Free Web NovelChapter 156: Chapter 156: Don’t You Know What Reciprocity Is?
They entered the bedroom and shut the door.
Alaric slipped the overcoat off Sophie, then lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist.
He supported her by the hips, her back pressed against the door.
He kissed her eagerly, guiding her hands onto his body as he did.
"Help me get this off, honey."
Sophie, already a little tipsy from the wine, was dazed by his kisses. Her hands fumbled with his clothes, and it took her a good while to pull off his jacket.
With the heavy coat gone, it was as if Alaric had been unleashed. He kept his hold on her, spun around, and strode toward the bathroom.
...
He couldn’t bring himself to let Sophie go, tending to her completely. He bathed her, washed her hair, and made sure she was comfortable, letting her melt into his arms...
It was very late by the time Sophie’s head hit the pillow.
She was so sleepy she couldn’t open her eyes, and quickly fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes the next day, the first thing she saw was a fluffy head of hair.
Alaric was sleeping facing her, his arm wrapped around her waist and his face buried in her chest.
She reached out to push his shoulder, and his head shot up.
He had been awake for a while but didn’t want to leave her embrace. For once, he was lazing in bed.
"You’re awake, honey?"
Sophie hummed in acknowledgment, her voice a little hoarse.
"Time to get up, then."
Alaric threw back the covers and scooped her up in one smooth motion.
The world spun, and by the time she came to her senses, the man was already carrying her.
With one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back, he carried her into the bathroom bridal-style.
"Shouldn’t your things be moved into the master bedroom?"
"Don’t you find it a hassle, having to go back to your room to change every morning?"
He laid a towel on the cool marble countertop and set Sophie down on it. Then he squeezed toothpaste onto a toothbrush and placed it in her hand. As she brushed her teeth, she mulled over Alaric’s words.
’He had a point.’
He stood before her, moving in between her legs. He watched her with a slight smile as he brushed his teeth at a leisurely pace.
His intense gaze made her subconsciously turn her head away, but he gently took her chin between his long fingers and turned her face back to him.
"What are you so shy about, honey?"
"I’m not shy."
"You’re blushing."
"..."
After they finished washing up, he casually lifted her off the counter.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs instinctively tightening around his waist. "You haven’t even changed. Why are you carrying me again?"
"I’m helping you change first."
"?"
Alaric let her hang on him like a koala bear. Supporting her bottom with his large hands, he carried her back to the room, opened the wardrobe, and personally picked out an outfit for her.
He even picked out her bra and underwear, and wanted to help her put them on too.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her face burning a deep crimson. She watched him approach with the clothes he’d chosen draped over his arm. When she reached for them, he pressed her hand down.
"Let me."
He placed the clothes on the bed and dressed her, piece by piece, from the inside out.
The man had good taste. He’d chosen the light-khaki suit Mandy Halloway had given her, an outfit that was professional yet exuded an intellectual, elegant charm.
Sophie felt he was taking far too long. "You should hurry and get changed, or you won’t have time to make breakfast."
"We’re eating out today."
Alaric helped her into her suit jacket, his eyes lingering on a faint hickey on her slender neck. Unhurried, he then selected a silk scarf and tied it for her.
With a flick of his wrists, he skillfully tied it in a neat little knot.
Sophie was taken aback. "You’re quite good at that."
"Am I?"
"Tied scarves for other women before?"
"I’ve tied them for my sister. She can’t cook or do housework; you could say she’s completely incapable of taking care of herself."
"..."
Sophie was left speechless. But Alaric’s mention of Nina Halloway made her recall the first time she’d met her. On that day, there had been a red scratch mark on Alaric’s neck.
She decided to bring it up. "That scratch mark... was it from your sister?"
"Who else?"
"Why would she just scratch your neck like that?"
Alaric recalled that day. He’d been hitting the punching bag in the gym when Nina insisted he teach her a few moves. He did, but in the process, she’d accidentally scratched his neck.
And that just happened to be the night Sophie came to see him to discuss their marriage.
"Don’t tell me you’re jealous of my sister, too?"
Sophie shook her head vigorously. "Why would I be jealous of Nina? I was just asking."
’What if some other woman had left that mark?’
’They were being honest with each other now. It was best to clear up any lingering doubts.’
"I helped you get dressed, so now it’s your turn to help me."
The corner of Alaric’s lips curled up in a wicked smile.
She glanced at the black robe he was wearing and, realizing he was wearing nothing underneath, jumped off the bed to flee. But he caught her by the wrist and effortlessly pulled her back.
"Running away?"
"Don’t you know about returning the favor?"
She pouted. "You were the one who wanted to help me get dressed. I didn’t ask you to."
"So, you don’t want to help me, honey?"
"I don’t want to."
Alaric looked a little hurt. He pressed his lips together and nodded. "Fine. You don’t want to now, but you will eventually."
He didn’t force Sophie. He told her to wait downstairs while he went back to the master bedroom to change.
Ten minutes later, the man came downstairs, impeccably dressed—save for his tie.
He held two ties in his hand—one dark gray, one dark blue—and walked straight up to Sophie. "Honey, which one do you think is better?"
Sophie pointed to the dark gray one, feeling it was a better match for his dark gray suit.
Alaric tossed the dark blue tie onto the sofa and draped the gray one around his neck. But instead of tying it himself, he took Sophie’s hand. "If you won’t help me get dressed, you can at least tie my tie, can’t you?"
Sophie glanced at the time on her phone. It was almost eight.
So she quickly tied the tie for him.
Her movements were even more practiced than his had been with the scarf. It was obvious she’d had plenty of practice tying ties for men. A bitter pang of jealousy shot through him at the thought of her three-year relationship with Damian Morgan, of her being by his side while they built their careers together.
"You’re good at that. Very practiced."
Sensing the jealous bite in his tone, Sophie stood on her tiptoes, kissed his cheek, and whispered in his ear, "I gave you my first kiss and my first time. What are you still not satisfied with?"
Her words instantly placated Alaric.
He wrapped his arm around Sophie’s waist, leaned in, and copied her, whispering in her ear, "I gave you my first kiss and my first time, too. Did you know that, Mrs. Blackwood?"
Sophie’s heart stirred. She turned to look at him. "For real?"
"You don’t believe me?"
"..."
’With all his tabloid headlines, how was she supposed to believe that?’
’Besides, she’d had zero experience before marrying Alaric. On their wedding night, the wine they’d shared had been spiked, leaving her mind in a total fog.’
’She honestly couldn’t be sure if it had been his first time or not.’
"You really don’t believe me?"
Alaric’s brows furrowed. "I’ve never messed around with other women."
Seeing that they would be late for work if they kept bickering, Sophie gave a perfunctory nod and started pulling him toward the door. "I get it, I get it. Mr. Blackwood’s first kiss and first time were both mine."
Alaric could tell from her tone that she didn’t believe him, but the problem was, there was no way for him to prove it.
"I’m telling the truth. You have to believe me."
Sophie nodded her head emphatically, dragging him to the car, pulling open the passenger-side door, and pushing him inside.
"I believe you. Now buckle up, Mr. Blackwood. I’m driving today."
