The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2023

It was Seth. She could smell his scent and see his silhouette. Trapped between the wall and his chest, she questioned, "What are you doing?"

Seth bent over, his handsome face just inches away. The slender dark pupils seemed to be filled with the lingering scent of aged wine, and even the warm breath sprayed on her face appeared to carry a hint o alcohol. His lowered, seductive voice was too easy to bewitch the heart. "I'm here for my reward, of course."

Cicely blinked, "You're not expecting me to sign the transfer deed right now, are you?"

A firm squeeze on her waist answered her as Seth pressed his lips to hers in the midst of her protest.

Cicely gasped, her hands instinctively rising, poised to push him away, but instead, they found their way to his shoulders.

As the kiss deepened and showed no sign of stopping, Cicely began to struggle. When there was a brief pause, she managed to say, "Don't tell me your reward involves even more."d2

Seth's lips brushed her cheek as he maneuvered her towards the bed, pinning her beneath him with a bent knee. His free hand reached up, deftly undoing the buttons of her blouse.

"Considering the company shares could be given away as a reward, doing a bit more is well within my rights." he mused.

Even after their many moments of bare honesty, Cicely still found herself easily allured by any move this man made. As her blouse fell open, revealing her porcelain skin, she bit her lip, falling silent. Seth smirked, his fingers weaving through her hair, cradling her neck, drawing her close, and then effortlessly captured her lips once more. She was swept into the whirlpool he stirred, losing all coherent thought.

Forget Patty, forget Danielle, forget company shares, forget love or not. She didn't need to think about anything. Right now, she could simply indulge in what she had.

It wasn't too late. She retracted her earlier yearning for something called "love." Let it be as it started; he coveted what she had, and that was enough. She just needed this man to belong to her entirely. The curtains were drawn at some point, and as the evening sun blazed, the room was enveloped in dimness.

Curled in the blankets, Cicely's hair was strewn messily over the pillow and bedding. Her eyes were half-closed, her long lashes fluttering occasionally.

Her arm lay casually across the mattress, her breathing slow and even. The flush on her delicate face deepened as she saw her slightly curled fingers move in the dim light, the ring on her finger catching a glint.

The finger moved again, and a warm presence pressed against her back, interlocking fingers, and a warm kiss was planted behind her ear.

She stared at the hand that was holding her, while a patch of chill lightly hit her skin from behind. She wasn't sure whether to feel ironic or grateful. The ring was on him, but he refused to put it on his finger. Turning to face Seth, her gaze met his desire-laden handsome features. With easier access, Seth buried his face into her neck.

"Seth, do you believe I love you?"

The one who falls first is destined to lose, and she never hid it. Perhaps it was youthful ignorance or simply an innate honesty.

Could love ever be hidden?

Even now, she'd likely make the same choice. In the Ellis family, she was never taught, nor did she learn, to be deceitful. Illusions always crumble, like over-edited selfies that can't withstand the light of day. Why pretend not to love? Why fear the truth being uncovered?

She never considered these questions, so she never thought about hiding.

The kiss at her neck seemed to cool slightly. "Mmm." He knew, how could he not? Everyone knew Cicely loved Seth. He was too clever.

With a lazy smile, she asked, "Do you love me?"

He didn't answer directly. Men have a million ways to dodge or gloss over a question when they wish to. "Have I ever done anything to make you feel unloved?"

What a shrewd response. Was this a mere evasion, or did it imply that his love for her was genuine?

"No, you're wonderful. I guess every woman wants to hear those words."

Seth chuckled softly, "Actions speak louder than words. Especially for men, that phrase is quite cheap."

So cheap that even saying it felt beneath them. Insincere to the point of disbelief.

As expected, she didn't get the answer she probably wanted. Cicely closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into the pillow. "Let's not. I'm tired."

"Mmm, rest here. No need for the gym."

Her brows twitched, eliciting a low laugh from Seth. Even the most seemingly reserved men become wicked in these matters, it seemed.

Remembering their intimate moments and the raw words spoken in his deep, husky voice, her cheeks flushed with heat.

Underneath his reserved exterior was a fierce passion, overwhelming in its contrast.

After the day's exertions, the gym was indeed unnecessary.

