Chapter 54
âNo, I learned from my fatherâs friend.â
At the thought of a man touching Adeleâs body, adjusting her pose as she studied how to shoot, Noahâs stomach churned. He brushed his fingers against her arm, as if to remove an imaginary speck of dust that offended his eyes.
As he touched the soft flesh, he could feel her thin bones. She felt like a porcelain doll that would break if he exerted even just little bit more force.
Darn it, I really need to be more careful when holding her in the future. Noah thought hard as he lightly massaged her wrist.
Adele thought he was looking for wounds so she reiterated, âIâm all right, Iâm not injured anywhere.â
âMm, I know.â He caressed her hand with his thumb, âDo you have any thoughts of learning how to shoot again?â
âYes?â
âLearn from me.â
He could touch her arm or hug her from behind with an excuse of âteaching her how to shootâ. As a bonus, he would get to have lunch with her and spend more time together. Isnât this what they would call âkilling two birds with one stoneâ? As Noah smiled, Adele skin crawled as she felt something sinister was about to come and pulled her arm out.
âI have long passed the age to effectively learn. I would not be able to absorb anything new. By the way, I have something I wanted to sayââ
He cut her off, âI think it would be nice if you say you want to learn how to shoot, at least one hour a day.â
âI wonât.â then she added, âBut, uhm⦠thank you.â
âHm? Didnât you already thank me earlier?â
âItâs not thatâ¦â Feeling self-conscious, Adele cleared her throat. âAbout the nights before. You mustâve had a hard time because I wasnât in my right mind.â
ââ¦â
âThank you⦠for taking care of me.â
It was so mortifying that Adele was flushed from her ears to the nape of her neck. Noah watched her reddening and licked his lips.
Now you did it, and now I want you. His eyes were filled with passion and a raging desire to make love. I want to suck you dry and devour you with kisses until you are left gasping for air.
But he had no choice but to hide it for now. Instead, he opened his mouth.
âWith your words alone?â
Adele blinked, âSorry?â
âYou should give me a rewardââ Noah smiled and lowered his head, narrowing the gap between their lips. ââas I did take care of you that day.â
Adele looked suspiciously at his approaching face. His lashes fluttering eagerly with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. It was the kind expression a boy would make when he jokes with a girl he likes.
âAh?â Adele realized something, but found it incredulous.
This man likes me. Why? Since when? He clearly hated me when I was his sister-in-law. But now? Come to think of it, it is strange. He enjoyed⦠having s*x with me. Would this be possible if he actually hated me?
He even listened very kindly to her when they went out for a picnic, he took care of her when she was drugged, and when she was stuck in a rut, didnât he come from the Imperial Palace to save her?
She ruminated to herself and thought back on her memories.
For two years, he always had a cold look talked rudely to her. But nowâ¦
Adeleâs body heated up when she saw the gaze of a man who wanted a woman. A man who wanted her. Since when has this person been like this? It couldnât have possibly started two years ago since he was so cold to me back then. But heâs been surprisingly kind to me after our first night.
âArenât you going to give me a reward?â
ââ¦â
âThen Iâm taking it by myself.â
Noah poked Adeleâs cheeks. It was softer than it looked, he felt a little addicted to the feeling and wanted to touch it more.
Damn, really want to bite and suck.
She grabbed his face and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Noah was stunned and his body stiffened drastically.
He thought it was a dream.
Adele quickly lowered her hand and slithered out of his arms. The people who came to see the circus had already went far away, the streets had already long hushed into silence.
Feeling shy and wanting to run away, Adele mumbled, âI⦠have a lot to buy.â
Dodging Noahâs questioning gaze, Adele hastily turned around and scampered away.
Adele was embarrassed of her actions and couldnât wait to get away from Noah.
His heart may change in the future. But for now, letâs just let him in.
Even with those thoughts, she still walked quickly.
Noah, dumbstruck and frozen in disbelief, abruptly came to his senses and followed after her.
âMore.â He pestered, âGive me more.â
âI have a lot to buy!â
âYou made me so hard that day, I almost died.â
Adele burst out laughing when Noah, who was usually cold and unfeeling, acted so petulantly.
He sure is a man who knows how to bluff.
So, she turned around and told him, âWhat do you mean, âhardâ? I know you liked it.â
Noah put his hands in his pockets and said in a relaxed voice, a crooked smile emerging from his lips. âSo, youâre aware of everything that happened that day? I thought you couldnât remember anything.â
As soon as the words left his mouth, Adele immediately regretted she couldnât control her mouth better.