Chapter 2

I froze. Even my blood seemed to stop flowing.

Shoot. I forgot to keep up the act!

Eyeing me suspiciously, Keane tapped on my ear and asked, "You can hear now?"

I was sweating profusely. Forcing myself to smile, I signed stiffly, "I felt a bug trying to bite me, so I yelled for it not to. I seriously can't hear anything."

It wasn't clear whether or not Keane believed me. He eyed me with an unreadable expression before signing at me with a smile that alarmed me, "Looks like I need to give you that massage after all."

I closed my eyes in desperation. Was there any way for me to refuse him?

Keane ignored my protests. He hoisted me up princess-style and carried me to the couch before settling down with my head on his thighs.

Then, with his fingers gently rubbing my earlobes, he planted a brief kiss on my ear. He blew into it, saying, "Guess you really are a deaf little cutie."

My body went rigid. My blood was roaring the wrong way through my veins.

What the heck was this moron doing? We were supposed to be arch-rivals!

In any case, I was only deaf. It wasn't like I couldn't feel anything!

But no. I couldn't panic. As long as I kept my composure, things wouldn't be awkward at all.

I tried to hypnotize myself into thinking that I really couldn't hear anything.

Meanwhile, Keane's hands moved to the base of my ears. He cupped my ears with his long fingers and pulled them upward, each tug stronger than the last.

It felt so good that I couldn't resist groaning in pleasure.

Keane's breathing abruptly grew heavier. His eyes gleamed with excitement.

Chest tightening, I wanted to cry as I frantically signed to him, "You must be tired. The massage takes up too much energy. Just let me go back to my room."

However, he flashed a suggestive smile at me and signed back, "Are you doubting my stamina? Relax. I've got plenty of energy!"

Why was he telling me that when I didn't even ask about it in the first place!

My smile was more of a grimace as I signed, "Thanks, I guess."

Since I couldn't escape from him, I might as well enjoy myself.

I closed my eyes, figuring that I wouldn't be as vexed if I didn't have to see him.

Alas, that meant all of my focus went to the sensation of Keane's hands on me. His warm palms pressed against the back of my head as he massaged down my neck. It was just the right amount of pressure, but his fingertips kept brushing over my shirt.

I bit my lip to stop myself from making any more sounds.

Yet, he continued to take advantage of the fact that I "couldn't hear" to start saying the most flirtatious things.

"You've got such a slim neck, babe. I can wrap around it with a single hand."

I dug my hands into the couch as I continued to act like I was deaf.

Who was he calling his "babe"?

"Oh, my. You shudder each time I press down here, babe."

His touch was making me squirm. I squeezed my eyes even more tightly together, afraid that flames would start shooting out of them.

If he knew how it was making me feel, why did he keep pressing me there? What a pervert he was!

"I bet you'd cry if I bite down on you here while slamming into you, babe."

I was already on the verge of tears now!

No, seriously, the corners of my eyes were wet. I'd already made deep indents in the couch from how hard I was gripping it. I wanted to flee, but I couldn't.

Keane was keeping me firmly on his lap.

"And now, the final step of the massage."

I almost wept tears of joy. All I had to do was hold on a little longer, and I'd make it to the finish line!

But to my absolute shock, Keane abruptly pressed on my stomach and started making controlled, deliberate tugs and squeezes—like a general directing his troops.

At the same time, his warm breath washed over my ear, followed by his bewitching voice.

"The last step is to massage you here, babe."

Turning bright red, I shoved him away and scrambled onto my feet in an attempt to run away.

"What the heck! What are you trying to do, Keane!"

Alas, the two of us were built very differently. He caught me and hauled me back as if I were a runaway puppy. Kissing my earlobe, he said with a wicked grin, "Can't keep the act up anymore? Make sure you listen carefully to the wet sounds later."