Chapter 52: You're the Only One

On the way back, Livia was fuming, occasionally glaring at Angelo.

Angelo touched his face and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

"You've got a thick face," Livia burst with irritation.

"If I had stayed in the hospital all night, can you honestly say you wouldn't be mad?" Angelo said confidently.

Livia huffed, "Honestly, no."

"Don't you realize that with what you said, Valentia would see me as an enemy?" Livia glared at him. "Are you trying to get me killed by a woman's jealousy?"

Angelo raised an eyebrow. "The jealousy of a woman is exactly why I brought you along to personally take me away from there."

"You're twisting the truth."

"I’m just sticking to the facts," Angelo said. "If I were to stay in the same room with her all night, wouldn't you get jealous?"

Livia turned her head away. "I wouldn't."

"How can you be so dishonest? Lying isn't a good trait." At a red light, Angelo stopped the car, and his hand reached towards Livia's chest.

Livia shivered in alarm. "What are you doing?"

Angelo, all serious-like, said, "Feel my pulse and see if it speeds up when I lie."

"I'm telling you, if Valentia takes out the anger you stirred up today on me, you and I are going to have issues!" Livia warned him.

Angelo replied nonchalantly, "She won't do anything to you."

"You're underestimating a woman's jealousy." Livia glanced at Angelo. "If she didn't love you, maybe it wouldn't matter. But clearly, she cares about you."

Angelo kept silent.

Livia stared ahead and asked, "Here's a question for you. She came back to you, wanting to get back together. Why won't you give her a chance? She's beautiful, has a great figure, good exposure, and a solid reputation. If you two got together, you’d be a power couple."

"Do you really want me to be with her?" Angelo asked coldly.

"It's not about what I want. I'm asking why you won't be with her."

"And why should I be with her?"

"Because she's dazzling, and you two would be a perfect match."

Angelo let out a cold laugh. "I think I'm a better match with you."

Livia pouted. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

Livia knew she couldn't get a straight answer from him about his true feelings for Valentia. Could his reluctance to talk about the past mean it was too painful?

They pulled up at her apartment building. Livia slammed the car door shut, ready to walk away.

"Stop right there!" Angelo said calmly as he got out of the car and locked the doors.

Livia turned around. "What now?"

"Sleep." Angelo took her hand and started pulling her inside.

Once in the elevator, Livia glared at him. "You shouldn't have left. You should've stayed with her at the hospital."

Angelo gripped her hand tighter. "Enough."

"I feel sorry for you." Livia spouted nonsense with open eyes.

"If you're so sorry for me, then you'll take real good care of me later," Angelo said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, making Livia hesitate.

Upon entering the apartment, Angelo saw the beer bottles and leftover snacks on the table. He turned to look at her.

"If you've ever had a woman leave in the middle of making love to answer a phone call, you'd know how frustrating it is," Livia complained softly.

Now that she was back, she was determined to let him know just how unhappy she was.

Angelo was in the wrong this time.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "How about I make up for it?"

"Sorry, I've lost interest," Livia removed his hands and headed to the bedroom. "You can sleep on the couch."

She tried to close the door behind her, but Angelo wedged himself into the doorway and pushed it open to get inside.

Livia backed away, eyeing him warily. "What are you up to now?"

"Time for bed." Angelo casually stripped off his clothes, his jeans sliding down his lean, straight legs without a care for the impression he was making.

His boxers were the only thing left, covering the essentials, conspicuously impossible to miss with just a single glance.

As he peeled off his last layer and headed for the bathroom, Livia caught a fleeting glimpse of his firm, pert, and sensuously inviting buttocks.

Blushing, Livia lowered her head and covered her mouth to hide the turmoil inside.

The sound of running water filled the room, and Livia let out a resigned sigh.

Glancing at the clock, it was already 4:20 am.

She changed into her nightwear and lay down in bed, and soon enough, she heard a noise.

The blanket lifted, the bed dipped slightly, and Angelo's warm, broad chest pressed against her back. She pretended to be asleep.

Angelo kissed her shoulder, teasing her.

Livia acted as though she was oblivious, unresponsive, and completely still.

"I've got a flight at 10 am tomorrow. you sure you want to give me the cold shoulder?" Angelo knew she was faking sleep. Her whole body was tense.

Livia kept her eyes shut and continued to ignore him.

Angelo wasn’t having it. He flipped her body around and pinned her down, kissing her lips dominantly. The passionate kiss broke through her charade.

She bit down on his tongue, her beautiful eyes wide and round with indignation.

Angelo winced in pain, his words muffled, "Let go!"

Livia didn't want to play games, so she released him.

"You're driving me to the airport tomorrow." While talking, Angelo's hands roamed over Livia.

"You can driver yourself," Livia retorted.

"I'll be away on a business trip for a week. Are you sure you don't want to cherish our time together?" Angelo's kisses trailed her body, gentle and then deep, careful not to mark her too severely.

Livia didn't move, just lay there still, tempting.

Panting softly under his influence, she slightly arched her back, her breath ragged, "I wish you'd go and never come back."

Suddenly, Livia cried out.

Angelo was clearly retaliating for her remark, his voice hoarse, "If I don't come back, you'll be quick to find another man?"

"It's not like you won't be finding other women out there." Her eyes misted over her grip on his back, fierce, clutching with all her might.

Angelo was quite pleased with her current expression, angry yet clearly enjoying the pleasure he delivered.

She was absolutely addicted to him.

Just like he was addicted to her.

His whisper was a tempting caress in her ear, biting it lightly. "You're the only woman for me. Just behave, and it'll only be you."

Her shoulders shivered at his seductive, sweet nothings, her body turning softer and melting under his touch.

Her hands were wrapped around his neck, her eyes shiny and sultry with seduction, her lips full and sensuous. Her mind was a bit hazy, and the words she intended to say tumbled out in a soft and delicate whisper, "Angelo."

Angelo responded passionately, his body crashing onto Livia like relentless waves.

The words Livia wanted to say were stifled by his movements. Her hands clung tightly to his back, succumbing to the pleasure he delivered.