Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Craving Him

A slight blush crept onto Sophie Shaw’s cheeks. Unwilling to deal with Alaric Blackwood’s teasing, she simply hung up.

On the other end of the line, Alaric Blackwood was still waiting for her to reply.

After a long moment of silence from the receiver, he glanced at his phone and realized Sophie Shaw had already hung up.

He smiled thoughtfully, placed his phone face down on the table, picked up a pool cue, and walked toward Evan Ford.

Evan Ford had just sunk several balls in a row and was feeling smug about his hot streak when the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open. He glanced up, which made him miscue. The shot went wide, and the ball missed the pocket.

It was Jaden.

He’d been trying to contact Alaric Blackwood ever since he was discharged from the hospital, but Alaric wasn’t picking up, so he had no choice but to call Evan Ford.

After hearing the two of them were at the billiards club, he had rushed over.

"Your turn."

Evan Ford carried his cue over to a nearby sofa, sat down, and picked up his cup of tea.

Alaric Blackwood picked up a cue, focused on his shot, and ignored Jaden who had just walked in.

Jaden felt a knot in his stomach. He walked right up to Alaric’s side. "Come on, that’s enough. How much longer are you going to give me the cold shoulder?"

"You’re in the way. Move aside."

Jaden suppressed his anger and stepped back.

Alaric Blackwood sank the ball in one shot. As he was about to take his second, Jaden walked over to Evan Ford and snatched the cue from his hand. "I’ll play him."

Hearing this, Alaric Blackwood instantly lost interest in playing. Without even taking the second shot, he tossed the cue to Evan Ford. "You take it."

Jaden: "..."

Evan Ford, stuck in the middle, felt a massive headache coming on.

He caught the cue steadily and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Are you two ever going to stop?"

"Hey, I already apologized. Nina slapped me a few times to blow off steam, then Alaric had his bodyguards beat me up. He’s the one fighting dirty—holding a grudge even after I got my punishment."

Alaric Blackwood lit a cigarette and didn’t respond to Jaden.

Jaden took a shot, missed the pocket, and gestured for Evan Ford to continue.

While Evan Ford was shooting, he turned to Alaric Blackwood on the sofa. Pleading, he said, "What will it take for you to not be angry anymore? Just tell me."

"I’m not angry anymore."

Alaric Blackwood exhaled a smoke ring and glanced coolly at Jaden.

"Then why are you being so cold? Let’s be honest, you still blame me."

Alaric Blackwood fell silent. After a moment of thought, he said to Jaden, "If I go back to being chummy with you like before, you and my sister will see each other all the time, and it will only make her more upset."

"Upset my ass. She’s going to a bar tonight to mess around with male models. How is that upset?"

Jaden callously sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and between puffs of smoke, began to rant about Nina Halloway. "You think your sister is deeply in love with me? Let me tell you, you’re wrong. In the two years since our engagement, we’ve spent more time apart than together. She’s always been busy with work. We barely see each other a few times a year. What kind of deep feelings do you think we could have?" ƒreewebɳovel.com

Alaric Blackwood’s face darkened. He extinguished the cigarette in his hand in the ashtray. His charming eyes lost their usual sparkle, becoming cold and indifferent.

"Have you ever considered that my sister has liked you for many years?"

Jaden froze for a moment.

He had never considered this possibility. All he knew was that Nina Halloway liked to bicker with him; they had basically argued since they were kids. Nina’s attitude toward him had only changed, becoming kinder, after they got engaged. freewёbnoνel.com

"Don’t act like you’re some kind of romance guru, as if you know everything."

He teased Alaric Blackwood.

Alaric Blackwood sneered, "I definitely know more than you. I have more experience."

"Does your wife know about your past of hitting up bars and picking up girls? And that girl from overseas..."

"Shut your mouth."

Alaric Blackwood’s eyes were full of warning.

Jaden knew when to quit and shut his mouth. But he didn’t think Alaric Blackwood was any cleaner than him. It was just that his family had forced him to return to the country to get married, and Alaric had agreed to the marriage, turning over a new leaf.

"If you dare say any of this nonsense in front of Sophie Shaw, we’re really done as friends."

