Master of Lust

Chapter - 126

The chilly night air wrapped around Rick and Olivia like a familiar hug as they stepped out of the hospital. Olivia let out a little shiver, hugging herself and rubbing her arms over her clothes in an attempt to ward off the cold. Rick felt her walking behind him and stopped so she could catch up.

She looked around, her head darting this way and that. When she spoke, her eyes didn't meet Rick's.

"Maybe we should take a bus. It's a long ride, about five hours, but we could reach home by midnight." She nodded to herself, and then, in a voice so low she might as well be speaking to herself, she said, "Plus, it might be cheaper."

Rick said nothing about the latter, his focus more on her shivering body. A warm smile curved on his lips.

Unexpectedly, he put his arm around her, side-hugging her, pulling her closer. Olivia was taken aback for a moment, a soft pink taking over her cheeks appearing on her cheeks. Her blush redder the more she felt Rick's warmth spreading over her. She looked up at Rick, but he stared straight ahead, leading her with a confident stride.

Following him without protest, Olivia stole occasional glances at Rick. She felt her body trembling, a tingling sensation in her chest.

In the comforting embrace of Rick, Olivia discovered an unspoken warmth that enveloped her, a subtle yet undeniable sensation that she relished without putting it into words. The unexpected closeness between them became evident as she nestled closer under his protective arm, her head finding a natural spot beneath his chin.

The realization of their surroundings dawned upon Olivia only when they came to a halt, prompting her to cast a puzzled gaze around. It was then that she noticed they were situated in a parking lot. Perplexed, she turned to Rick and inquired, "Rick, what are we doing here?"

Rick didn't say much; instead, he gently guided Olivia towards a sleek Range Rover in front of them.

"Is this your car?" Olivia asked, looking reluctant as she hesitated and glanced back at Rick.

But Rick, maintaining his characteristic silence, wordlessly opened the door and gently ushered Olivia into the plush interior of the Range Rover. However, Olivia, caught off guard, instinctively resisted the subtle nudge. She turned her neck inquisitively towards Rick, seeking an explanation, but he remained focused on his actions, providing no verbal reassurance.

Closing it behind her, he walked around to the other side entering the driver's seat. Olivia's confusion only grew the longer the silence continued, and when he started the engine, she couldn't contain the barrage of questions from spilling.

Their families had known each other for years, and both had grown up in an environment where luxury cars were a rarity. Olivia couldn't help but express her surprise. "Rick, when did your family start affording such a big, luxury car?"

Rick remained silent, focused on the road as he drove away from the hospital. Olivia's questions filled the car, but Rick seemed to be intentionally avoiding the topic. Instead, he glanced at her with a mysterious smile.

The city lights danced on the car's windows as they cruised through the night. Olivia, still curious, asked, "Rick, seriously, what's going on? Why this car?"

He finally chuckled, breaking his silence. "It's just a little upgrade. Got this recently."

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. "Upgrade? This is more than an upgrade, Rick. This is like a leap into a different league. What happened?"

"I remember your father bought one of those electric bikes for you when you got into college," Olivia said, "So how did you..." Olivia did not complete her words, but it was more than enough to imply what she meant.

Rick sighed, dramatically, "Why do you women have so many questions to ask? Can't you all just enjoy instead of nitpicking the small details?"

Olivia however was not satisfied with his beating around the bush, but decided to drop it for the moment. It was clear Rick wasn't in the mood to give any answers. She instead said, "Well, congratulations on the new car."

Rick grinned, acknowledging the well wishes. "Thanks. And thank you for gracing it with your presence." He glanced at her and gave her a slow wink, all the while a confident grin filling his lips.

As the sleek Range Rover smoothly departed from the bustling city lights, a gentle lull settled within the confines of the car. Olivia, feeling a sense of restlessness, began to fidget in her seat, absently wringing her fingers in various patterns. All though she wanted to, but she still could not wrap her head around the whole Range Rover. It was just too big and expensive for that.

That kept making her steal glances when he was not looking. Even now, as his eyes stayed glued on the road in front of them, she couldn't help but turn to her left and stare at him. At his fingers on the steering wheel, at the lazy elbow he rested on the armrest.

Restlessness consumed her, and she needed a distraction. Before she could stop herself, the question spilled from her lips, "Okay, tell me the truth, did you win the lottery or something?"

Rick, responding with a chuckle, turned towards her, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Or something. What do you mean, Mrs. Clarke?" he retorted in a tone that carried a hint of taunt and sarcasm. So instead of Olivia, he called her Mrs Clarke.

Olivia eagerly anticipated an explanation from him, but he remained tight-lipped, offering no further details. "Or something," she mocked, her curiosity growing. "Are you mixed up with the mafia now or what? It's all so vague."

"Come on, Mrs. Clarke," Rick responded with an exaggerated flair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Can't a man keep his secrets?"

Olivia wrinkled her nose in disbelief, gazing out the window. "Man? Secrets?" she muttered under her breath.

"You're just a kid in front of me," Olivia teased, studying Rick's confident expression. "Believe it or not, I could still twist your ear, and you would spill everything like a parrot in no time."

Hearing Olivia's jest, Rick couldn't help but want to laugh. She did have a certain hold over him, even now. Yet, times had changed. He was no longer the six-year-old kid who succumbed easily.

With a swift and deliberate move, he turned towards Olivia, casually placing his arm behind her and leaning forward. His face hovered close to Olivia's, and he locked eyes with her, a mischievous glint in his gaze that caught her off guard.

"I am not the innocent little kid you remember anymore," Rick spoke slowly, his voice husky, setting Olivia's heart racing.

"Ehh..." Olivia's heart quickened as Rick's unexpected move caught her off guard, prompting her to instinctively attempt to retreat.

Rick's smile widened as he observed her reaction, and it made Olivia feel like burying her head in the ground like an ostrich. What was with her response? She scolded herself mentally, trying to make sense of the sudden flutter in her chest.

"You... Look at the road ahead. We... We might get into an accident," Olivia weakly mumbled, deliberately avoiding locking eyes with Rick.

"As you say, Mrs. Clarke," Rick grinned, leaning back and refraining from further teasing. Once Rick shifted back, Olivia straightened in her seat, falling silent. Rick's enigmatic demeanor had doused her curiosity like a bucket of cold water, leaving her pondering the unspoken words between them.

Rick observed the waning spark of enthusiasm in Olivia's eyes from the corner of his own. He didn't want her to retreat into the labyrinth of her thoughts again, but the challenge was finding a topic that wouldn't tread on sensitive ground. He had nothing pleasant to talk about.

If he talked about Emily, it was going to be a heartbreak. And if he talked about her douche-bag husband... No... He could not talk about that either. No, that was an absolute no-go zone, a minefield ready to explode. Frustration bubbled within him.

And what the fuck was wrong with the system? Why was it not giving any help to him? Seriously, the system can be a bit frustrating at times.

"Um... Mrs Clarke..." After much thought, Rick decided to speak. He was sure if he could manage to speak anything at all, the conversation can easily flow between them.

But to his surprise, when he turned toward her, he discovered that she had succumbed to the gentle embrace of sleep. Her lips formed a delicate 'o,' and the sporadic traffic lights cast a soft, ethereal glow on her face. A surge of affection swelled in his chest as he gently reached over to tuck a stray strand of hair away from Olivia's face.

Her cheek twitched ever so slightly at his inadvertent touch, and a contented sigh escaped her parted lips.

He couldn't help but steal glances at the captivating woman with the striking pink hair beside him.

* * * * *

This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com