Chapter 96 Let Me Rub It for You
The position they were in right now was absolutely terrible.
Gloria's small hands had grabbed his straight pants into two bunches of wrinkles.
Looking up, Caspian's white shirt was tucked into his belt with its silver metal buckle, not as composed as usual, somewhat loose.
He was propping his cheek with one hand, head tilted as he looked at her, his eyes carrying an unusual laziness.
He didn't show any sign of displeasure at her earlier breach of etiquette.
His lowered gaze fell on Gloria's delicate and lovely face, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, making her look pitiful.
Gloria was extremely nervous. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
She was so embarrassed she wanted to escape this awkward situation. Why did she always make a fool of herself in front of Caspian?
If Caspian weren't so emotionless and desireless, anyone else would probably think she was trying to seduce him.
Lost in these thoughts, she grabbed her phone and prepared to get up, but the car started climbing uphill. The forward-tilting car body caused Gloria, who had just stood up, to fall right into Caspian's arms.
She cried out, one knee on Caspian's leather seat, both hands on his shoulders, and her red lips landed without warning on the hollow of Caspian's neck.
"Careful." Caspian's low, husky voice sounded in her ear.
A pair of hands steadied her waist. Gloria's nose was filled with Caspian's scent.
Beyond the usual elegant sandalwood, there was also a hint of alcohol, which under the warmth of the heater, formed a scent that could be called "intimate."
She was wearing only a thin dress, her soft chest pressed against Caspian's firm one.
Joseph heard the cry and instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror.
The mirror presented an absolutely beautiful scene.
The slender beauty in an evening gown had fallen into Caspian's arms, and Caspian, to steady her, had pressed her body against his thigh.
Gloria's long legs were exposed through the side slit of her dress.
To anyone, this scene would seem like throwing herself at him, but Gloria was an exception.
She was alluring without being vulgar. Despite being a married woman, she still maintained a girl's innocence.
Her soft and delicate appearance formed a sharp contrast with Caspian. Caspian's lean fingers circled her waist, the winding veins on the back of his hand showing Caspian's dominance, the sexual tension at its peak.
Joseph thought it looked very much like a delicate wife falling into a warlord boss's arms.
Just one glance, and he finally understood why Caspian had been unable to forget Gloria all these years.
Gloria's unique temperament was too deceptive and bewitching.
If a young woman like her fell into his arms on the street, he'd pluck the stars from the sky for her.
Joseph looked for one more second and felt a cold light shooting toward him.
He met Caspian's sharp gaze, and his heart seized up.
Joseph quickly looked away.
Caspian calmly took in Gloria's panicked and embarrassed expression, with only one thought in his mind.
She's so good.
How could she look like a pregnant mother? She looked like a little girl no matter how you looked at her, covered in a layer of desire that wouldn't dissolve.
Her lips were so close, he could kiss them with just a slight bow of his head.
Gloria felt Caspian's burning breath on her neck. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but his breathing seemed more rapid than before.
Sensing that their current position was somewhat inappropriate, and afraid of another accident like last time, Gloria waited until she was sure the road ahead was clear before moving out of Caspian's arms.
His arms felt empty, as if her fragrance still lingered.
His prized self-control had almost collapsed. In that moment, he had wanted so badly to pull Gloria roughly into his arms, kiss her breathless, until her legs couldn't close, until she could only hook her arms around his neck and whimper.
Once the seed was planted in his heart, desire would become a clawed vine monster, tightly binding and entangling his body.
He knew very well that suppressed desire, once it found an opening, could never be controlled again.
Gloria was still shaken. The incident had completely distracted her from Maria's live stream.
Her heart was pounding. She hoped Caspian wouldn't misunderstand her—she really didn't mean to seduce him.
"How many more days until you get the divorce decree?" he suddenly asked.
Though Gloria didn't quite understand why he asked such a question, she obediently answered, "Ten days."
