Chapter 97

Brendan lightly rubbed Naomi's waist with his right hand. "With so many people eyeing you," he said, "I can't bear to part with you."

Naomi rolled her eyes. It seemed a common problem among men: when unchallenged, they didn't value what they had; but as soon as someone else showed interest, they became possessive.

She gave him a look of disdain. Brendan's right hand, which had been gently massaging her waist, slowly moved up to her chest. Naomi lightly slapped his hand. "Brendan," she said, "are you behaving like a gentleman when it suits you and a rascal when it doesn't?"

He seemed unconcerned by her kindness, but the moment she showed disinterest and wanted to end things, he came running back. It was infuriating.

Naomi pushed him away, but before she could move, he grabbed her again. "Where are you going?"

Naomi looked helpless. "To take a shower! Do I need to submit an application?"

"Why do you need to shower? I don't mind," Brendan asked.

Naomi pressed her hands against his chest. "I mind."

After their argument, neither was in the mood for intimacy. Regardless of his skills, she had no interest.

Naomi grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom. Brendan went to the window and lit a cigarette, exhaling slow, heavy smoke rings. He let out a long breath.

The argument seemed over, but Naomi's patience was wearing thin, and she was more prone to outbursts. She had mentioned divorce twice already.

Soon, Naomi emerged from the bathroom, and Brendan extinguished another cigarette in the ashtray.

Naomi glanced at him. "You've been smoking a lot lately," she said.

Brendan opened the window wide. "If you don't provoke me, I won't have the urge to smoke."

Naomi chuckled. "Am I really that influential? Can I affect your emotions that much?"

Brendan appreciated her straightforwardness. Besides her parents, she didn't take things too seriously. They had just argued, and now she was laughing with him. However, sometimes her words were infuriating.

Naomi changed into a bright red nightgown, which made her fair skin appear even fairer. Her demeanor became more alluring. Walking toward him with a graceful stride, she resembled a character from an old movie.

She squeezed some hand cream onto her hands and began applying it. Brendan approached and embraced her from behind, one hand around her waist, the other cupping her breasts. She wasn't wearing a bra, and he deliberately teased her nipples with his thumb.

Naomi looked at their reflection in the dressing mirror. She observed Brendan, his gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his tired eyes closing as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

She slowed her application of the hand cream. Her right foot emerged from her slipper, and the soft sole gently rubbed against his calf.

"Feeling amorous?" she teased.

Brendan pinched her flesh, making Naomi wince.

"Are you an idiot?" she responded. "If these were fake, you would have burst them."

Brendan retorted, "If they were fake, I wouldn't even touch them."

Naomi slipped her foot back into her slipper and gave him a firm stomp.

Seeing her reaction, Brendan, still holding her waist, turned her to face him and kissed her lips. There was no anger, no retaliation. His lips were soft, and the kiss was gentle.