Chapter: 159
The air in the car slowly shifted, becoming less tense as the moments passed.
Caden had stopped the car earlier to calm the rush of adrenaline that had spiked through his veins. The heavy rain outside had been a distraction, and he didn't trust himself to keep driving without losing control. Stopping was the safe option, but he hadn't expected Alicia to follow him out here. He watched her carefully, knowing she'd used the excuse of his wound to check on him.
But that didn't bother him. He was actually in a better mood now.
Alicia glanced over at him, meeting his gaze. His deep eyes felt like they were pulling her in, making her hesitate.
She knew how dangerous his charm could be, so she quickly Looked away.
“Take off your shirt," she muttered. "Let me see the wound."
Caden leaned back, almost lazily, and began to unbutton his shirt, his fingers moving slowly.
The quiet sound of fabric shifting filled the car, a strange intimacy hanging in the air.
As he pulled back the hem of his shirt, his chest and abs gradually came into view, and Alicia did her best not to look directly at him.
Alicia snapped out of her daze, quickly protesting, "Stop, stop. You don't need to take it all off. Just show me the wound."
Caden's voice was teasing. “What, you don't want to see the rest?"
Alicia was momentarily speechless.
She wanted to avert her eyes but couldn't.
Without hesitation, Caden removed his shirt completely, revealing his toned arms.
The car was immediately filled with an undeniable tension. His shoulder wound wasn't severe, but the slight bleeding added to his rugged appearance.
Alicia focused on treating the wound, doing her best to ignore the heat between them.
"Is this convenient?" Caden asked, his tone unreadable.
"Hmm?" Alicia replied absentmindedly.
Before she could react, she felt his hands tighten around her waist as he lifted her onto his lap.
Her face turned red. "You"
Caden looked up at her, calm and unfazed. "It's easier this way."
Alicia felt something pressing against her, and her mind jumped to conclusions. "You- Are you getting hard already?"
Caden paused before letting out a low chuckle. "What are you, some kind of aphrodisiac? That's my belt."
Mortified, Alicia didn't dare check. Instead, she cleared her throat and reached for the iodine, trying to focus.
What should have been a simple task turned awkward, their proximity making it difficult to concentrate. The heat radiating from him didn't help.
“Why are you trembling?" Caden asked, watching her closely. “Are you squeamish about blood?"
Alicia forced herself to remain calm, swallowing her nerves. "I'm not trembling."
But as she pressed the cotton ball to his skin, it slipped and missed the wound entirely, landing on uninjured skin.
She squinted, trying to play it off. “Oh, did I just become nearsighted all of a sudden?"
Caden smirked to himself and shifted slightly.