Chapter 186
They were so close that Shermaine could feel every subtle shift in Joshua. Her ears burned bright red as she gritted her teeth and hissed, โJoshua!โ
Joshuaโs eyes gleamed with mischief as he planted a coaxing kiss on her forehead. โSheary,โ he murmured, โI had a few drinks tonightโฆ I just canโt help myself around you.โ
โStop holding me like this!โ Shermaine protested.
Shermaine struggled to free herself from the tangled sheets, but Joshua only grew more restless. With one firm hand, he pinned her against his chest, refusing to let her squirm around like a restless little worm.
Joshuaโs voice came out husky. โSheary, let me take a momentโฆ hmm?โ
Shermaine glanced at him, noticing how seductively alluring he looked, flushed with desire. She bit her lip, then rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes with languid contentment.
His heartbeat was steady and strong.
Outside, the moonlight spilled across the night, quiet and endless.
The room was wrapped in tranquil silence.
The next morning, Trance woke up with a splitting headache, compounded by heartbreak. Without hesitation, he called his uncle Oliver to vent. Sobbing, he said, โUncle Oliver, I got rejected again! Iโm totally heartbroken. Sheary has a fiancรฉโshe told me herself sheโs in love with that guy.โ
By the next morning, Oliver looked completely unfazed. He said matter-of-factly, โI knew youโd fail. Gave up hope ages ago. Better luck next time, Trance.โ
โUncle Oliver,โ she whined, โwhy wonโt you at least try to comfort me?โ
Oliver shrugged. โIโm used to it.โ
Every time Trance got rejected, heโd call Oliver to sob his heart outโand if he was nearby, heโd show up clutching a bottle, bawling his eyes out. By now, his heartbreaks were just another day at the office for Oliver.
Oliver asked with a grin, โBy the way, is Shearyโs fiancรฉ hot? Got a picture of him? Send it overโIโm dying to see what he looks like!โ
Annoyed, Trance hung up. But Oliver, relentless as ever, immediately called backโso Trance hung up again.
The helicopter touched down on the rooftop of the Galaxy Club.
Since Trance had come all the way there, Shermaine decided to skip school today and show him around Basterel.
After landing the helicopter, the pilot couldnโt help but sneak a glance at Joshua behind him. Joshua was dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, and there, clear as day on his neck, was a very obvious hickey.
โWow. Looks like things got pretty heated between Mr. York and Ms. Shue last night,โ the pilot wondered.
As soon as the helicopter landed, Shermaine unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. She looked effortlessly stylish in light-wash jeans and an oversized white sweater, her long hair braided into a loose plait that fell to her waist, topped with a black hat.
Joshua stepped after her, catching Shermaineโs hand and interlacing their fingers as they descended from the rooftop.
At the parking lot, Shermaine took out her car keys with a gentle smile. โYou should head back to work. Iโll go meet up with Trance.โ
Joshua pressed his lips. โIโll go with you,โ he said. While Trance wasnโt much of a threat as a romantic rival in his eyes, their close friendship meant he still needed to stay cautious.
โNo need. Trance isnโt some pestering admirer. Besides, I made things crystal clear to him last night. So relax, Mr. York,โ Shermaineโs voice dripped with playful sarcasm.
At Shermaineโs words, Joshua completely dismissed Trance as a romantic rival. โYeah, I trust you, Sheary,โ he said.
Sheary always knew where to draw the line.
She opened the car door and glanced up at Joshua. The refined yet sensual man wore a faint, alluring smile, but the only thing marring his image was the visible hickey on his neckโa love bite bound to raise eyebrows.
With a teasing tone, she reminded him, โYou should cover that up before going to the office.โ