Chapter 73 What I Want Is You
Marcus saw Celeste lying on the floor and immediately went to lift her back onto the bed.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Celeste glanced down at herself, realizing she was bare. Embarrassed, she grabbed the blanket from the side and covered herself.
“I’m… I’m fine,” Celeste stammered.
Last night, when she had been under the influence of the medicine, she hadn’t felt awkward at all with him. But now, seeing him made her feel incredibly embarrassed for some reason.
Celeste sat on the bed, not daring to look at Marcus.
Marcus observed her closely, noting how her cheek’s had turned bright red, almost like an apple. A small smile tugged at his lips.
“Are you shy now?”
Celeste thought, ‘It’s not shyness, it’s embarrassment! Doesn’t he feel the same?‘
They barely knew each other, yet it was like thunder and lightning in that hotel room last night. And she had kept forcing him.
Celeste felt like crawling into a hole just thinking about it. She swallowed nervously, gathered her thoughts, and looked at Marcus. “Mr. Hale, we…”
“You’re my woman now. Don’t you think it’s time you called me something else?”
Celeste was speechless.
“–”
Before she could finish, Marcus interrupted, “From now on, call me Marc.”
Celeste opened her mouth to speak but found herself unable to form words as she looked at Marcus.
Is calling me Marc a bit too intimate?”
Marcus thought, ‘We’ve only been together once, is this getting too intimate too quickly?‘
Marcus handed her the clothes from the side. “Compared to what happened between us last night, which seems more intimate?”
Celeste thought, ‘Well, last night was more intimate. After all, we were completely honest with each other.‘
Her long lashes fluttered, and she took the clothes from his hand. “I’d like to take a shower, but my legs are too weak. Could you carry me to the bathroom?”
“Of course.”
Marcus gently pulled the blanket away from Celeste, then lifted her effortlessly in a princess carry.
Afraid of falling, Celeste instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn’t look into his eyes, the situation far too awkward.
“Just place me in the bathtub and leave. I can wash myself.”
“Okay.”
Marcus set her down carefully, turning on the hot water for her, “I’ll wait outside. Call me when you’re done.”
Initially, Marcus had planned to stay and shower, but he worried Celeste might not want him around. So instead, he decided to go to the other bathroom to clean up quickly.
As the door closed, Celeste couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t sure how she was going to face Marcus next. From what he had said earlier, it seemed like he wanted to take responsibility for her.
Celeste thought, ‘I don’t need him to take responsibility for me. After alll only saw him as a means to get the antidote last night. It looks like I need to clear things up with Mr. Hale.‘
Celeste quickly finished her shower. She stood up from the bathtub, wrapped a towel around herself, and was a for Marcus.
t to call
But as she stood, she realized her legs weren’t as weak as before. Steadying herself against the wall, she slowly went to the bedroom.
When she saw Marcus walk out of the bathroom in his robe, her face tightened, and she spoke with irritation. “Did you take
a shower?”
“No,” he replied, “I just wiped down with a towel, but I rinsed below. Don’t believe me? I can show you.”
Chapter 73 What I Want Is You
Celeste froze.
“No… it’s fine!”
Her face flushed red. The embarrassment from earlier hadn’t entirely passed, and she didn’t want it to happen again. “I’m a bit hungry. Should we order something?”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything that’s edible will do.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow, grabbed the phone, and dialed the number for room service. After ordering three dishes and a soup, he hung up.
Celeste stood to the side, her gaze drifting to the bloodstains on the bed. When Marcus turned around, she quickly grabbed a nearby blanket and covered the stains.
Marcus paused. “What are you covering?”
Celeste shook her head. “It’s nothing. The bed’s a bit messy. How about we sit on the couch and talk?”
“Huh? Talk about what?“.
Celeste cleared her throat, sat on the couch, and looked at Marcus. “Let’s talk about what happened last night.”
“We don’t need to talk about it. I’ll take responsibility for you.”
Celeste stared at him, speechless. She wondered, ‘He’s so direct?‘
“Mr. Hale, I asked you to help me with the antidote last night, so you don’t need to take responsibility for me.”
Marcus thought, ‘She’s the first woman I’ve been with, and the second person to make me feel this way. Even if she doesn’t think I need to take responsibility, I will.‘
‘I don’t want to follow my parents‘ or grandfather’s wishes and marry someone I don’t love. I want to choose for myself, and I believe Celeste is the one I’ve been looking for.‘
“If you don’t want me to take responsibility, how about you take responsibility for me?”
Celeste thought, ‘What is he saying? I don’t want him to take responsibility, and now he’s asking me to be responsible for him?‘
Her emotions were in turmoil. “Marcus, I’m a woman, you’re a man. I let you touch me, and I’m not asking you to take responsibility. Why are you insisting that I take responsibility for you?”
“Because last night was my first time.”
Celeste thought, ‘What is he saying now? He’s almost thirty and still hasn’t been with a woman?‘
Celeste’s face turned red as she spoke, “Well, last night was my first time too.”
“I know,” he replied.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Celeste leaned back against the couch. “Anyway, I don’t need you to take responsibility for me.”
“Fine, I won’t take responsibility, but I’m going to make you take responsibility for me.”
Celeste was at a loss for words. She thought, ‘If he insists that I take responsibility, I guess I have no choice but to do it.‘ Celeste stood up, walked to her clothes, and took out her small change. She placed it in Marcus’s hand.
“Take my money, and that will be my way of taking responsibility for you.”
Marcus fell silent momentarily before speaking, “Are you trying to brush me off like I’m some beggar?”
“This is all the money I have on me right now. If you think it’s not enough, I can give you more when I get home.”
Marcus tightened his grip around the small amount of cash in his hand before suddenly stepping closer to Celeste. He trapped her against the couch, his presence overwhelming.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her neck, making her fair skin flush with a soft pink hue. Celeste raised her hand and placed it on Marcus’s chest. “What… what are you trying to do?”
“I don’t want your money, I want you.”
Marcus’s commanding presence filled the space around them, and in that moment, the towel around Celeste sipped from her body.
Her breasts were exposed in front of Marcus. Marcus’s pupils narrowed slightly, his voice rough as he asked, “Are you trying to tempt me on purpose?”
Celeste spoke awkwardly, “Mr. Hale, you’re overthinking this, it was an accident!”
Celeste quickly grabbed the towel and wrapped it around herself again.
Chapter 74 Shall I Tend To You?
Chapter 74 Shall I Tend To You?
