Chapter27 She Called Him Husband
The sudden loss of control brought a flash of confusion to Miranda's misty eyes. Then she pouted with dissatisfaction.
Under the dual effects of alcohol and drugs, her thinking became sluggish and direct, her body's instincts clamoring for satisfaction.
Those hands that had just been lighting fires all over Clifton's body refused to stay idle, once again making trouble. They explored inside along the edge of his open robe, fingertips brazenly roaming across his firm chest and abs as if surveying her own territory.
Clifton's body suddenly stiffened.
Every inch of skin her fingertips traced felt like electric currents ran through it, instantly heating up as blood rushed toward his lower abdomen.
This woman was playing with fire!
He suddenly extended a hand, precisely gripping Miranda's delicate chin. The force wasn't heavy but compelled those eyes brimming with misty moisture to look at him.
"Miranda."
The man's voice became hoarse and low from extreme restraint, each word seeming ground out from deep in his throat, carrying a lethally dangerous air.
"Do you know what you're doing right now?"
Turbulent undercurrents she couldn't understand churned in his eyes, as if they would pull her entire being in.
Miranda trembled inside at his gaze, that nameless heat in her body surging even more fiercely.
She struggled restlessly, her body rubbing lightly beneath him, completely unaware of how deadly this movement was as torture for a normal man.
She didn't answer his question. She only followed the most primitive desire in her heart, staring straight at him with those shimmering eyes, red lips parting to utter two words.
"Kiss me."
Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a trace of command and grievance.
Clifton's pupils suddenly contracted.
Something was wrong.
Even if she'd been drinking, she wouldn't be like this.
His fingers gripping her chin paused. His other palm quickly moved to her forehead.
His palm met scorching heat.
Looking at her increasingly hazy, unfocused eyes and that abnormal flush, a guess instantly flashed through Clifton's mind. She'd been drugged.
He abruptly rolled off the bed, moving so fast that people almost forgot he was supposed to be disabled.
He returned to his wheelchair and quickly rolled to the small dining table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the dishes on it.
The seafood pasta was fine.
His gaze finally settled on the bottle of wine with only half remaining.
Next to the bottle's label hung an exquisitely crafted small gold card with a line of elegant cursive English: [May Cupid's arrow ignite a romantic night for you and your partner.]
Clifton picked up his phone and quickly searched this hotel's special services.
Sure enough.
The so called Cupid's Arrow was a specially mixed aphrodisiac wine. Harmless but highly effective, it was a surprise this hotel specially prepared for couple and married guests. They were famous for it. Almost all couples who came here for vacation came specifically for this.
Unfortunately, he and Miranda, this completely unsuspecting fake couple, had fallen for it.
"Mm..."
On the bed, Miranda had groggily sat up. Her silk nightgown straps had slipped to the side, exposing a large expanse of pale skin to the air.
She grumbled with dissatisfaction, her voice thick with nasality, almost coquettish. "Clifton... why won't you come kiss me?"
Clifton turned his wheelchair around to look at her.
Under the lamplight, the woman's eyes were seductive, radiating a breathtaking temptation.
His Adam's apple rolled heavily. For the first time, he realized that this version of Miranda was so difficult to resist.
Especially since he was currently still a disabled person who needed to maintain restrictions everywhere.
In the next second, Miranda actually rolled directly off the bed, barefoot, swaying unsteadily toward him.
She unhesitatingly pressed herself against Clifton again, her entire body clinging to him, arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
The slightly cool temperature of the man's body gave her burning body a trace of long missed comfort. She sighed with satisfaction, lifted her head, and sought his lips, wanting to take more.
"..."
Clifton's breathing hitched. Almost instinctively, he pressed her soft body tightly against himself to keep her from falling.
He looked down at the woman in his arms who clung to his neck refusing to let go, a trace of helplessness crossing his handsome features.
Taking a deep breath and suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart, he controlled the wheelchair with one hand while supporting her body with the other, heading toward the spacious bathroom.
Splash.
Clifton entered the large bathtub together with Miranda, then turned on the cold water tap with one hand.
Icy water instantly poured down.
"Mm..."
Miranda trembled as the cold water shocked her, but the itching inside her body became even more unbearable.
Her hazy eyes looked at the man so close, her soft lips pressed against his ear as she softly called out two words.
"Husband..."
Clifton forcibly suppressed the urge to take the woman before him right then and there. He gritted his teeth, grabbed the shower head nearby, and aimed it at her.
Bone chilling cold water washed down over her head.
"Ah!"
Miranda cried out, her whole body shuddering. The confusion in her mind seemed split open by this coldness.
Fortunately, the ingredients in the wine were meant for romance. The drug wasn't strong. After being soaked in cold water like this, the drug's effects in her body had mostly dissipated.
Clarity was gradually returning.
But once Miranda regained her senses, she felt even more embarrassed than when she wasn't lucid.
What had just happened?
She had actively touched him, actively kissed him, even straddled him, and... and called him husband?
Miranda's cheeks instantly flushed bright red, the heat even exceeding when the drug had taken effect earlier.
She, she had actually tried to seduce Clifton?!
Looking at the man's face so close by with its inscrutable expression, Miranda wished she could die on the spot.
Clifton shoved the shower head into her hand, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. "Rinse yourself."
With that, he controlled his soaked wheelchair out of the bathtub and left the bathroom without looking back.
Only Miranda remained in the bathroom with the sound of rushing water.
She raised her hand and slapped her burning cheeks hard, wishing she could just sleep in this bathtub tonight and never have to face anyone again.
Unfortunately, more than half an hour later, she still reluctantly shuffled out of the bathroom.
Only a bedside lamp was lit in the room. Clifton had already changed into a fresh robe and sat by the bed holding that financial magazine, though his deep eyes clearly hadn't read a single word.
Miranda wore her sleepwear, clutching the hem, standing several meters from the bed, somewhat afraid to approach.
She took a deep breath and gathered her courage to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. "Um... Clifton, I... I didn't mean to. I absolutely didn't mean to seduce you!"
Hearing this, Clifton finally looked up, his gaze falling on her calmly.
"I know."
He spoke flatly, his voice having returned to its usual coolness. "The wine you drank had aphrodisiac ingredients in it."
Miranda suddenly understood, then felt even deeper chagrin.
If only she hadn't been so greedy with the wine.
But even so, those shameful scenes had truly happened.
Thinking of her bold, transgressive actions just now, Miranda wanted to apologize but felt that "I'm sorry" was too pale, not knowing where to even begin.
The atmosphere became extremely awkward for a moment.
Finally, Clifton broke the silence.
He closed the magazine in his hand and casually placed it on the nightstand, his tone flat and indifferent.
"It's getting late. Get some rest." He paused, adding, "Tomorrow you still have to give that lecture at the university."
Miranda let out a heavy breath.
She nodded, quickly pulling back the covers on the other side and lying down.
Clifton reached up and turned off the bedside lamp.
The room instantly plunged into darkness.