Chapter 116 Chapter 116
She did all this to sabotage his marriage to Vania. She didn't care about him at all, but she couldn't allow Vania to marry him.
Torn between love and hate, Benjamin tugged at the corner of his lips, unable to discern which emotion dominated.
She read his thoughts completely. Seeing his state, she drew closer, looping her arm around his neck. Whispering seductively like a siren, she said: "We each give a little. You leave Vania alone, and I'll submit to you. How does that sound?”
Benjamin didn't answer. He tilted his head back and pulled away slightly, narrowing his eyes as he stared at her. “You're bargaining with me, are you?”
"Yes." She nodded, her body brushing lightly against his. "If you please me, I'll give you pleasure."
His voice already hoarse, he feigned ignorance. "How exactly do you plan to please me?"
She arched her eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips. Rising, she straddled him directly and pressed squarely onto his already aroused center. She ground gently from side to side before asking with a soft chuckle, "What do you think?"
Benjamin's body stiffened abruptly.
How could he possibly endure this? His hands tightened around her arms, pulling her down as he lifted his head to kiss her. But she kept turning her head left and right, dodging him and refusing to let him touch her lips.
She was driving him mad. Releasing her arms, he cupped her face with both hands and demanded through gritted teeth, "What the hell do you want? I never touched your Vania! I never touched her!"
She asked calmly, without anger, "You never kissed her, either?"
They were practically engaged—of course he'd kissed her. Her question caught him off guard, and he felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. Before he could think, he snapped, "I didn't know she was your best friend back then! How is that my fault? Does kissing her make me dirty? What about you? Haven’t you kissed or slept with anyone?"
He'd only wanted to save face, but the words were out before he could stop them.
Sure enough, Grace's expression stiffened and her demeanor turned cold instantly. She stared at him coldly and even managed a faint smile. Yanking her hand free from his grasp, she sneered, "You can think I'm disgusting, too. Not only have I kissed and slept with Adrian, but I've also kissed and slept with your benchmen. Oh, and others too—I can't even remember how many. Didn't you bring them all? You should know exactly how many they are."
All of the filthy memories he had tried to bury were suddenly ripped open by her words. Panic and regret overwhelmed him; he couldn't even meet her gaze. He clutched her arm tightly, refusing to let go. Burying his face in her chest, he begged hoarsely, "Grace, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm a bastard. Let's forget the past, okay?"
She didn't respond, nor did she struggle. She remained seated quietly on top of him. After a long moment, she murmured softly, "Actually, I feel dirty, too. Do you think God will forgive me?"
"I'm the dirty one, Grace. I'm the asshole." He lifted his head to kiss her but dared not touch her lips. Instead, he kissed her cheeks and neck before retreating. "I'll go wash up. I'll wash myself clean right now. Forget what happened before, okay? I won't touch Vania. Trust me; I won't lay a finger on her again. Not just her—I promise I won't touch any other woman either. I'll stay pure and faithful to you. Is that okay?"
She suppressed the hatred in her heart, lifted her head to look at him, and gave a mocking smile. "Do you keep your promises?"
Knowing it was her ploy, he still wanted to fall for it. He nodded solemnly. "For you, every word counts."
"You won't touch Vania? You won't get engaged to her or marry her?” she pressed.
After circling back to the starting point, he was utterly defeated. Benjamin couldn't help but smile bitterly. Looking at her, he answered, "Yes."
Her eyes darted about as she pressed further: "You won't touch any other women, either, right?"
Hearing this question, Benjamin felt a quiet thrill.
He wasn't afraid of making concessions later; he feared she wouldn't take the next step. The stalemate lay here—regardless of who moved forward or back, it was better than remaining frozen in place.
He curved his lips, conceding defeat while still seeking a small concession. In a low voice, he said, "As long as you let me touch you, I won't touch any other woman."
"You shouldn’t do it for me," she countered, refusing to take the bait. A mocking smile touched her lips as she added, "Just don't go near my friends. Everything else is up to you. Remember to use protection. Don't catch any STDs.”
She pushed him away, stood up, and turned toward the bathroom. Before she could take two steps, he scooped her up from behind.
She knew this was inevitable sooner or later. Trying to break free, she feigned anger. "What are you doing? Put me down."