After his warning, Alaric Blackwood got up and left.

Evan Ford sighed. "Weren’t we supposed to have dinner together?"

"I’m not eating."

Alaric Blackwood slammed the door on his way out.

He drove to The Metropolis. By the time he arrived, Sophie Shaw and the others were already enjoying a steaming hot pot.

He arrived unexpectedly, and Sophie Shaw had a look of pleasant surprise.

She stood up and brought over a bowl and chopsticks. "Do you want your dipping sauce spicy?"

"I’ll get it myself."

He took the bowl and started mixing his own dipping sauce.

"I thought you weren’t coming?" Nina Halloway asked, curious. She could sense that something was off with his aura.

He laughed. "I thought about it and decided it was more important to come accompany my wife. Don’t want her getting led astray, going to bars, drinking, and ordering male models."

Nina Halloway was choked speechless. She instantly quieted down, burying her head and obediently eating her food.

Sophie Shaw’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly explained to Alaric Blackwood, "I wasn’t planning on ordering any male models."

She was afraid he’d get the wrong idea.

"Be good, wife. The male models at the bar don’t have a body as good as your husband’s. When we get home later, you can touch my abs."

Nina Halloway: ...

Ethan Austin: ...

Anne: ...

Sophie Shaw’s cheeks were burning red. Under the table, she forcefully pinched Alaric Blackwood’s waist, reminding him to tone it down.

But to her surprise, not only did he not tone it down, he even raised a hand, cupped the back of her head, and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Ethan Austin’s eyes widened, his fists clenched.

He wanted to immediately grab Alaric Blackwood by the collar, pin him to the ground, and beat him mercilessly. But Sophie Shaw didn’t resist Alaric Blackwood’s kiss; she reciprocated.

’A contract marriage... why not push Alaric Blackwood away?’

’Why reciprocate instead?’

...

After a long, lingering kiss, Sophie Shaw’s face was completely flushed with embarrassment.

She looked at the others at the table awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry, hope we didn’t spoil your meal."

Nina Halloway quickly tried to ease the tension. "It’s fine. I know what my brother’s like. Let’s keep eating."

Sophie Shaw nodded, and the hand hidden under the table gave Alaric Blackwood’s waist another pinch.

The man’s lips curled up slightly. He grabbed her restless hand and pressed it directly onto his abs.

Sophie Shaw’s face felt like it was on fire. She tried to pull her hand back, but it was held firmly in place by Alaric Blackwood’s large hand. The warm, hard feeling under her palm made her swallow involuntarily.

’I can’t believe I’m actually craving Alaric Blackwood’s body...’

’Being teased by Alaric Blackwood so often, it’s like he’s corrupted me. My mind is starting to fill with dirty thoughts.’

"Please, just eat your dinner properly."

She reminded him in a small voice.

Alaric Blackwood held her hand, caressing her long fingers. He played with it fondly for a moment before letting go.

The hot pot meal made Sophie Shaw feel anxious, afraid that Alaric Blackwood would make another inappropriate move.

Fortunately, he was well-behaved until it was time to leave.

However, when Nina Halloway walked them to the door and told them to drive safely, Alaric Blackwood replied with an affirmation, then wrapped an arm around Sophie’s shoulder, and whispered with a laugh in her ear, "Wifey, time to go home and feel those abs."

The blush that had faded from her face crept back up.

She lowered her head in embarrassment. "Can you please be a little more serious?"

’It’s one thing in private, but in front of his sister, my best friend, and her little brother... how could he say something so explicit? It’s too flippant.’

Little did she know, Alaric Blackwood had said it deliberately in front of Ethan Austin.

Upon seeing Ethan Austin’s ashen face, his clenched back teeth, his taut jawline, and the expression that screamed he wanted to eat him alive, Alaric Blackwood was satisfied. He gave Ethan a smile so infuriating it could kill.

"Bastard!"

Ethan Austin finally snapped, striding forward and grabbing Alaric Blackwood by the collar.

"Aren’t you in a contract marriage?"

"What gives you the right to take advantage of Sophie! Are you just bullying her because she’s too nice?!"