The door closed, and Alice retreated step by step.
She didn’t look scared, but her face was a clear expression of disdain.
Wyatt Sterling closed in on her, his expression displeased. "What? Not happy to see your man?"
"I think you have our roles confused, Third Uncle. You’re my elder, not my man," Alice said coolly, her tone creating a deliberate distance between them.
Wyatt stopped and looked down at her. "Bringing up seniority now? What about when you were beneath , begging for rcy? What did you call then? Have you forgotten?"
WHOOSH. Alice’s face felt like it was about to explode with heat.
’Images of him pinning her down, his body grinding against hers, coaxing and threatening her into crying out those nas, flooded her mind. Every fra was taboo and electrifying.’
"You—!"
She was furious, wanting to curse him out but not daring to. She knew his vicious nature all too well. For every insult she threw at him, he’d make her pay for it ten tis over in bed.
" what? Finally admitting I’m your man?"
Wyatt teased her with a deadpan expression, watching the blush spread from her face down to her neck. Her shimring almond eyes were enough to make his pulse race.
’It was so kind of curse. The mont he saw her, a restless heat began to stir within him.’
Alice couldn’t win an argunt with him, and to make matters worse, her injured foot chose that mont to act up, the pain making it hard for her to even stand.
She gritted her teeth against the stabbing pain in her ankle. "Important n like you must be forgetful, Third Uncle. I’ve already been sent to the Churchill family. I have nothing to do with you anymore."
Wyatt glanced at her injured foot, then casually reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her effortlessly into his arms.
His voice, laced with amusent, drifted down from above her. "You’re much more endearing when you’re being pliant."
With that, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the hospital bed.
Alice didn’t struggle in his arms. But the mont he placed her on the bed, she tried to sit up. Wyatt pushed her back down and said coolly, "You have all this energy to fight , but you can’t even last two minutes when you’re on top."
Alice was confused at first, but it quickly dawned on her what he ant by "on top."
"Wyatt Sterling!!!"
Her face flushed an even deeper shade of red, this ti from pure humiliation. ’This man has no sha! He’s always bringing *that* up. I could just die of embarrassnt.’
Wyatt, in contrast, looked completely unfazed.
He discussed the racy topic as casually as if he were talking about dinner. "What, am I wrong? Think about it. Hasn’t there been a ti I let you get on top and you couldn’t even last two minutes?"
Alice squeezed her eyes shut. "Just stop!"
A faint smirk played on Wyatt’s lips. "So you admit it?"
"..."
Alice feigned sleep, refusing to engage. ’If I don’t respond, he’ll have to drop it.’
Wyatt leaned over her, caging her in with his arms. The faint scent of cedarwood mingled with his potent masculinity, slowly enveloping her. But that wasn’t enough. He wanted her completely saturated in his scent.
Alice t his intensely predatory gaze, and her heart began to race. She quickly tried to change the subject. "Third Uncle, what brings you to Washington all of a sudden?"
Wyatt’s thin lips parted. "I ca to see you."
Alice’s pounding heart skipped a beat.
’Sweet nothings are the most beautiful words in the world. Anyti, anywhere... as long as they co from the right person.’
His deep eyes were fixed on her as he reached up to caress her earlobe, gently toying with it. "I ca to see you. Are you happy?"
Alice struggled to maintain her composure. "Don’t joke, Third Uncle."
The hand toying with her earlobe stilled. "You think I’m joking?"
"Aren’t you?"
A cold calm settled over Alice. "I’m just the adopted daughter of the Sterlings, soone everyone looks down on. No one thinks of until a critical mont when I’m needed as a ’Peace Princess’ to be sent away. And you, Third Uncle, were the one who arranged all of it. So tell , how could what you just said be anything but a joke?"
Wyatt pushed himself up slightly, looming over her. "Then why aren’t you laughing?"
"..."
He pinched her chin, a strange smirk on his face. "This mouth is so soft to kiss, yet so stubborn when it speaks. It seems I haven’t kissed you enough."
With that, he lowered his head and captured her lips.
It was so sudden that Alice didn’t have ti to react. By the ti she tried to push him away, his hand had already slipped under the hem of her shirt and was roaming inside.
His fingertips were clean and free of calluses, but they were dry, and their grazing touch against her soft skin sent a shiver through her.
The kiss deepened. It felt as if he were hiding a Fla behind his lips, one that ignited at the slightest touch. His scent overwheld her senses, and a searing heat spread through her body.
She almost surrendered to the feeling, but a sliver of reason urged her to push him away. She pressed both hands against his chest, but he was lost in passion, kissing her so deeply it felt like he wanted to devour her whole.
As his scorching kisses began to travel downward, Alice panicked, cupping his face in her hands. "Third Uncle," she pleaded, her voice trembling, "not here..."
’The hospital walls are thin. I can’t let him do this here. Soone will hear. It’s too humiliating.’
Wyatt’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The heat in his eyes was so intense it felt like it could lt her.
Then he stood, scooped her into his arms, and walked out.
"Put down. I’m staying at the hospital tonight."
Wyatt ignored her protests. "Be a good girl. Save your energy. You can put up a fight when we get back."
"..."
’What does he take for!’
’He leaves with the Churchill family when it suits him, then cos to find whenever he’s in the mood. I’m not even a commodity to him... just a tool to be used.’
Downstairs at the hospital entrance.
Mason Cheney saw Wyatt Sterling approaching with Alice in his arms and imdiately opened the car door. He even thoughtfully placed a hand on the roof of the car so Alice wouldn’t bump her head.
Alice was bundled into the car. Wyatt slid in after her, pinning both of her hands with just one of his before telling Mason, "Drive."
Alice’s brow furrowed deeply, her voice small and wronged. "...Third Uncle, my foot hurts."
Wyatt released her hands, lifted her foot onto his lap, and rolled up her pant leg to examine it.
"He hurt his hand, you hurt your foot. I’m starting to suspect you did it just to make him feel better," Wyatt said, his tone sour.
His words infuriated Alice.
’Who would hurt themselves for a complete stranger!’
In a fit of pique, she retorted with a sneer, "You’re right, Third Uncle. I felt so bad that Kyle Churchill hurt his hand that I deliberately injured my own foot just to make him feel better."
Wyatt’s large hand snaked out and pulled her onto his lap. "What, fallen for Kyle Churchill already?"
His hard body was pressed flush against her soft one. Aware of the danger, she froze, not daring to move. Her tone softened. "No. I’ve barely even t him."
Wyatt’s expression finally softened. "You’re not allowed to like him," he commanded.
Alice froze. Suppressing the complicated emotions swirling inside her, she t his gaze. "Saying sothing like that could give the wrong idea, Third Uncle."
Wyatt asked, "What wrong idea?"
Instead of answering directly, Alice changed the subject. "After I called Mason Cheney today, those two maids found almost imdiately. Do you have an explanation for that, Third Uncle?"
Wyatt’s palm stroked her lower back. "What kind of explanation are you looking for?"
Alice asked, "Did you arrange for them to be there?"
"Yes." He didn’t deny it.
Alice pressed her lips together. "Did you place them with the Churchill family to protect , Third Uncle? Or to watch , in case I try to run away?"
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