He saw through her act and carried her toward the bathroom, teasing, "We'll wash together. You can watch me to see if I'm clean enough."
Every move she made and every word she spoke was a calculated strategy to gain leverage. He knew perfectly well that their bodies were merely bargaining chips they exchanged with each other.
He carried her into the bathtub. As soon as he adjusted the water temperature, he hurriedly began undressing her. But she reached out, yanked the showerhead off, and aimed it directly at his face. She hissed, "Clean yourself up first."
The force of the water nearly choked him, sparking a flicker of irritation. She was as quick as she was cunning, though. Before he could react, she shifted the showerhead downward. Her nimble fingers undid his fly, exposing his massive member. "And this," she teased, "is the most important part."
His anger instantly drained with his blood, and he could no longer hold back. He shoved her hard against the wall, not bothering to remove her skirt. He tore through her underwear, hooked one of her legs up, and thrust inside her.
The moment he entered her, it was as if his soul had been seized. His mind went blank, and an unconscious sigh escaped his lips.
For three hundred and sixty-five days a year, he had thought of her night and day. Just when despair threatened to consume him, he finally received word of her.
He was vile, shameless, and a scoundrel who had done every wicked deed. He didn't deserve her. Yet, he refused to let her go. Even if it meant plunging into hell, he would drag her down with him—just to keep a glimmer of light before his eyes.
He didn't move; he merely pressed against her, his head resting on her neck. After a long moment, his voice rasped, "Grace, bite me. Let me know this is real."
She lowered her head as instructed and bit into his shoulder, sinking her teeth in viciously until her mouth was filled with blood. Only then did she release him. She tilted her head up to look at him and asked, "Is it real?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he lowered his head to kiss her and tightened his grip around her waist. He cupped his hand beneath her hips and thrust into her with force. Each thrust was fierce. Each one paused briefly at the deepest point before slowly withdrawing, only to deliver an even more powerful strike the next time.
Within moments, she could barely endure it. She whimpered and bit his lip as she trembled and cursed, "Easy, you bastard!"
His movements softened slightly but soon grew heavier again, almost imperceptibly. Each thrust was so deep and forceful that it felt like it served some other purpose besides mere pursuit of pleasure.
She sensed the difference, her brows furrowing involuntarily. She pushed against him with her arms, trying to turn his face toward hers. "Alex, what are you doing?"
Instead, he wouldn't let her see him, pressing her head against his shoulder. After a long moment, he answered in a hoarse whisper, "Grace, I was thinking... If I go deeper, maybe I can get closer to your heart."
She fell silent. After a moment, she replied softly, "But this hurts me."
He froze for a second before letting out a soft, bitter laugh. He lifted her out of the tub, and they both were dripping wet. He carried her to the bed.
He pleasured her, bringing her to climax several times and watching her lose control beneath him.
Her reactions thrilled him. But just as he was about to climax, just before he was about to come inside her, he heard her cry out, "Out! Don't come inside!"
Her command shattered all his illusions, leaving his entire body frozen for an instant.
Rage ignited defiance within him. He clenched his jaw, gripped her waist tightly, and deliberately released himself deep inside her.
Grace tensed with him, her body slowly relaxing only after a long moment. Yet she wasn't as furious as he'd expected. Lying calmly, her voice hoarse, she said, "Alex, I won't bear your bastard child."
Benjamin felt as if Grace held his heart in her hands, easily manipulating his emotions. He froze for a moment before feeling wild joy. He lowered his head and kissed her repeatedly, saying, "Grace, will you marry me?"
She looked at him sideways, her eyes full of disdain. “Can you marry me?” she asked.
"As long as you're willing," he replied in a deep voice.
She stared at him, her lips curving slightly. "I'm just a stowaway now. How exactly do you plan to marry me? With your words? Do you think I'm some naive girl who'll be fooled by a ring, Benjamin?”
She deliberately called him Benjamin, reminding him that he was now the CEO of Norman Science and the head of the Norman family, not that lowlife Alex.
He knew she wasn't easily fooled and understood that her willingness to marry him was merely part of her strategy. Yet, despite that, he was willing to give it a try.
Benjamin gently brushed the sweat-dampened strands of hair from her cheek. Speaking slowly and deliberately, he said, "No, Grace, I will give you a wedding. Marry me."