Chapter115 Hot Spring
Miranda cried out, losing her balance and being yanked directly into the water.
"Splash!"
The warm spring water instantly covered her head, then a pair of strong arms steadily caught her waist, pulling her up from the water.
"Cough, cough..."
Miranda wiped the water from her face. Her bathrobe was completely soaked, clinging heavily to her body, outlining her alluring curves.
"Clifton, what are you doing!"
She angrily pounded a fist against his wet chest. "My clothes are all wet."
Clifton let her hit him. It felt like being tickled anyway.
He held her in his arms, looking down at her, in excellent spirits.
"Didn't you say you'd keep me company?"
He stated matter-of-factly, even brushing the wet hair plastered to her cheek. "This is what keeping company means."
"How does it feel?"
Miranda glared at him, but her body honestly assessed the experience.
She had to admit, this medicinal spring lived up to its reputation.
The warm currents massaging her body made all her pores open, as if washing away the entire day's fatigue.
"...Not bad."
She muttered. "It is pretty comfortable."
Clifton's lips curved. He released her, letting her splash around on her own while he leaned back against the pool wall, arms spread along the edge, eyes closed to rest.
Miranda swam for a while, feeling hot, and stopped to lean against the other side.
She secretly observed the man across from her.
He was tilting his head back, Adam's apple prominent, water droplets sliding down his jawline, flowing past his sexy collarbones, disappearing into the solid chest muscles beneath the water.
That lazy yet restrained appearance made hearts race.
Five minutes passed.
The man didn't move, breathing steady, as if asleep.
Miranda bit her lip, mischief rising.
Serves you right for pulling me in earlier!
She quietly moved closer, cupping water in her hands and splashing it at Clifton's devastatingly handsome face.
"Splash!"
Water flew everywhere.
Clifton's face was instantly covered in droplets, his previously slicked-back hair now wet and hanging over his forehead, looking somewhat disheveled.
"Hahaha..."
Miranda couldn't help it. Her clear laughter echoed through the spacious private spring.
The man slowly opened his eyes.
Those previously closed eyes, now misty with water, were dark and deep, like a long-dormant beast awakened, radiating dangerous light.
He raised his hand to wipe the water from his face, his gaze locking onto the woman laughing happily before him.
"Having fun?"
His voice was low and husky, the end rising, revealing nothing of his mood.
Miranda's laughter stopped abruptly.
She keenly sensed the dangerous atmosphere, coughing lightly, her eyes evasive.
"Well... I was just worried you'd fallen asleep."
"Liar."
Clifton scoffed softly, leaning forward slightly, slowly advancing on her.
Water rippled with his movement, each wave crashing against Miranda's heart.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Miranda's internal alarms blared as she instinctively retreated.
"I was wrong. I won't splash you anymore, okay?"
"Too late."
Clifton's lips curved into a wicked smile, the predatory intent in his eyes undisguised.
Miranda scrambled backward, frantically splashing water at him to block his approach.
Water flew everywhere. The man's hair was completely soaked, dripping from the ends.
But it didn't slow him down at all.
Clifton didn't even blink, casually sweeping his wet hair back with one hand, revealing his full, smooth forehead, looking even more wild and untamed.
The next second.
His long arm shot out, directly gripping Miranda's ankle.
"Ah!"
Everything spun. She was dragged through the water straight into his hard, scorching embrace.
Her back pressed against his burning chest, their bodies pressed intimately together in the water with no space between them.
"Still causing trouble?"
Clifton's large hand gripped her waist, imprisoning her in his arms as he bit her earlobe, his voice impossibly husky.
Miranda felt weak-kneed from the intense pheromones radiating from him.
She immediately shook her head like a rattle drum.
"No more. I was wrong."
From their earlier scuffle, Miranda's bathrobe tie had long since come loose.
Now soaked through, the thin fabric clung to her body, hiding nothing.
Especially that curve at her chest, visible beneath the dark water's surface, rising and falling dramatically with her breath.
Clifton looked down, his gaze landing right there.
His Adam's apple rolled sharply, the previously suppressed desire in his eyes surging instantly.
Clifton's eyes darkened dangerously. His gaze lingered on that curve for half a second before, giving Miranda no time to react, he pressed down.
A wet, hot sensation came.
"Hiss..."
Miranda gasped, and before she could push him away, the man had already lifted his head.
She looked down to see a suggestive red mark now on her chest, like claiming ownership, like some wicked brand.
"Clifton!"
Mortified and angry, Miranda immediately covered her chest with her hands, those usually cool eyes now shimmering with water as she glared daggers at this man who'd used both mouth and hands, her gaze full of accusation.
Was this man part dog?
Seeing her bristling reaction, Clifton's smile deepened, his Adam's apple rolling with satisfied pleasure.
Before she could curse at him, his large hand gripped the back of her head, and he leaned in again, fiercely sealing those still-chattering red lips.
This kiss was more ferocious than any before.
Carrying scalding heat and irrefutable dominance.
Miranda's hands pressed against his chest, originally intending to push him away, but under that suffocating assault, her strength gradually drained, finally becoming soft scratching.
Her legs felt terribly weak. She couldn't stand.
Clifton sensed her loss of strength. His large hand slid to support her bottom, and with a splash, he lifted her up in the water.
"Legs. Wrap around me."
The man's voice was devastatingly husky, carrying a commanding tone.
Miranda's brain had turned to mush. She instinctively obeyed, her legs wrapping tightly around his solid waist.
Their bodies pressed together seamlessly in the water.
This position was too mortifying. Miranda's entire face flushed red.
Time blurred. Just when she was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, Clifton finally loosened his grip slightly.
Then a cool sensation came from beneath her bottom.
Miranda snapped back to awareness, only now realizing he'd somehow carried her to the spring's edge and set her on the cold marble rim.
One side cold stone, the other his scorching chest.
The extreme temperature difference made her entire body shiver, and her reason instantly returned.
Seeing Clifton about to lean in again, Miranda panicked and, without thinking, pushed hard against his shoulders.
"Um..."
Her eyes darted around, not daring to look at the man's unsatisfied eyes, her voice still trembling. "You soak by yourself. I... I just remembered I have an important email to reply to. I'll head back first."
Miranda dropped that line, grabbed a nearby towel to wrap herself tightly, and ran toward the changing room without looking back.
Behind her came the man's low, amused chuckle, echoing through the spacious private spring.
Back in the changing room, Miranda looked at her swollen lips in the mirror, splashed cold water on her face, changed into a clean white bathrobe, roughly dried her soaking hair, took several deep breaths to compose herself, and only then pushed open the door.
Just turning the corridor corner, before reaching the elevator, two familiar figures approached.
Harrison and Ariana.