“When I was a kid, I was rebellious, so they sent me there to straighten me out and make me into a proper person. But even the military couldn’t keep me in line. My grandfather finally told me to pack my things and get lost,” Conrad said with a smirk.
He leaned in slightly and added, “But soldier or not, Lillian, if I’ve set my sights on you, I’d still snatch you up to warm my bed. That’s called fate.”
Lillian was speechless. How had the conversation veered back to her again?
“Mr. Conrad, are you some kind of bandit or thief?” she muttered.
All he ever talked about was taking things by force.
The steak was already served. Lillian had just cut off a small piece and was about to eat it when Conrad leaned over and bit into the piece she had cut. His soft lips and teeth wrapped around her fingertips.
Conrad lifted his eyes, his gaze full of possessiveness as it locked onto her. He stuck out his tongue and gave her fingertip a slow, suggestive lick.
“What’s so bad about being a bandit? If a man can’t protect his own woman, he’s worse than one.”
Suddenly, the steak in Lillian’s hand didn’t seem quite as appetizing anymore.
After the meal, Lillian needed to head to the village. She had an ulterior motive.
The crew had sent two or three people to negotiate with the villagers, but they had all been turned away. She figured she might as well use Conrad to see if he would help.
After three years with Conrad, Lillian had mastered one skill: when it came to leveraging him, she didn’t hold back.
Besides, this wasn’t entirely her responsibility. The Brown Family Group had the largest investment in the project, so technically, this was something Conrad should care about as the boss.
The sprawling bamboo forest at the back of the mountain was a significant piece of land and a key local reforestation project. The villagers relied on it for their livelihoods.
Because of the remote location, this was the first time a film crew had come to shoot here. They wanted to build a platform for filming, but the villagers didn’t understand the purpose and weren’t happy about outsiders messing around in their area.
The situation had reached a stalemate.
Sure enough, when Lillian arrived at the village, there was already a car parked there.
She immediately recognized it as Ford’s executive vehicle.
As expected, wherever Conrad was, Ford was never far behind. He must have arrived early in the morning.
“Mr. Conrad,” Ford greeted as he stepped out upon hearing the commotion. “The contract has been finalized. The village will supply bamboo for the resort project.”
Conrad nodded and turned to Lillian. “Go on. Pick a spot you’re happy with.”
Lillian couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly Conrad managed business. Not only did he solve the crew’s issue, but he also secured the bamboo supply for his resort’s landscaping.
Armed with a tape measure that was clearly inadequate, Lillian realized she’d need to bring a professional construction team next time. She needed a relatively flat area for the setup, but the terrain was vast and dense with bamboo.
By the time she hurried back, raindrops the size of beans were pelting down.
The rain quickly turned the damp soil into a muddy mess, making every step treacherous. A prepared bodyguard immediately opened a black umbrella to shield Conrad, but the downpour was too intense for the umbrella to provide much protection.
Conrad grabbed Lillian and pulled her into his arms. Even with his help, her unsteady footing in the mud made her look like she was one step away from falling flat on her face.
Finally, Conrad had enough. With a swift motion, he hoisted her onto his back.
Through the curtain of rain, Lillian could only see Conrad’s dark, rain-soaked hair as he carried her.
His distinct scent, mingled with the earthy aroma of wet soil, filled her senses. It was humid and overpowering, stealing her ability to focus on anything else.
The umbrella tilted mostly toward Lillian, leaving Conrad exposed to the downpour. Rain streamed down his face and neck, soaking his shirt. Yet, he didn’t seem to care, instructing the bodyguard only to make sure Lillian stayed dry.
Watching the raindrops trace their way down his neck and disappear into his collar, Lillian felt a stir deep within her. It was as if a suppressed seed inside her had finally sprouted, breaking through the surface.
Her eyes grew hot, and she found herself relishing the solid warmth of his shoulders and the fragile sanctuary he offered at that moment. It felt as though, in this vast world, Conrad could carve out a quiet space just for her.
And for that fleeting moment, it was enough.
