?


    N felt a pang of guilt sh in her eyes. "It''s nothing. Just some clothes I bought with Vrie while shopping."


    Why would clothes need hiding?


    Seeing that Damon wasn''t convinced, she quickly added, "Really, it''s just clothes."


    Damon couldn''t help but chuckle. "N, do you know the saying, ''the more you try to hide, the more obvious it bes"?"


    The more she tried to exin, the more suspicious it sounded.


    N bit her lip, subconsciously clenching her fingers around the bag. She regretted epting the clothes from Vrie earlier.


    Now, the awkwardness was overwhelming, and she wished she could disappear into the floor.


    Under Damon''s half-smiling gaze, her initial embarrassment slowly turned into irritation. She snapped, "Why do you need to know so much? Some things are just hard for a woman to exin to you."


    Damon froze, momentarily surprised by her snap. Then, he couldn''t help butugh. "Okay, my bad."


    Even though he admitted his fault, N only felt more frustrated.


    "I''m going upstairs... You can keep working," she said calmly, making a show of walking past Damon to leave the room.


    Once upstairs, she hurried into her bedroom and locked the door behind her. After sitting there for a while, she finally calmed down.


    Looking down at the bag in her hand, she felt conflicted.


    Should she throw it away? It was really expensive, though. She didn''t want to waste it.


    However, if she kept it and Damon found out, she might as well have asked for a hole to fall into.


    After some thought, she still didn''t know what to do with it. She shoved the clothes deep in her closet, nning to deal with itter when Damon wasn''t home.


    With that settled, N finally rxed.


    When she opened the door and went downstairs, herposure had returned.


    While getting some water in the


    arms wrap around her waist. ret


    kitchen, she suddenly felt a pair


    familiar scent of pine filled the air, and she froze mid-pour.


    "What are you doing? This is the kitchen. Lydia mighte in any second," Nined.


    "She''s already gone to bed," Damon replied.


    His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a tingle down her spine.


    N turned to push him away, but before she could, he grabbed her hands and pressed them against the counter.


    "So, why didn''t you buy anything when you were out shopping with Vrie? Did you not find anything you liked?" Damon asked.


    The image of the lingerie set Vrie


    had bought shed in N''s mind and she instinctively pressed her lips together. "I didn''t really shop''ll buy something next time."


    Seeing her avoid the question, Damon smirked. His voice dropped low. "I''ve been too busytely and haven''t had time to spend with you. That''s my fault. I''ll make sure to pay more attention."


    Just as N was about to respond, he captured her lips in a kiss.


    When the kiss ended, she felt a bit dizzy, while Damon effortlessly picked her up and carried her upstairs.


    While they were showering, Damon whispered in her ear, "So, what did you really buy?"


    The shape of the items in the bag did look like clothes, but if they were ordinary clothes, N wouldn''t have looked so ufortable.


    He thought for a moment, and a possible answer started to form in his mind, but he needed confirmation.


    N''s face turned crimson, her ears flushed. "Nothing... Why do you keep asking?!"


    Seeing her flustered, Damon was sure of his guess, and he couldn''t help butugh. "What kind are they? Let me see."


    His voice was light, clearly enjoying the moment. Since they''d gotten together, he had always taken the lead. Now that N was being proactive, it pleased him.