“The Count and the Countess must have not told you about this fact. Aren’t you curious if it’s true or not?”

“No, I believe you.”  Yernia replied nervously.

If she really believed him and knew exactly what would happen, why would she tremble in fear?

“Do you really believe me, Yernia?”

“I think so. You’re not bad enough to lie in this situation.”

Of course it wasn’t a lie.

It turned out that Yernia had no idea how to guide like he thought.

Cassian wondered if she only knew about holding hands when it came to guiding and it was true.

He found it ridiculous when he heard it the first time.

If that’s the case, Cassian would personally teach Yernia how to do it.

Unfortunately, Yernia seems frightened.

Did she want him to comfort her?

“I’m telling the truth, Yernia. You’ll figure out the methods soon, anyway, so there’s no reason for me to lie.”

“Yes. I guess you’re not that thoughtless.”

Cassian stared at Yernia as she nodded in agreement.

If he took this a step further, Yernia might escape from his clutches.

Both of them just married yet she was already in trouble.

“Shall we just hold hands, then?”

Yernia narrowed her eyes at the sudden change in his attitude.

“Are you satisfied with just holding hands?”

“Yes.”

“Really? There’s no turning back.”

Yernia didn’t see him as a man so he had to make a difference, somehow.

Cassian had to change her view of him as a childhood friend and advance their friendship to something romantic.

Physical contact might hasten the process, too.

Cassian immediately suppressed the urge to bring Yernia’s head closer and devour her lips.

If he became too greedy and force himself unto her, Yernia might cry and never see him again.

It would be better for him to go slow.

“First of all—-” Cassian began deliberately only to pause when sensual thoughts of Yernia and him filled his head.

He gave her an affectionate smile and it caught Yernia off-guard.

Yernia held Casian’s hand, intending to guide him, as he fought the desire to kiss the back of her hand.

Her eyes widened in surprise when she glanced at his face, but that was all.

Cassian intended to break this friendship as soon as possible.

***

It was strange to see Cassian’s face the instant she woke up in the morning and it was her first time to lie on the same bed with her childhood friend.

As she tossed and turned in her sleep, Yernia unconsciously dug into the unfamiliar warmth of someone else and even hugged the owner’s waist.

When she opened her eyes, she immediately recognized that the solid chest belonged to Cassian.

For a few seconds, Yernia wondered why she was here until then she recalled that she had gotten married yesterday.

Yernia had almost forgotten she was married to this sleeping person that she briefly felt despair even if there was no need to feel that way.

She was just glad it was Cassian because he adhered to her request.

Nothing happened between them yesterday as she wished.

Both of them only fell asleep while holding hands.

Cassian did press his lips on the back of her hand but at least he hadn’t kissed her lips without permission.

It felt strange to stare at Cassian while he slept.

How can he look this gentle when he was super annoying when awake?

Yesterday was difficult.

“Well…”

Yernia was aware that Cassian hadn’t slept until dawn came and she was the opposite.

She had slept a lot today because yesterday’s wedding had exhausted her.

Feeling an unusual gaze on his face, Cassian furrowed his brows and stretched his arms before he circled one around Yernia’s waist.

He pulled her close to him.

“Cassian?”

In an instant, his solid chest was right in front of her and it was close enough to touch her nose.

His masculine scent was too potent and seductive in this proximity.

Were childhood friends supposed to smell like this?

“I can’t breathe, Cassian. Your chest is too close.”

Cassian didn’t open his eyes, still asleep, and she found it awkward to wake him up.

“Did he assume that he was sleeping with his favorite doll in his arms?”

Perhaps, that was the reason why he hugged her without thought.

When Yernia was young, she also slept while hugging a teddy bear.

Now, she knew what her teddy bear must have felt even if it was inanimate.

Instead of waking up Cassian, Yernia tried to remove his arm herself but it was too heavy to lift so she lowered her body and wriggled her butt to escape from his embrace.

At that moment, Cassian pulled her again and hugged her tightly that she accidentally kissed his chest.

His robe was wide open that she was able to press her lips against his bare skin.

Surprised at the sudden contact, Yernia pushed Cassian’s upper body with both hands.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to take her hands off his shoulders after that.

Contrary to her will, her hands began to grope his pectoral muscles.

Why were they so hard?

Cassian’s chest was obviously flat when they were young but she hadn’t paid attention to that while they’re growing up.

She hadn’t even touched it ever since.

Since when did it turn into this?

Was his chest bigger than hers?

Wasn’t that right?

Male and female chests were different in the first place.

As she patted her breasts with uncertainty, she suddenly heard a laugh above her head.

Yernia raised her head and glowered at him.

“You weren’t asleep.”