Janelle's response was equally direct: she threw a punch.
The man reacted instantly, catching her wrist and pulling her flush against his body. She was soft, and holding her felt incredibly comfortable. Reaching his current status, his self-control had always been a point of pride. Over the years, countless women of all types had tried to crawl into his bed, and he'd always coldly thrown them out. Yet, with her, he felt no desire for restraint. He wanted her. He wanted her to know his desire, plainly and simply.
"Shameless," Janelle spat the three words at him.
"What if I said I'm only shameless with you?" Erik replied earnestly, his gaze intense. "Janelle, how about we... try?"
"Try? Like this?" Suddenly, Janelle leaned forward and bit down on his Adam's apple.
In that moment, Erik felt like he could die right there on top of her. And the audacious girl didn't stop there – she flicked her tongue against the sensitive spot.
Veins bulged on the man's hands and neck.
Pressed so closely together, she couldn't miss his physical reaction. Her palm pressed firmly against his injured chest. She used considerable force. He wore only a thin black shirt; her action reopened the wound. Yet, even then, he made no move to release her. Anything from her, even pain, felt exhilarating. He'd never known he could be this crazed. If anyone else had dared wound him like this, they'd be long dead. But she hurt him, and all he wanted was to reclaim that pain in bed.
"Little vixen, truly ruthless," he murmured against her neck.
That stab had genuinely been meant to kill. She was ruthless. Yet, even her ruthlessness struck him as endearing. Erik rested his forehead against her shoulder, breathing heavily.
"..." It wasn't possible to be completely unaffected. After all, that night had left a rather deep impression. It had started with pain, but later... she'd begun to grasp the pleasure inherent in it. No wonder so many were obsessed with that particular act between men and women. But even understanding the pleasure, she refused to lose herself to it. Men were creatures ruled by their baser instincts.
"Erik," Janelle said coolly, "I think you should return to the Imperial Capital. If you stay here, that wound might never heal." It was advice offered with brutal honesty.
"Then let it not heal." A hole in his chest from her? He truly didn't care.
"Didn't you want me to tend your wound?"
Finally, Janelle set about redressing Erik's wound, a task that seemed to make the injury look worse each time. The girl showed him no tenderness, her movements rough and careless. Cold sweat beaded on Erik's brow from the pain, yet he remained silent. A man who could walk the borderlands unchecked possessed extraordinary endurance.
Erik was a man of considerable assets. Setting aside his background, his face and physique alone were enough to draw countless women. Once the wound was dealt with, Janelle tidied the medical waste from the table.
"I'm leaving."
"Where to?" Erik frowned, wanting her to stay.
Janelle sat on the edge of the coffee table, looking at him meaningfully.
"Erik, I'm not the kind of woman you think I am." That time had been a pure accident. "I'm not a casual person."
"Who said you were?"
He spread his legs, trapping her between them, leaning back lazily against the sofa. His deep, phoenix eyes were dangerously captivating.
"Janelle, I'm not a casual person either. I said we could try. I'm very interested in you right now." He was always direct. Whether his interest was in her or the intense pull of her body, he saw no reason to hide it. Like was like. Dislike was dislike.
A sudden wave of irritation hit Janelle. She craved a cigarette. "Give me a smoke."
Erik took a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and took several deep, hard drags. He was suppressing himself. Every cell in his body screamed to pin this woman down. After all, they'd slept together once. His body remembered vividly. Yet, he didn't want to force her. He was a proud man; he wanted her willing.
After a few more drags, he offered the cigarette to her lips.
The young woman's long hair cascaded down her back. Her stunningly slender, anime-perfect legs were crossed. Her swan neck was long and alluring. One hand braced on the coffee table, the other held the cigarette as she inhaled, wreathed in smoke. Seeing her smoke was uniquely captivating. Especially those soft lips... he desperately wanted to kiss them.
"Janelle," his voice was rough, "can I kiss you?"
Her captivating fox eyes lifted at the question. She took a drag of the cigarette and blew the smoke directly into his face. "I'm leaving." She didn't answer his request. Rising, she stepped over his legs and headed for the door.
"So cruel," Erik murmured, getting up and following her. At the door, he pressed a hand against it, blocking her exit.
Janelle raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Just one kiss." Otherwise, he wouldn't sleep tonight.
"No."
Janelle was adamant. They stood in a silent standoff.
"Truly a heartless little vixen," Erik sighed, finally opening the door. "Where are you going? I'll drive you. It's late." She was still a girl, after all.
"Unnecessary. Looks like you need a cold shower right now." He wasn't fit to go out in his current state.
"And whose fault is this?" He'd never been this humiliated. He was suffering! "You can't control your base instincts. What does that have to do with me?" Janelle retorted, utterly dismissive.
Janelle left without a backward glance. Erik had no choice but to retreat to the bathroom for that cold shower. Under the icy spray, he took matters into his own hands, his mind filled with visions of that exquisitely cold, beautiful face. Her hands are so soft... if she helped, it would feel incredible.
At the Rovella Mansion
Westin was still seething over Janelle's attitude. Seeing his state, Amber poured him a cup of tea.
"Don't be angry. If you ruin your health, what will Lillie and I do? You're our pillar of support." Amber knew exactly how to handle men. A few words, and Westin felt somewhat mollified.
"Yeah, Dad!" Lillie leaned against Westin's shoulder, coaxing him. "In my heart, you're the most amazing dad! I know you'll win."
Westin held his beloved wife and cherished daughter. "Don't worry. I will drive Janelle out of Graham City." Her very presence here was an affront.
"Dad," Lillie said, feigning magnanimity, "really, as long as Janelle doesn't hurt Mom and me, she could stay. But she's obsessed with what happened five years ago. She'll never forgive us."
"Forgive you? For what?" Westin exploded. "It was Madalyn who was shameless! Bringing men into my house! I've never been so humiliated!" No man could tolerate his wife cuckolding him.
"Lillie, don't think about her," Westin commanded. "Focus entirely on preparing for your Institute assessment. You must get in."
"Don't worry, Dad," Lillie said confidently. "I'm very confident about this assessment. I will get into the M Institute." Lillie possessed genuine talent in scientific research. It was a key reason Nelson had initially been drawn to her.