Chapter 7: Maintaining This Relationship

Livia was stubbornly unyielding.

Angelo kissed her lips, his breath heavy. "Don't push me."

"Do you want to maintain this kind of relationship with me forever?" Livia tried to stay rational.

Angelo's hand roamed naughtily to her breast, skillfully asserting his dominance. "Forever works for me."

The beginning of her menstrual cycle always left her vulnerable to temptation. That eruptive volcanic sensation made her cross her legs in embarrassment. He knew her too well.

Livia felt like she was going mad, probably because it had been too long without any physical activity, and her desires were easily aroused by him.

'Forever is quite tempting.'

Angelo bit through the thin fabric of her nightgown, and upon hearing her startled cry, he looked up proudly at her eyes misted over. "Why do we need a label? We have a perfect understanding, and we enjoy life. Isn't that enough?"

'He's so bad. Bad enough that I can't muster a rebuttal.'

She had actually convinced herself that he had good stamina and technique — something that is indeed very important in the adult world.

"I want a real relationship, marriage, kids." Livia's chest heaved with emotion. "If you can't offer that, then stop coming after me."

Angelo pulled her hand downward, his voice hoarse. "You clearly know how to flirt with me the best."

Livia's breath became erratic. She wanted to pull away, but was held firmly in place.

"You love me, and me being with you, isn't that what you want?" Angelo's voice was magnetic and alluring.

'I love him, and he always knew.'

'It’s precisely because of this unfair love that he dares to manipulate me.'

A moment of clarity suddenly surged through Livia's muddled mind, and she asked, "What about you? Do you love me?"

Angelo moved her hand further down. "Isn't the fact that I'm aroused by only you proof that I'm all yours?"

Angelo never said, "I love you." That just wasn't his style.

Livia's grasp tightened, her palm burning with heat. "After tonight, I won't love you anymore."

Yet Angelo had already closed his eyes in repose, holding onto her hand as if they were in a physical therapy session. He swallowed hard, his throat emitting an embarrassingly sensual sound. "Let's talk after tonight."

In his eyes, Livia could never truly let go of him. Even if she was determined, there was a process involved. And that process was his opportunity.

Half an hour later, Angelo pulled Livia to wash her hands. "Haven't bothered you in a while."

Livia could hardly lift her arms, thankful that she didn't have work the next day.

"I'm going to shower." Angelo stripped off his pants, slightly disgusted by the sticky semen.

Before closing the door, he pointed to the durian on the table. "Eat it up quickly."

Livia had no appetite, her body felt limp. She returned to the bedroom and collapsed on the bed.

Soon after, Angelo pushed the door open and walked naked to the bed. He lifted the covers and slid beneath them.

Livia turned her head. "Aren't you leaving?"

Relaxing his arm around her shoulder, he closed his eyes. "You want me to leave naked?"

"That's your problem." She pushed his hand away, distancing herself.

Before she could move away, he snuggled up behind her, voice filled with fatigue, "Stop it, let's sleep."

His tender intonation, like a lover's whisper, tantalizingly invaded her heart.

Livia resisted, but she was exhausted, too, and eventually gave in.

When Livia woke up the next morning, she met his affectionate gaze.

Recalling the moment, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm moving in today." Angelo tenderly pushed back her hair. "Let's pretend the past month never happened."

Livia felt sore and drained, and was not in the mood to discuss it. "Move, I need the bathroom."

"Agree, and I'll get up."

"I might stain the sheets." Livia pointed out.

Angelo frowned but rolled over to let her up.

Livia, still lacking an appetite, heated up some milk and returned to bed to curl up.

Angelo glanced at her. Then, his hand slipped under the cover to gently massage her stomach. "I heard women don't get cramps after having kids."

Livia looked at him lazily. "With you? That’s never going to happen."

She removed his hand. "You can leave now."

Angelo got up immediately and left the bedroom, and she heard the door close.

'Did he really just leave, naked?.'

But his sudden compliance made her feel a surprising sense of loss. Tears dampened her pillow.

When she came to again, she saw Angelo sitting on her vanity, donning a casual outfit of a white shirt and black pants. His arms were crossed, long legs propped up, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

‘Why is he still here? How did he get in?’ she wondered internally.

"You were talking in your sleep," Angelo said with a mischievous grin, looking both roguish and handsome.

Livia was puzzled.

"You said, 'Angelo, I want...'" His smile deepened.

Her face turned beet red in an instant. ‘Impossible! I don't talk in my sleep. He's lying to me.’

Standing up and strolling to the edge of the bed, Angelo looked down at her. "Aren't you hungry? Get up, let's go out to eat."

Initially, Livia didn’t want to bother with him, but just as she pulled the blanket over her head, he yanked it away.

"Do I need to dress you, or should I just carry you out as is?"

"Can't you go by yourself?"

"No."

Angelo flung some clothes on the bed from the wardrobe, gesturing for her to change. Livia was irritated to see his clothes already hanging in the closet.

Angelo then wrapped her in a coat.

Feeling lethargic and not in the mood to argue, Livia let him escort her into the car, and he sped off in an instant.

Stepping out of the car, she immediately saw a colleague whose pupils shot wide in astonishment after seeing her emerge from a luxury vehicle worth millions.

After all, besides her beauty and knack for handling students, she was known for her discretion at the school.

"Miss Ashcroft, out for lunch, I see," the colleague greeted her, eyes lighting up even more at the sight of the man who alighted from the driver's seat. What a handsome guy!

Livia smiled and nodded. "Did you have a good meal, Miss Winslow?"

"It's the weekend, and my husband happens to be free. We've just eaten and are about to go out for a stroll. And who might this be?" Miss Winslow's grin carried a hint of innuendo as she playfully raised her eyebrows at Livia.

Glancing at the man who had now joined her side, Livia said, “He’s my rideshare driver.”

Angelo was speechless.

Miss Winslow paused, then laughed awkwardly.

Sipping her soup, Livia felt a pleasant warmth spread through her belly, rejuvenating her spirits.

Angelo lazily watched her, teasing that although she claimed she didn't want to come out, she was the one enjoying the meal the most.

"Rideshare driver?" Angelo questioned with a teasing lilt in his voice, a playful twinkle in his eye. "You're quite something."

Livia looked up at him. "What else would I say you are? My boyfriend?"

Angelo, about to light a cigarette, thought better of it and instead put it away. He then took Livia's soup bowl and took a sip. "That works."