Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)
Chapter 0316

I bit my lip hard, holding my breath with my back facing him. I pretended to be asleep. Nicholas reached from behind and pulled me into his arms. Still, we ended up sharing the same bed. A gasp escaped my lips. I thought he was going to hold me, but he released me and said, "Don't stay so far apart. We have to be under the same blanket. Otherwise, it's cold."

The moment he touched me, I sprang up and attempted to get out of bed. "I'll go downstairs to get another blanket."

Nicholas frowned, his hoarse voice tinged with displeasure. "Stop making a fuss. Your friend will be back tomorrow."

In the silent night, I could even hear the sound of a weight lifted off my chest.

Clutching the blanket, I turned toward him in the dark and whispered, "Thank you."

"It's just a deal." Nicholas didn't even open his eyes. Reaching out to pat the space next to him, he urged, "Sleep."

After a few seconds, his steady breathing echoed in my ears. He was probably really tired.

I nudged him awake. "How about Pete?"

Disturbed from his sleep, Nicholas was naturally annoyed. He frowned, his eyes bloodshot as he growled, "Ariana, are you doing this on purpose?" Of course, I was doing it on purpose. But I couldn't admit it to him.

I knew what he wanted when he brought me back. A man in his 30s couldn't be so innocent to only want a woman to share a bed with he wanted sex.

I couldn't be bothered because it was all I could give him. But if the deed could be delayed a bit longer, that would be even better.

So, I woke him up while he was absolutely drained. Even if he was furious, he couldn't do anything to me.

"What do you mean? I just wanted to ask you about Pete. You promised me," I said innocently, pretending to be unaware that he was already asleep. "Ariana!" Nicholas gritted out, looking like he wanted to strangle me.

I didn't mind anyway. While I was still feeling quite smug, he suddenly grabbed my waist and pinned me against the bed.

Propping his arms next to my head, he drawled out, "Shouldn't you do me a favor first?"

Having already convinced myself, I wasn't intimidated by his touch. I hooked my arms around his neck and pulled him toward me.

Brushing my lips against his ear, I whispered, "Nicholas, you won't have me if Pete can't get his freedom, unless you force yourself on me!"

"Pete is nothing to me. How dare you threaten me for his sake?" As he spoke, he tore my thin nightgown into shreds. "I never needed your consent if I wanted you!"

Pressing down on my shoulders, he peered down at my nearly naked body. The night was a bit cold, making me shiver.

His fingers slid from my chest to my abdomen. As if deliberately wanting to cement this fact in my mind, he toyed with my body in various ways.

Nicholas was taking it out on Ariana. He couldn't fathom how easily Pete had won her over-how could she forget him easily after being besotted with him for so many years?

Even though he had brought her back, she still kept mentioning Pete. His actions grew rougher, but she pressed her lips together and remained silent. When he did this in the past, she would've already succumbed to her desires. Though he didn't want to admit it, he enjoyed watching Ariana writhe beneath him.

"Ariana, you can resist me all you want. See whether you or Pete can hold out longer. From what I know, he's not doing too well at home right now."