Chapter 201:
Alicia was taken aback.
Caden drew her close, their bodies fitting perfectly together.
“How did you know?” she asked, bracing herself against his shoulders. The space was cramped, their faces nearly touching.
Caden tilted his head slightly.
“I remember your time of the month,” he said plainly.
Alicia was at a loss for words.
Caden’s laughter was low and steady. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let him leave with you.”
She was puzzled. “Why would that be something you remember?”
To her, it seemed like a minor detail, especially since their relationship was casual. Most men don’t even remember their partner’s cycles.
g𝓪𝓵𝓷σv𝒆𝓵𝓼.cøm – check it out!
How did he remember hers?
Caden observed her surprised look and explained, “It’s simple. Since we agreed to see each other regularly, I noted the days we couldn’t. Those days were difficult for me, and they’ve stayed in my memory.”
Alicia’s lips quivered slightly.
She knew better than to expect kindness from him. As her nerves settled, she pressed her lips firmly together.
Caden gently lifted her chin with his fingers, his smile mocking. “What? Did you think I remembered because I cared?”
Feeling both embarrassed and angry, Alicia muttered a curse.
She tried to pull away, but Caden held her firmly in place and kissed her, reopening the scab on her lip.
Blood began to trickle down, sending a sharp sting through her.
Alicia whimpered from the intense pain.
Caden, momentarily softening, loosened his grip, though his tone remained icy. “Remember this pain. Avoid it next time.”
“You’re looking for trouble in the future,” Caden said, his voice cold.
“How am I looking for trouble?” Alicia responded defiantly.
“What do you think?” he retorted.
Caden then pulled out a pack of wet wipes and started cleaning her hands. She tried to pull her hands away, but Caden held them firmly, leaving red marks on her pale skin. He cleaned each finger with care, focusing on the ones that had touched the male escort.
Alicia flinched at the rough handling. Through clenched teeth, she demanded, “What are you doing?”
“They’re filthy,” Caden replied curtly.
Alicia was left speechless for a moment before she snapped, “Why do you care about my hands? I didn’t touch you. Let go, Caden!”
Caden seemed indifferent to her protests, continuing to clean each finger until he was satisfied. Then, his focus shifted to her lips.
“Did he kiss you after you left the bar?” he asked.
Alicia, irritated, shot back, “So what if he did? You swallowed any trace of him, didn’t you?”
Caden’s gaze grew even more intense. “Answer me. Did he kiss you?”
“None of your business!” Alicia asserted, each word deliberate.
Caden forcefully held her face, his eyes burning with anger. It was the first time Alicia had seen him so enraged, and the intensity left her confused. Was he jealous? Why would he be? He had always claimed to have no feelings for her.
Alicia tried to turn her head away, refusing to meet his gaze, but he persisted, undeterred. Tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes, her gaze intense yet silent.
For a brief moment, Caden’s expression softened.
He released her, his voice demanding, “He didn’t touch you, did he?” The urgency in his tone was unmistakable.
Tears began to spill down Alicia’s cheeks.
Caden’s expression softened slightly with concern. “Since when are you so sensitive to pain? I wasn’t that harsh.”
He scrutinized her face, searching for any signs of injury. But as he drew closer, Alicia’s vulnerability shifted into defiance. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and, with a burst of fury, bit his face.
Her teeth sank into his skin with all the resentment and frustration she had bottled up. Caden let out a sharp cry of pain.
Alicia released him, her breathing uneven, but a sense of satisfaction flooded her. “Now we’re even.”
He had bitten her lip, and she had retaliated by biting his face. Both were injured—an odd balance of pain.
Caden stared at her, a mix of defiance and dissatisfaction on her face. But then, to Alicia’s surprise, he seemed to forget his discomfort altogether.
He laughed softly, his gaze lingering on her slightly swollen lips.
“That mouth of yours,” he mused, his voice dropping to something husky and provocative. “What should I feed it to keep it quiet? Tell me.”
Alicia, accustomed to his provocations, imagined several responses, none of which she vocalized. She stood her ground, her eyes flashing a warning. “Try anything, and I’ll bite it off.”
“We’ll see about that later,” Caden replied, unshaken and almost anticipatory.
He released her and started the car.
Alicia clenched her teeth, bracing herself for whatever came next. As they drove, she mentally plotted her escape strategies. But when they arrived at the apartment building, Caden retrieved a bag from the trunk and pulled out a dark object.
He handed it to her, his voice neutral. “Put this on your lower abdomen. It should help with the cramps.”
Alicia looked at him, puzzled. “What is this?”
“A thermos with hot water,” he explained simply.
Alicia, taken aback, examined the item carefully. Her emotions were conflicted as she looked back at him.
