Dorothy furrowed her brow slightly, finding Everett's imperious tone a bit too much to handle.
But upon reflection, his words weren't an exaggeration. Who would dare cross the Lopezes? When a Lopez scion spoke, it was as good as law.
"Wait a sec... you didn't ask the teacher to seat us together, did you?" His lips curled in a secretive smile, "That's for me to know." She scoffed.
In one smooth motion, Everett swept her up from her chair.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtDorothy yelped in surprise, "Put me down, quick! You can’t stretch the wound!" "A stretch more or less won't make a difference now," he said. His arms were flexing as he held her, and the muscle tone was all too apparent. Coupled with the gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, he looked every bit the cultured gentleman, yet his physique screamed of a suit-clad ruffian.
"Hold on for a sec, | need to change," he told her, placing Dorothy on the bed before standing up to change out of his business attire.
As he had just come from a meeting, Everett had been wearing a suit and tie. Now that the meeting was over, he could slip out of those symbols of corporate warfare.
As Dorothy watched him change, she was unsure where to rest her gaze.
It felt rude for a lady to stare so intently at a man undressing. But looking away felt negligent; she was afraid of he might accidentally touch his wound in the process.
Thankfully, he was quick. His long, articulate fingers buttoned up the silk pajama shirt one by one as he asked, "Are you still in pain?" "Huh?" "Your abdomen, does it still hurt?" Realization dawned on her, and she buried herself deeper into the covers with burning cheeks.
"I don't want to talk to you anymore!" Everett peeled back the corner of the blanket and slid in beside her, enveloping her entirely in his embrace.
"I didn't push too hard today,” he murmured, his breath warm against the faint mole on her ear, his voice growing huskier.
"What if | go all the way next time?" he teased.
"Don't even think about it!" Karen hailed a cab back home, which caught her parents by surprise.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter all, she had just texted them that she wouldn't be back for a while.
"What's wrong, honey?" Karen's mom, Serena, got up from the couch, following her daughter into her room, concerned by her pallor.
"It's nothing." Karen was just feeling irked by thoughts of Jeffrey, her mind a tangled mess.
"That's good. If there's anything bothering you, you talk to us, okay?" Serena's voice was firm. "Your dad was so worried. He had just called your brother, who was surprised you hadn't come home after he dropped you off. You should have seen your dad's face, which was scared stiff. He was thinking you might've run into some trouble!" Karen felt a mix of exasperation and warmth and stood up to hug her mom.
"Mom, I'm an adult. Do you really think I'd be kidnapped?" "Of course we worry. You'll always be our little girl," Serena said that as she patted her back. "Even when you're married with kids of your own, you'll still be our baby." Karen chuckled and snuggled closer, "I'm not planning on getting married. I'm happy as | am." "Nonsense! What about when your father and | are old? Who will take care of you then?" "If | get married, that doesn't guarantee he'll take care of me!" The image of Jeffrey popped into her mind, and she grimaced.
"What if he turns out to be a no-good guy, always out partying and cheating? I'd be better off single!"