Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Indulging Him Time and Time Again

Alaric Blackwood didn’t think Sophie Shaw was naive. He’d admit she was a bit dense and slow when it came to romance, but his wife was actually quite shrewd. The description "naive" didn’t suit her at all.

He smiled at Ethan Austin, gesturing to his own wrinkled collar. "Let go now, and I might not hit you."

Ethan Austin scoffed. "You want to hit *me*? It’ll be a miracle if I don’t knock all your teeth out."

THWACK—

With a single punch, Alaric Blackwood sent Ethan Austin to the ground.

One moment, he was spewing threats; the next, he was sprawled motionless on the floor. There was no transition at all. Knocked out cold by a single punch from Alaric Blackwood, he left everyone present completely stunned.

Anne was the first to react, rushing over to Ethan.

"Hey! Wake up!"

She shook his shoulders, but Ethan remained motionless, his eyes shut tight.

More shocking than Ethan lying unconscious on the floor was Nina Halloway’s realization. ’Alaric and Sophie... are in a contract marriage?’

She looked at Alaric Blackwood and Sophie Shaw in shock. "You two..."

"He’s just a kid talking nonsense," Alaric said. "It’s not a contract marriage. Our certificate is legally binding."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

Nina Halloway wasn’t convinced. She turned to Sophie. "Are you really married?"

Sophie Shaw nodded.

Now it was Anne’s turn to be bewildered. She’d personally heard Sophie say her marriage to Alaric Blackwood was a contract. How had it suddenly become real?

’Is she just saying that because she’s afraid Nina Halloway will find out and tell the family elders?’

She didn’t dare say anything. She just gave Ethan’s shoulder a hard push, but he still wouldn’t wake up.

’This Alaric Blackwood... he doesn’t pull his punches.’

She shot Alaric Blackwood a glare, but though she was furious, she had to bottle it up.

’After all, he’s the boss, and I’m just an employee.’

"Ethan..." Sophie had just begun to speak when Alaric wrapped an arm around her waist.

"He’s fine. He’ll wake up in a bit."

He guided her out, his arm still around her, and headed straight for the elevators.

On the way back, they drove their own cars.

After parking her car at Maplewood Estate, Sophie’s mind returned to Alaric’s punch. It had cleanly knocked out a big guy like Ethan. She couldn’t begin to imagine how strong Alaric’s fighting skills were.

’That time she was surrounded by thugs on the street, she’d been hit with a club and passed out. She had no idea what happened afterward, only waking up in the hospital. Now that she thought about it, seeing how terrifying Alaric was in a fight, it was highly likely he’d taken care of all those thugs by himself.’

"What are you spacing out about?"

Alaric slid an arm around her waist, his lips brushing against her ear. "What were you just thinking?"

"I was just wondering if Ethan is okay."

"What could happen? I was holding back."

"..."

’You were holding back and you still knocked out a guy that big with one punch?’

"You... you don’t hit women, do you?"

Seeing Sophie’s nervous expression, Alaric grew serious. He looked right at her and said, very deliberately, "I don’t make a habit of hitting women. I never have, and I never will."

Sophie let out a sigh of relief. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"Afraid I might be abusive?"

"You’re just... so violent when you fight..."

"But I wouldn’t hit you. In fact, you’ve hit me before."

"..."

"Alright, let’s go inside."

Alaric kept his arm around Sophie’s waist as they walked up the steps. He unlocked the door with his fingerprint, pushed it open, and didn’t let go even as they changed their shoes in the entryway.

Once they’d changed into slippers, he smoothly guided her toward the stairs.

When they reached the second floor, her own room was just ahead, but the hand on her waist only tightened its grip.

Sophie sensed trouble and tried to pull away, but Alaric simply scooped her up into his arms.

"I promised you could feel my abs. I can’t go back on my word."

A wicked smile played on his lips as he carried her to his room and strode into the bathroom.

After they washed away the lingering smell of hotpot, he grabbed two bath towels. He wrapped one around Sophie and tied the other casually around his own waist. Then, he picked her up, walked out of the bathroom, and tossed her onto the large bed.

"We agreed on Friday—mmph..."

His lips captured hers, swallowing the rest of her protest.

...

Sophie got to feel his abs all night. When she woke up the next morning, her hand was still resting on Alaric’s waist.

Alaric was already awake. He was propped up on one elbow, watching her with a gentle gaze.

The moment their eyes met, she tried to sit up, but he gently pushed her back down. "It’s still early."

"What time is it?"

"Seven o’clock."

"You should get up and make breakfast."

"No rush."

The man turned her onto her stomach...

"What are you doing?"

A gentle kiss landed on the back of her shoulder. "Stay still," he murmured, before they were lost in another wave of passion...

「After their morning workout.」

Alaric went into the bathroom to shower first. Once he was dressed, he went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

Sophie lay languidly on the bed, dawdling for a while before finally dragging herself up to wash and get dressed.

She opted for a casual, comfortable outfit: a dark gray turtleneck sweater under a loose, light gray, batwing-sleeved wool jacket. She paired it with white wide-leg trousers, a pair of coffee-colored flats, and a black handbag. The look was fresh yet feminine.

With her fair skin and jet-black hair, Sophie could pull off almost any color with ease.

The moment Alaric saw her fresh-looking outfit, his eyes crinkled into a smile. He set a plate of breakfast in front of her and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

She wasn’t wearing any makeup; her face was bare and fresh, and she had a light, clean scent.

"My wife smells amazing." freёweɓnovel.com

He was already flirting first thing in the morning. Sophie’s cheeks flushed. "You’re corrupting me."

’Logically, they had agreed on Fridays for intimacy, and they should have stuck to the rules. Yet, she kept indulging him, time and time again.’

Alaric just gave a low chuckle. "I’d actually love it if my wife would flirt back at me. Then I could brag to my friends."

"I’ll have a surprise for you this Friday."

"Oh?"

Alaric’s charming eyes crinkled as his smile widened. "What kind of surprise?"

"It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you."

"I’m looking forward to it."

Sophie pressed her lips together to hide a smile. ’I’ll handcuff him to the bed and give him a good whipping,’ she thought. ’Let’s see how much he looks forward to that.’

After breakfast, Sophie headed out first.

She arrived at the office at nine o’clock sharp.

After the morning meeting, she met with the advertising agency to schedule the endorsement photoshoot. Since her company’s legal department was still vacant and HR hadn’t hired a lawyer, she had to personally visit a nearby law firm to have the brand endorsement contract drafted. Once she returned to the office, she began contacting the heads of major investment firms.

One of them returned her call, saying President Lynch was available in the evening, so they scheduled a dinner meeting.

She worked nonstop until the end of the workday. For the evening’s dinner meeting, Sophie brought her assistant, Hannah Sutton.

The restaurant wasn’t far from Heart of the Ocean, only a ten-minute drive.

She led Hannah Sutton into the private dining room and found that President Lynch was already there.

’He’s very young,’ she thought, ’and looks a bit familiar.’

For a moment, she couldn’t place where she had seen him before.

"President Shaw." Seeing her enter, Oscar Lynch immediately stood to greet her, extending his hand in a friendly gesture. "Long time no see."

Sophie was taken aback. "You are?"

"I’m a friend of Mr. Blackwood’s. I was at your wedding, remember?"

Oscar Lynch’s reminder jogged her memory.

’Right, he was one of the people teasing them about the wedding night...’