Chapter 78
Anna’s POV:
“Why bring him up?” I asked innocently, knowing exactly who Blake was referring to.
I suddenly widened my eyes in mock tealization and smiled. ‘Oh, you mean next time you’ll protect me instead?” I reached out to pinch the tip of his nose, mimicking the way he often tapped mine.
Blake wasn’t having it. He caught my wrist mid–air and brought my hand to his lips, giving the back of it a gentle bite. A perfect circular mark appeared on my skin.
“Can’t even dodge this, and you want to protect me?” he scoffed.
I smiled, twisting my wrist slightly. The neat, rounded teeth marks felt like they were burning into my skin.
Though Blake hadn’t bitten hard, the imprint felt like it was searing deep into me, making my entire arm fremble.
This was the kind of intimate gesture lovers shared. But Blake had made it clear, repeatedly, that he didn’t love me.
His mention of Michael wasn’t jealousy or envy–just male possessiveness. I was the wife who excited him now, who fulfilled his fantasies.
He simply didn’t want other men near what was his.
I pretended to lean forward, taking his wrist and placing a kiss on the back of his hand.
“I wasn’t trying to dodge you,” I said softly. “I know you’d never hurt me.”
Outside the car window, faint starlight flowed across Blake’s beautiful face. His lips curled upward, blue eyes absorbing the brilliant starlight, making him look irresistible. His long index finger tilted my chin up.
“I’m glad you know that,” he said approvingly.
I took his finger from my chin and guided it to my lips, then bit down gently, grinding my teeth slightly.
I gazed at him with feigned adoration. His breathing noticeably deepened, his eyes focusing intently on me.
Blake pressed the car intercom button. “Back to Seaside Manor!” he ordered the driver, changing our original destination.
He then pulled me toward him. His other hand cradled the back of my head, fingers threading through my short hair.
As he slowly pulled his finger out of my mouth, a thin, transparent strand connecting us, he leaned in and kissed me.
I felt his kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck. Half–heartedly pushing him away, I protested, “Blake! We’re supposed to be going to the police station! What about Lucas? The coral specimen he threatened me with–that hasn’t been dealt with yet!”
Blake licked his lips. “Leave it to me.” He leaned in to kiss me lightly again, then added, “What can I do, Mrs. Wright? I don’t want anything distracting you right now.”
After leaving a dark red kiss mark on his neck, I looked up. “Why’s that?”
He smirked. “Afraid you won’t have energy in bed.”
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Chapter 78
I pushed him away forcefully, my hands against his chest creating some distance.
Blake pulled me back onto his lap, one arm around my waist while the other retrieved his phone to call his personal assistant.
Over the phone, Blake instructed that everything should proceed according to “normal protocol, cooperating fully with the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
But I understood what he really meant–if Lucas went through the normal protocol,” his academic career and future at EcoMarine Group could effectively end.
Having heard Jade and Lucas’s story earlier, I didn’t want to press charges too harshly, even though Lucas had threatened me with that coral specimen.
I remembered him pointing it at me, but he’d only wanted to talk, to learn what had really happened with Jade.
In my heart, I made excuses for him–he truly loved Jade. She had lied about cheating to get a divorce, hiding her cancer diagnosis. He must be suffering terribly. That genuine love made him stronger than me in a way.
I pressed my cheek against Blake’s, leaning toward the phone. “Please don’t be hard on Lucas. Have the police make a record and release him. Help keep this quiet. He’s an important researcher for my coral conservation project who lost control due to personal
issues.”
Blake clearly disapproved. His brow furrowed, his expression instantly cooling, dangerous energy flickering in his blue eyes. Before he could speak, I silenced him with my mouth and covered his eyes with my palm, giving him a deep kiss.
When his assistant asked Blake to repeat his instructions, I had stopped kissing him. Blake’s tone softened as he told his assistant, “Give Lucas a minor punishment–three days in lockup. Keep everything confidential. Don’t let this affect EcoMarine’s reputation.”
Still dissatisfied, I reached for Blake’s phone but failed to grab it. I prepared to kiss him again to make him compromise further, but he pressed his finger against my lips, signaling his final offer.
I accepted the decision. Three days was better than ruining Lucas’s academic and professional life. I planned to use those three days to visit Jade, understand the situation, and then explain everything to Lucas properly.
After his assistant hung up, I tried to climb off Blake’s lap, but he held me by the nape of my neck. “Not bad. You’ve learned to use
your feminine wiles.”
I bit my lower lip and looked at him with feigned hurt.
Blake pulled me into his embrace, his eyes filled with delight as he kissed me lightly on the lips. “I like this about you–your compassion, your sense of justice, how you think of others.”
I raised my hand to touch his face. “Do you really?” I asked softly.
Instead of answering directly, Blake caught my hand and placed a gentle kiss on the inside of my wrist. That simple gesture was more convincing than any words.
The car moved smoothly and quickly. We were almost at Seaside Manor, and Blake remained restrained, avoiding further intimacy.
During this quiet moment, my thoughts drifted to Michael.
Since meeting him, I’d caused him nothing but trouble.
If he hadn’t shown up at EcoMarine when he did, I might have been hurt by the emotionally unstable Lucas and his coral specimen.
I felt guilty because Michael had helped me enormously, but I hadn’t had the chance to thank him properly,
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Chapter 78
I’d promised to treat him to dinner but hadn’t followed through. And now he
answering my calls, seemingly avoiding me.
I guessed that even a head detective–one who would shield me from danger–might feel awkward after being so obviously antagonized by Blake.
Tberated myself: I was just a big problem, so much so that even my father had asked Michael to look after me before he died. Now Michael probably didn’t want to see me anymore.
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