more we do it, the more I get used to it? I’m not sure if that’s the right term for it," he said, touching the back of his neck. "Anyway, recently—especially when we practiced kissing that night—I, ah... I’ve been feeling weird lately."

My eyes widened in surprise. He seemed a little shy sharing it with me, so I appreciate him trying to.

"Weird, how?"

"My heart... it thumps loud when we do it—louder than usual."

’Huh? He’s feeling that way, too? So I’m not the only one, huh?’

"Then, when we start kissing, for some reason, I can’t... stop. The longer it goes, the more I want."

Hearing him say that, my face felt hot all of a sudden. If I were to be honest myself, even I couldn’t help it when we kissed deeply. I couldn’t even bring myself to stop him! Wait, does that mean I’m a lustful pervert, too?! What the heck?! No!

"It’s weird, though," he continued, with his face a little flushed, too. "When it comes to other women, I never felt that way. It’s disgusting—like what happened with Ms. Choi. I wanted to puke badly that time. That’s why I’m glad you came and helped."

"O-Oh, I see," I stuttered, finally understanding what he meant.

Ba-dump!

’Huh? What’s that? Why is this conversation making me nervous?’

As my heart betrayed me and went thumping loudly by itself, Agent Helios added...

"Holding you in my arms and kissing you... felt natural. It wasn’t disgusting."

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

Ughhh... Heart, please, stop! I mean—return to normal, not stop.

"So, if you’re going to ask if I liked kissing you," he paused before continuing, "I do. At least I’m honest about it. Now, if you call it lust or whatever, suit yourself. I don’t even understand it myself."

"... R-right."

A brief silence covered our surroundings.

"How about you?" he asked, breaking the atmosphere. "How do you feel about it?"

He shot a curious glance at me, but I averted my eyes from his. For some reason, I felt too shy to face him.

’Ugh. What is wrong with me?’

"I, ah..." I struggled to answer him. "I... I don’t know."

"Really?" he inched closer and whispered to my ears. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"It’s the truth!"

"How unfair. I became honest with you, but you’re lying to me."

"I’m not lying..."

He chuckled.

"There’s only one way to find out."

"Huh?"

He touched my face, guiding it close to his until we were only a breath apart. Thinking he was going to kiss me, I bit my lips—which was weird. I should be covering my lips, not biting them as if I... I want it?

Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

’D*mn it! Is he seducing me? Why is he so good at it? But most of all, why am I falling for it?!’

Feeling his breath on my lips, I suddenly had butterflies in my stomach. My heartbeat rising over and over wasn’t helping at all. My face was probably so red right now, but I couldn’t help it.

"What’s wrong?" he whispered seductively. "You can kiss me if you want."

"... Shut up. I don’t like it."

He chuckled again.

"My dear wife is such a bad liar."

"No."

"Why don’t we make a deal?"

"Huh? What deal?"

"I’ll kiss you whenever I want, and you can kiss me whenever you want—even in private."