Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 455 - 453 territorial invasions, kissed again and again

Chapter 455: 453 territorial invasions, kissed again and again

Cressida wasn’t foolish, she guessed that Tim Payne must have warned Beckett Jeans sternly, which was a good thing for her; as long as that scumbag wasn’t brainless, he wouldn’t pester her anymore.

However, tonight’s dinner was naturally still hosted by Tim Payne.

When the meal concluded and the server brought out the dessert, Cressida had just taken a bite of the caramel sea salt mousse, which had a unique texture, when her phone vibrated—it was a call from Martin Yates.

She instinctively glanced at the person opposite her, signaling him to stay quiet.

She stood up and walked to the window, then softly greeted, "Uncle Yates."

"Are you still at the store?"

"No..." Cressida glanced briefly at Tim Payne not far away, "At home."

"Are you free in a couple of days?"

"What is it?"

"I’d like to invite you over for a meal, and bring your grandmother along. It’s not good for her to be alone at home, and I know you worry."

"Why would you suddenly invite me to dinner?"

On the top floor, the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows were covered in a layer of white mist due to the temperature difference inside and outside. Cressida wiped it away with her finger, making the myriad lights outside clearly visible.

"Last time I invited you to go horseback riding, that incident wouldn’t have happened. I’ve been feeling guilty about it. Besides, it’s just a New Year dinner, and I’ve also invited some other relatives. Zoe will be there too; she wants to see you."

Whenever Cressida mentioned Zoe Payne, she felt indebted to her, making it hard for her to refuse.

"I’ll be there on time."

"How’s the business at the store recently?" Seeing that she agreed, Martin Yates changed the subject with a laugh.

"It’s okay."

...

After chatting casually for a few more moments, they ended the call. Cressida just turned around when she saw Tim Payne approaching. He was dressed in a suit for work today, his jacket removed, exuding elegance.

"You told your uncle you’re home? Am I that disgraceful?"

"No, it’s just that I don’t know how to explain our relationship."

During the conversation, Tim Payne had already taken two steps closer to her, his presence fully commanding, with his unique scent silently spreading. He leaned close, his breath brushing her face...

Gently,

Warmly.

"Our relationship?" Tim Payne’s lips slightly curled, his eyes full of amusement, complemented by his refined and elegant countenance. At such a close distance, it was enough to make one’s heart flutter.

"Miss Jones, what is our relationship?"

He lowered his head, his voice naturally softer, with a teasing tone.

Cressida didn’t answer his question but instead said, "Uncle Yates invited me and my grandmother for dinner, just out of the blue. He said it was because of the horse riding incident, feeling he hadn’t taken good care of me, but I can’t blame him for that, besides, Uncle Yates has helped me before."

"You know what Uncle Yates likes, right?"

Tim Payne looked at her, "Planning to give him a gift?"

Cressida nodded, "He helped me find a lawyer last time, and I never properly thanked him."

"I’ve helped you several times too, besides just thanking me verbally, you’ve never really thanked me properly."

"..."

Cressida was taken aback by his words, "Then what kind of thank-you gift would you want?"

"Anything would do?"

"As long as I have it."

Thinking about it, if it weren’t for Tim Payne’s help in calling off the engagement and dealing with her wicked stepmother, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. Yet, every time she thought about inviting him for a meal, he ended up paying the bill.

"Anything... as long as you have it," Tim Payne repeated her words, murmuring, "Are you sure?"

"Do you want something?" Cressida sensed from his tone that he had made up his mind.

"I’m feeling a bit hot," Tim Payne suddenly said.

Cressida was stunned.

Hot?

Surely he didn’t expect her to help him undress.

This is a restaurant, it wouldn’t be appropriate.

Tim Payne eyed her tense and nervous expression, and chuckled softly, "Help me with my tie, will you? It’s no trouble, right?"

Cressida Jones nodded; after all, she owed him.

While they talked, Tim Payne took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Cressida bit her lip and reached out to help him with his tie. Inexperienced as she was, it seemed like she was struggling to find the right method, tugging at it for quite some time.

"Can’t do it?" Tim Payne looked at her with downcast eyes, "Having been with Beckett Jeans for so long, haven’t you ever tied or untied his tie?"

"I don’t live with him. His soul was long ago hooked by Marigold Jones. He doesn’t like me, and I don’t fancy him either."

"Being together for so long and nothing happened?" Tim Payne raised his eyebrows.

"What could have happened?"

"For instance..." Tim Payne suddenly grasped her hand, "Like this."

Cressida Jones was startled.

His palm was dry and warm, enveloping her hand, making the back of her hand hot to the touch. While she was still stunned, Tim’s fingers had already gently passed between her fingers.

The grip was strong, yet the intertwining of their fingers was exceptionally tender.

"Have you ever held hands like this with him?" Tim Payne stared at her.

At that moment, Cressida’s other hand was still clutching his tie, she shook her head nervously and in discomfort, "No."

Her connections with Beckett Jeans were all pretense, merely clasping arms simply, at most holding hands which was mutual disdain, a show for others, nothing more.

Not so close as to press palm to palm, so tightly intertwined.

"So..."

Tim Payne suddenly leaned closer, his breath brushing against her lips, "He’s never kissed you like this, has he?"

The last syllable pressed in his throat, Cressida Jones couldn’t even speak before he kissed the corner of her lips.

It was like a dragonfly skimming the water,

yet inside her, it felt like a blazing fire, her blood churning.

One hand held by him, and the other clutching his tie, subconsciously tightened, prompting Tim Payne to laugh softly, "Miss Jones, if you pull any harder, I might be strangled."

"I..." Cressida Jones was internally furious, blaming his sudden flirtatious behavior which threw her into such confusion, losing her rationality, completely forgetting that she was still holding onto his tie.

"Has he kissed you like this?" His gaze was scorching.

"No."

Tim Payne chuckled briefly, the moment fleeting so fast that Cressida Jones, in her nervousness, missed the smile at his lips, only to see him bending down, speaking softly: "The thanks I want is simple."

"Hm?"

"I want to kiss you again."

The atmosphere was instantly pressed into the most ambiguous realm, Cressida Jones felt like she was in a sea of fire.

Her hand was held, and with the tips of his fingers, he gently caressed the back of her hand. Due to his long-term habit of holding pens, his fingertips had calluses, stirring a tingling sensation.

Her heart swelled increasingly faster, unspeakable warmth spreading and wandering throughout her body.

Meanwhile, Tim Payne was already leaning in...

Bowed his head,

Pressed down,

His lips too hot, making hers feel like they were ablaze.

Instinctively retreating, her back pressed against the glass, a wave of coolness swept over her, her ears filled with chaotic noise. Tim Payne stretched his hand to protect her head, his fingers moving down, touching her nape, the heat of his fingertips as if to scorch her.

Heart pounding wildly,

Heat surging,

Damp and moist,

This kiss, deeper than before, the rooftop very quiet, with only the sound of her heart, disorderly and trembling, pounding like a drum.

He was very dominant yet gentle enough.

Invading territory, breaking boundaries, as if he wanted to mark his scent in every inch of space.

But she could feel his initially slight clumsiness, yet quickly grasping the essence, the kiss deepening and intensifying, Cressida Jones unable to defend, warmth spilling from the corner of her lips...

Searing down to her neck.

Burning into a blaze.