Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Samantha’s mind went blank. She retracted her hand abruptly and hid it behind her, saying, “I… I thought you were…”

After a pause, she refrained from continuing her sentence and saying ‘a bad guy’. Instead, she changed her sentences and said, “Sorry, I didn’t see you clearly.”

Timothy could discern that all of her earlier movements were a conditioned reflex. It was the same with the special needles she used to protect herself.

The ache in his heart intensified even more.

Samantha started to worry a little when she saw Timothy’s silence and sour expression. She stretched out her hand hesitantly and stroked his cheek gently. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I’m sorry if I did… I didn’t mean it at all.”

Her punch did not hurt that much but she stroked him in such a gentle manner that Timothy inadvertently blurted out, “It hurts.”

Samantha was speechless and a little guilty, but she could not keep herself from muttering, “Why didn’t you dodge then?”

Timothy was skilled enough to be able to dodge it instantly, yet he ended up being hit by her punch.

Then again, a big man would not have been that affected by a single punch, right? Did he actually say that it hurt?

She murmured, “Do you want me to kiss the booboo?”

Timothy said in an ever-calm manner. “Kiss the booboo.”

He even turned his face deliberately to her and leaned his upper body over toward her.

Samantha felt that she was surely still sleeping, because why else would she have such an absurd dream?

However, she blinked a few times and Timothy was still sitting in front of her. He was still there, waiting for her to kiss his booboo.

She gulped and asked hesitantly, “Are you serious, Timothy?”

The man stared at her and responded with a question, “Isn’t that what you suggested. What’s wrong? Did you just say that without intending to do it? Are you all talk and no action?”

“Of course not!” Samantha retorted loudly. “I’ll kiss the booboo!”

She grabbed Timothy’s collar and yanked it hard, pulling his handsome face close to her. Even though she had seen it countless times already, seeing him up close left her feeling a little dazed.

The Creator seemed to have a soft spot for Timothy.

How could a man’s eyelashes be so thick and long? He was generally never seen using any skincare products, yet his skin was as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Those facial features were so three-dimensional that not even the greatest of sculptors could not carve out something so beautiful…

It really made her feel envious!

Samantha gulped unconsciously.

Timothy turned around and looked abruptly at her, curling his lips as if he had seen through her thoughts.

Samantha looked away immediately and blushed. Her attempt at an explanation only ended up revealing the thoughts she had been trying to hide. “I wasn’t looking at you. I don’t think you’re that good-looking either!”

As soon as Samantha finished her sentence, she chided herself for making all those unnecessary remarks and wanted nothing more than to bite off her own tongue!

Timothy smiled even bigger and he spoke in a carefree voice, “Sure. You weren’t looking at me and you don’t think I’m good-looking.”

Speaking too much was a mistake.

Samantha sealed her lips shut and made up her mind not to speak.

She took a deep breath and gave Timothy’s cheek a teensy little peck before letting go of him. “Done!”

Timothy looked at her silently.

Fearing the possibility that he might demand more, Samantha said without being prompted, “Why were you sitting beside me on the bed so early in the morning? Wait a minute…”

She finally noticed that Timothy did not seem to have just woken up. Rather, he looked as though he had not slept at all the entire night.

Samantha looked at the little bit of stubble around his lips and asked, “Did you…go the whole night without sleeping?”

“Yes.”

“Huh? Why?” Samantha lowered her voice. “Were you busy all night because you had a lot of work?”

“No.”

“Then…”

She observed his expressions carefully once more and saw that he was frowning slightly, as if something was bothering him. She asked once more, “Do you have some kind of problem that you just can’t figure out?”

Timothy raised his gaze to look at her and answered, “Yes.”

Samantha wondered just what kind of problem could perplex Timothy and cause him to lose sleep just from thinking about it.

Her curiosity was immediately piqued and she hesitated before saying, “What problem are you having? Maybe you can tell me and I can try giving you some advice?”

Timothy’s eyes sank and he stopped talking.

It looked as though she did not deserve to know!

Samantha smoothened her hair awkwardly. “Now that I think about it, if you can’t figure it out, there’s no way I can be of any help. In that case, you can continue thinking about it. I’ll go wash up.”

She was just about to get down from the bed when Timothy grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down to her original position.

Samantha was surprised and she raised her eyes to look at him. “What is it?”

Timothy moved his lips and uttered, “You…”

He had waited the entire night for her to wake up because he wanted to ask her if she ever felt any regret during the past two years for doing what she did to him back then.

However, he was also afraid to get answers that he did not want to hear.

It was actually quite amusing, because there was little, if any, that Timothy feared in his life. What he feared was the possibility he might not be able to bear Samantha’s answer.

“It’s not an issue.”

Samantha was speechless and she clearly felt that something was amiss!

Timothy had been hesitant to talk to her the night before and ended up acting the same way the following day too. What was going on with him? Was he feeling unwell?

Samantha wanted to ask further but Timothy spoke before she could. “I’m tired.”

She had no choice but to halt her intention to ask him. After all, he had not slept the entire night. Being the understanding person that she was, she said, “Well, in that case, you should go to bed and catch up on your z’s.”

“Okay.”

Timothy immediately tumbled onto the bed and dragged her along to lie down with him.

Samantha froze for a second and blurted out, “I told you to sleep, not me…”

She had already slept her fill!

“Hush,” Timothy said in a deep voice. He used her as a bolster, wrapping his long arms around her and resting his chin on top of her head. Only then did he close his eyes.

Samantha tried to struggle, but the more she tried, the more Timothy’s strength intensified. In the end, Samantha could not move at all.

She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling, and wondered just how she had provoked him.

Timothy really did live up to his reputation as Mr. Barker! His narcissism was so great that he needed someone to accompany him just so he could catch up on his sleep!

Samantha originally thought that she would have to suffer by staring at the ceiling, but she did not expect to actually sink back into slumber. Her body could not help but relax after hearing Timothy’s steady heartbeat and gentle breathing, and she soon fell asleep as her eyelids closed little by little.

…

When she next woke up, the sun was already up in the middle of the sky.

Samantha looked at the time and saw that it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon. Timothy was no longer with her on the bed.

After getting up and freshening herself up in the bathroom, she headed downstairs and was surprised to see Timothy sitting on the living room sofa.

She thought he had already gone to the company…

At that point, Timothy was holding his cell phone and was in the midst of a video call with someone. The voice vaguely sounded like a female one.

Samantha went over stealthily..