She looked at the snowy road ahead, not seeing how in the dim light, Caspian's lips curved slightly.
Where was the abstinent and otherworldly look he used to have? Only crazy determination remained.
Ten more days and she would be free.
Back at the nursing home, Caspian put on his coat and got out of the car, taking the initiative to hold an umbrella for Gloria.
Gloria spoke up, "I'm fine. It's so late, you should go home and rest. I'm already being presumptuous asking you to drive me here."
Caspian showed no sign of stopping. He said lightly, "Maria announcing the child wasn't James's wish."
Gloria knew this well. If James really wanted to do this, he wouldn't still be desperately trying to win her back.
It must have been that last time she and James had cornered Maria, leaving her no choice but to take this risk, using the child to threaten James for greater benefits.
Although Maria's behavior was despicable, she had accidentally helped Gloria.
She had made it known to everyone—James would definitely have to divorce her now!
Gloria asked, "So?"
"James won't let this go. He wants to explain to you, and he might pester you. Given his extreme personality, I'm afraid he'll hurt you again."
Thinking of the scene in the bathtub, how James had seemed like a different person, made Gloria feel somewhat frightened.
"I'll definitely be careful tonight."
"I'll stay."
Gloria paused. "You mean?"
"I'll sleep on the living room sofa."
"How can that work? You—"
Caspian looked down. "Gloria, do you know what I was thinking when I saw you in the bathtub?"
Gloria shook her head. That night she had been so feverish and confused, she didn't remember the details.
Caspian answered word by word, "I swore I would never let you fall into such danger again. James won't take bodyguards seriously. Only if I'm by your side will he not be able to touch you."
This statement had already been proven—James didn't dare move against Caspian.
"Alright then." She had to compromise.
Although sharing a room with a man of the opposite sex was a bit strange, considering Caspian's nature, he should be the one guarding against her.
Gloria would never think of him in that way.
He could have any woman he wanted—how could he be interested in a pregnant woman?
She checked on Vivienne. Vivienne was still in the hospital room with nurses and caregivers, and her condition was gradually stabilizing.
Gloria returned to Vivienne's nursing suite. Her guest bedroom wasn't very big, but fortunately the living room was quite spacious.
She brought out a quilt and pillow to make up the sofa. "Sorry, you'll have to make do tonight."
"It's fine. It's getting late, you should rest early."
Caspian looked down at her from his height and said gently, "Good night."
Gloria closed the door without locking it, then took her pajamas into the bathroom.
Too much had happened tonight. Thinking of Maria announcing in front of everyone that she was carrying James's child, Gloria's heart ached.
Her only man had ultimately gotten involved with another woman.
The shower water washed over her body, but couldn't wash away the gloom and sorrow in her heart.
Gloria's eyes felt dry. She felt like crying but couldn't, only feeling a suffocating heartache.
She pushed open the partition to come out, when suddenly everything went dark and her body fell toward the floor.
Gloria cried out.
In the quiet room, Caspian heard her weak voice and got up, walking toward the guest bedroom.
No one was in the room. He stood outside the bathroom and knocked gently. "Gloria?"
Gloria made a faint sound. "I... I'm fine."
Her voice didn't sound fine at all. Caspian couldn't worry about propriety and pushed the door open forcefully.
Gloria had fallen on the floor wrapped in a bath towel, looking miserable.
Caspian walked in with a few quick steps, a trace of worry flashing through his deep eyes. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?"
"The baby's fine. I'm just dizzy, and my foot cramped." Gloria spoke with difficulty, her face full of pain.
Caspian crouched on the floor, his slender hand grasping her wet, moisture-covered ankle. The touch of the opposite sex made Gloria instinctively tremble slightly. Her calf muscles had knotted into a block, and the unbearable pain made her unable to refuse.
Her already reddened eyes welling up, she clutched Caspian's clothes, her small mouth slightly open. "It hurts so much."
"Don't be afraid, I'll rub it for you."