Chapter 998

Ralph was secretly delighted, but he continued to stoke the flames.

"If you're scared of what others might say, I can—"

"I said, shut up! Anyone who criticizes me will face my wrath, including you!" She yanked his wrist, pulling him forward so forcefully that his lips collided with hers. Ralph was stunned.

'What is this woman doing? This isn't going as planned. Just moments ago she hated and bit me! Why is she taking the initiative now?' He was confused. This was the first kiss he hadn't enjoyed. Her inexperience was evident in the abruptness of her actions. The fresh wound on his lip reopened, causing excruciating pain mingled with the taste of blood.

It was bizarre. Before he could react, Heather's next action was even more unsettling. She tasted the blood, sticking out her tongue to lick, then suck it, intensifying his pain.

'This woman is insane!' he thought. 'Could this be some kind of fetish? Impossible! If we marry, how can I possibly endure this?' Panic rising, he forcefully pushed her away.

"Heather, stop! Don't do this!"

Heather, still savoring the metallic taste, was bewildered and dissatisfied by his sudden push. She had only ever smelled blood in fights; this was her first taste, and it was surprisingly sweet. Kissing, too, was less disgusting than she'd anticipated. The man she once considered worthless had unexpectedly gained some merit in her eyes.

Ralph, however, was deeply uncomfortable. His lips throbbed, and he was shocked by her erratic behavior. One moment she was icy, the next she was kissing and sucking his blood.

His heart pounded. He needed to calm down and plan his next move. He couldn't stay.

"Let's...calm down," he said, then fled.

Heather didn't stop him. She remained where she was, licking her lip, still stained with his blood.

'How…interesting! So that's what kissing feels like. Not bad!'