Sweet Subterfuge

Chapter 275
“Can you help me?” Larissa asked tentatively
“It’s not impossible.” Kevan crossed his legs as he sat on the sofa.
Then, he continued, “What will I get for helping you?”
It was the same when he helped her with Zero’s incident. He always treated mutual assistance between friends as transactions. Larissa wasn’t going to ask him to help in vain. Plus, she didn’t like to owe others. However, the reward he requested posed a challenge for her. That was why she wouldn’t turn to him for help unless she had no other choice left.
She pursed her lips and asked, “What do you want in return?”

“Hmm…” Kevan frowned. After a moment, he said, “My head hurts.”
Then, he looked at Larissa. “Give me a massage.”
That was much easier than a kiss, a hug, or anything of that sort. Anyway, Larissa felt it was something she could handle.
“Okay.” Larissa walked over to him, knelt on one knee on the sofa, and leaned over to massage his forehead. Her movements were gentle, and she happened to apply pressure on the right spot where Kevan felt the most pain. Instantly, Kevan relaxed and started to feel drowsy. Before long, Larissa noticed his steady breath. She softly called out, “Kevan?”
He didn’t react to her. Now that she was near him, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the stubble on his chin. Kevan had always been concerned about his appearance, so she could imagine how busy he must have been lately.
Distressed, Larissa touched his face. His skin was rougher than before. Then, she concluded that sleeping in the living room wasn’t appropriate, so she gently nudged him and softly said, “Kevan, wake up.”
Kevan’s eyelids moved, but he didn’t open his eyes.
“I’m tired,” he muttered. He waved his arms weakly in the air before hugging her waist.
Larissa yelped in shock and fell into his embrace.
Kevan took advantage of the situation and lay on the wide sofa while Larissa was forced to lie beside him.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, pushing against his chest, attempting to break free from his grasp. However, he responded by wrapping his arms around her even tighter.