Seth adjusted the room temperature and tucked the blankets around her. Then there was movement from the bathroom, sounds of ease as if at home.

How long had it been since Seth felt this comfortable with the Ellis family?

Dismissing the foggy, useless thoughts from her mind, Cicely drew a long breath and burrowed her face into the pillow.

When she awoke later, the room was dark. Groggily turning over, her hand stretched out from under the covers and encountered warmth. The next second, it was held.

She paused, turning her head to peer through the darkness. "Seth?"

"Sleeping until now. What are your plans for tonight, hmm?"

Cicely inhaled deeply, sighing long and hard. "What time is it?"

"Seven."

"Hmm..."

After sleeping the afternoon away, she certainly wouldn't sleep early in the evening.

So, after finishing dinner, the two of them returned home. After washing up, Cicely hugged her laptop and searched online for wedding videos, wedding styles, wedding venues, and even went as far as planning the honeymoon.

The two stayed in the study together, with Cicely wearing headphones. Except for occasional faint sounds, there was hardly any noise.

Several times Seth looked up to see her utterly engrossed in the screen, her expression one of intense focus.

Seth furrowed his brow in thought. Was this okay?

He knew what she was up to and could see her excitement about the wedding. But given her personality, shouldn't she be coming over to ask for his opinion now and then? Yet, she was too quiet, as if her excitement was hers alone.

He waited for her to come over and share something-anything-but as the clock ticked past eleven, there was no sign of her doing so.

"Getting late, we should go to sleep," Seth said, his voice carrying a chill.

"Well, I'm not sleepy yet. You go ahead," she replied, unfazed.

Seth stood up with a frosty expression and walked over to her. Towering above Cicely, who was nestled on the couch, Seth didn't wait for her to look up before he removed her headphones, took the laptop away, and scooped her into his arms.

Cicely opened her mouth to protest but ultimately, nothing came out. It wasn't until he laid her down on the bed that she finally voiced her discontent. "I feel like there are still so many things I haven't considered. I told you I wasn't tired."

"I am," Seth replied curtly.

"If you're tired, sleep. I'm not holding you back."

"Sleep with me."

She paused, a bit taken aback. "What, can't sleep without me now?"

Seth didn't answer, just pulled her close into his embrace. Cicely didn't struggle. She just cozied up within his arms.

"The wedding's next year. No need to rush things now."

"That's not it. Just getting a head start, you know? My wedding has to be the best-prepared event ever."

"So, what have you figured out? What kind of wedding do you want? Have you decided?"

She sighed. "I can't decide. I want a beach wedding, but then a church is classic. Those traditional-themed weddings have their charm. But I can't quite picture you in anything but a suit. Maybe we should stick to a hotel wedding-it's timeless and foolproof."

Her voice was filled with indecision, and even her final decision seemed driven more by his preferences than her own wishes. She still hadn't asked what he thought.

Come the weekend, true to his word, Seth took Cicely to a bridal boutique to try on wedding gowns.

Men trying on formal wear seems a simple affair. Clad in a tailored black suit, Seth embodied an air of indifferent nobility, the crisp lines accentuating his tall figure. His calm demeanor belied his youthful age. Seth sat on a plush sofa reserved for grooms-to-be, casually flipping through a bridal magazine, his long fingers idly turning the pages.

The staff, cheeks flushed, kept stealing glances in his direction, their gazes periodically drawn to him.

After some time, the automatic doors before him glided open. There stood Cicely, radiant in a white wedding gown under the spotlight, as an attendant meticulously adjusted her train before stepping back with an approving smile aimed at Seth. "The bride is ready."

Seth's gaze had already lifted to meet Cicely, adorned in a simple bridal makeup. The mermaid-cut gown hugged her figure from chest to waist to hips to just above the knees, showcasing her stunning silhouette. The off-shoulder design revealed her graceful collarbones, dotted with faint pink marks.

The staff's initial gasps of admiration quickly turned into blushing whispers as they noticed the marks on Cicely's skin. Their eyes darted back to Seth, their minds undoubtedly concocting a vivid narrative of passionate intimacy behind closed doors. Just by looking at the marks left on her, they could imagine the fervor of their private encounters.

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