“Lillian, don’t you dare start crying and get my clothes all dirty. You’ll have to handwash them if you do!” his voice called out, muffled slightly by the rain.
Sniffling, Lillian replied, “I’m not just crying; I’ve got snot running too.”
“You’re asking for it, aren’t you!?”
Typical-always using that mouth of hers for trouble.
Lillian decided not to bicker with him.
By the time they reached the base of the mountain, the village leaders were still waiting for them.
“Mr. Conrad,” one of them said, “the mountain road’s been damaged over time from the trucks hauling bamboo, and it gets bumpy and dangerous when it rains like this. Why don’t you stay the night in the village?”
Conrad, drenched like he’d just come out of a river, didn’t reply.
Ford, wiping the rain off his glasses, responded instead, “Thank you for the offer.”
“In that case, Mr. Conrad can stay at my house. It’s a bit more spacious. As for this young lady, she can-”
“She’ll stay with me in the same room,” Conrad cut in suddenly, his voice firm.
The bodyguards didn’t even bat an eye at his statement, but the village leader paused, taken aback, before recovering and saying, “Of course, of course. My house is just up ahead. Let me get someone to guide you.”
The village had grown wealthy from the bamboo forest over the years, and many villagers had built new houses. There were even guesthouses and homestays at the foot of the mountain.
“The second floor hasn’t been used yet,” the village leader explained. “Everything’s brand new, including the bathroom.”
Lillian glanced inside and saw a simple setup: a bed, a bathroom, and not much else. Given the circumstances, she didn’t feel like complaining.
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem. Guests are always welcome. Should I bring you some clean clothes to change into?”
Before Lillian could answer, Conrad spoke up. “No, thank you. We’ll leave as soon as the rain stops.”
He had no intention of staying long in a house he deemed insecure. Besides, his fastidiousness meant he wouldn’t wear clothes that weren’t his.
“Oh, alright then. I’ll leave you be.”
As soon as the door closed, Conrad stripped off his soaked jacket, revealing his lean, muscular waist. The metallic click of his belt buckle echoed as he quickly shed his wet clothes until he was left wearing only a pair of briefs.
His physique was nothing short of a model’s-sculpted and striking.
When Conrad turned around, he caught Lillian staring at him intently, her expression dazed as if the rain had left her in a trance.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Feeling like making love?”
Always knowing how to pick the moment.
Lillian snapped out of her daze and retorted, “Who said I was?”
“If you’re not thinking about it, why can’t you take your eyes off me? Be honest-no one’s going to laugh at you for it.”
Conrad’s shameless remarks in this area were nothing new to Lillian. She had grown used to them, but hearing them in an unfamiliar setting still left her flustered.
She wiped off the DSLR she had been protecting in her arms, then started looking around for the air conditioner remote.
“Not changing out of those wet clothes?” Conrad’s gaze lingered on her, sharp and predatory.
Lillian glanced outside at the gloomy weather and was about to suggest taking some cold medicine to prevent getting sick when Conrad suddenly grabbed her from behind.
His movements were always rough, giving her no time to resist. Before she could react, his free hand started undoing her clothes.
She twisted away instinctively, but he had already peeled away the fabric and honed in on his target.
Her body arched involuntarily, and her back pressed against his scorching chest.
His tongue traced the edge of her ear, leaving a trail of heat along the sensitive skin behind it.
His breathing grew heavier.
Conrad spoke slowly, his voice low and deliberate. “When I was in the army, my hands were the fastest. Disassembling, reassembling-always first place. No one’s beaten my record to this day. Lillian, what do you think about that?”
She had seen his lightning-fast reflexes when he played video games, always assuming it was his right hand that was nimble. She hadn’t realized his left hand was even faster.
“This is… too much,” she managed to protest.
“That’s not for you to decide,” he countered.
He carried her toward the window, her tears spilling over as she struggled, powerless against his strength.
His breath brushed her ear as he whispered with a dark, magnetic chuckle, “Lillian, we’re perfect for each other in sex. Don’t you think?”
Lillian thought only he could say such shameless lines with such ease.