Vincent didn't go too far; he teased her a little and then stopped.
Just as they had finished shopping and bought the lipsticks and perfumes, he pulled Hermione back to the car parked outside the street.
He rather ungentlemanly placed his hand on the car door next to her.
She turned to face him blankly, "Aren't we going back to the hotel?"
Vincent leaned closer to her. "I remember you secretly kissed me last time."
Hermione dared not look into his aggressive, deep blue eyes. "Is... is that so? Then what do you want..."
Vincent threw the shopping bag he was holding in his other hand to the ground, put his arm around her waist and pulled her close, then suddenly covered her stammering mouth with his lips.
Hermione's eyes widened instantly, as if the air around her had frozen.
Vincent's kiss was light and gentle. She slowly closed her eyes and unconsciously stood on her tiptoes.
His tongue tentatively and gently pried at her teeth, and she unconsciously loosened her jaw, responding particularly awkwardly.
The intense heat seemed to freeze time and space, making it feel as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them.
It felt like a very long time had passed, yet it also felt like only a blink of an eye.
Hermione loosened her small hands that were tightly wrapped around his neck, her breathing became a little rapid, and her whole body felt limp.
Vincent sensed her change, opened his eyes, and saw her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
He supported her lower back with his hands, stopping his tongue from its tight entanglement with hers, but his lips still lingered, gently touching hers.
Hermione cautiously opened her eyes and saw his gentle, deep blue eyes gazing at her quietly.
Vincent straightened up slightly and pulled away from her soft, sweet lips.
The thin, glistening threads that had stretched from the corners of their mouths suddenly snapped.
He lifted his hand from the car door and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
Hermione, her eyes sparkling, stopped standing on tiptoe, but her arms remained wrapped around his neck.
Her eyes were full of love, Vincent instinctively cupped her face in his hands.
Just as she closed her eyes again, full of anticipation, he simply kissed her forehead gently.
"You're almost out of breath, aren't you?"
Hermione opened her eyes and met his cunning gaze.
Her voice was very soft, "I didn't..."
Vincent tightened his grip on her lower back slightly, and she collapsed weakly against his chest.
"You still say no? I can hear your heartbeat."
Hermione clutched her pounding heart and pressed her ear against his chest.
Quick and forceful.
"Your heart beats very fast too."
Vincent reached out and gently flicked her forehead. "You're getting bolder and bolder these days."
Hermione covered her forehead and quietly peeked her head out from his arms.
People were coming and going on the street, but no one paid any attention to them.
Italy are known for their enthusiasm, and it's common for them to be affectionate in the street.
Since no one is watching, there's no need to be shy.
She hooked her little hand around Vincent's neck and pulled him close to her, winking mischievously.
No, I've always been like this.
The two were very close, able to feel each other's hot breath.
Vincent had only one thought: how dare she provoke him.
He suddenly pulled her close to his body with his large hand supporting her lower back.
She didn't back down, but stared straight into his eyes.
Her image was reflected in those deep blue eyes, and his image was also reflected in her eyes.
Vincent gently lifted her chin and kissed her with particular force.
Completely different from before, this kiss was more intense and wild.
Hermione closed her eyes, letting his tongue slip into her mouth and intertwine with his, her little hands instinctively tightening around his neck.
But soon, she felt a bit short of breath, as if she was lacking oxygen.
However, she did not back down; instead, she stood on tiptoe and pushed his tongue back.
Her response was more proactive and more intense.
Before she fainted, Vincent stopped and gently pulled away from her lips.
He moved his hand, which was resting on her chin, slightly upwards to wipe away the saliva that had mingled between them.
"Okay, I admit it, you've always been this bold."
Hermione, her head spinning, collapsed weakly into his arms, gasping for breath.
"You... you're so mean, how... how could you suddenly do this?"
Vincent leaned close to her ear and said, "You know what? I can actually be even worse."
Hermione's soft little fist gently pounded on his firm chest. "I'm not... I'm not afraid of you at all."
She looked both cute and fierce, which made him unable to resist opening his mouth and making a face as if he wanted to eat her alive.
Hermione, trembling, hurriedly closed her eyes.
A long time passed, Vincent made no move.
She cautiously opened her eyes a crack and saw his face, which was trying not to laugh.
The soft little fist fell again.
That's really awful; how dare they scare her!
The little fists struck again and again, each strike lighter than the last.
Vincent raised one hand. "Okay, okay, I surrender. I give up."
Hermione withdrew her little fist, her expression still both cute and fierce.
She raised her proud little head in Vincent's arms, "After all these years, I've finally beaten you once."
Including the time added by the Time-Turner, the two have known each other for a full seven years.
However, although Vincent may seem to have lost, he actually won.
It's rare to see such an adorable side of my girlfriend, especially since our relationship has progressed further; she's even learned to act cute and affectionate with me.
The smuger Hermione was, the brighter Vincent's smile became.
Why are you laughing?
"Because I'm very happy to lose to you."
She suddenly became shy. "I... I'm a little tired. Let's go back to the hotel."
Vincent leaned closer and opened the car door, which startled her so much that she tightly closed her eyes.
He reached out and gently flicked her forehead again. "Get in the car. What are you thinking about?"
Hermione opened her eyes and saw his face, which was trying not to laugh.
She got into the car angrily.
Vincent, both amused and exasperated, picked up the shopping bags from the ground and put them in the front trunk of his car.
He got into the car and turned Hermione's head around. "Don't be angry. I'll cook you something delicious when we get back to the hotel."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
"Real."
Hermione quickly fastened her seatbelt and urged impatiently, "Then hurry up and drive."
Vincent saluted her with a straight face, "Understood! I'll get back as fast as I can!"
Hermione couldn't help but grin and laugh heartily at his funny antics.
From friends to lovers, from holding hands to kissing.
Just as she had imagined, Vincent was very comfortable around her, and even his occasional mischievousness didn't make her feel disgusted.