Chapter 130
“Huh?” Noelle blinked innocently at Nicolas’s suspicious gaze, then shook her head earnestly. “Not that I really wanted a bath, but then I thought of this idea, so I figured I’d ask you to help me. It’s like going with the flow, you know?”
“You’re such a smooth talker,” Nicolas said, poking her forehead lightly but carefully.
“Nick, help me, help me, Nick, Nick, Nick, please, please, please!” Noelle chanted like a broken record.
She was like a piece of sticky candy—once she latched onto you, there was no shaking her off.
Nicolas had no choice but to give in. If he refused, she’d probably pester him about it all day. The thought alone was exhausting. Finally, he sighed in defeat. “Alright, let’s go.”
Noelle cheered, “Yay! Bath time! Bath time!”
In the bathroom, Noelle stripped down and draped herself over the edge of the bathtub like a contented kitten, letting Nicolas wash her with slow, gentle strokes.
His careful, tender touch had her humming in pleasure. Her soft, sweet murmurs were pure temptation, pushing Nicolas’s self-control to the brink.
Nicolas felt like he must have owed her in a past life, and now she was here to torment him.
He was a normal, healthy man, and having the person he loved naked in front of him, making such inviting sounds, was an immense challenge.
But no matter how strong his urges, he wasn’t about to take advantage of her while she was injured.
After silently reciting every moral principle he could think of to no avail, Nicolas decided to distract himself by starting a conversation. “Elly babe, about those assassins from yesterday—any idea who sent them? Any enemies you can think of?”
“Hmun,” Noelle tilted her head, pausing her humming. “Not really.”
The fact that the attackers were also from the lab had surprised her. Even more surprising was that someone had hired them to kill her.
“Any suspects?” Nicolas pressed.
“I’ve had a lot of enemies in the past, but I’m not sure who it could be.”
Nicolas’s expression darkened. “Could it be because your photo was released by the company, drawing attention?”
“Probably not,” Noelle shook her head. “For dangerous jobs like being a spy, assassin, or mercenary, I never revealed my identity. And in other industries where I did show my face, I don’t think I made any enemies.”
“So it’s unlikely to be an old enemy seeking revenge,” Nicolas mused, his eyes narrowing. “Could it be Lela?”
Noelle had been in the spotlight lately, and jealousy might drive Leia to do something extreme.
But Noelle shook her head again. “Doubt it. Leia doesn’t have the connections for that.”
The assassins were from the lab, and someone like Leia, who lived a normal life, wouldn’t have access to such people.
Still, Nicolas wasn’t convinced. “We should investigate Leia anyway, see if she’s been in contact with anyone suspicious.”
“Okay,” Noelle nodded.
After what felt like an eternity, Nicolas finally finished bathing Noelle. He wrapped her in a large towel and carried her back to the bedroom.
The scene felt familiar. The last time Noelle had been in a similar situation was when she’d stayed over at Dumon’s place and ended up with Nicolas. That night, they’d crossed a line.
As the saying goes, “A well-fed mind wanders to mischief.” Noelle couldn’t help but recall that night, and her thoughts quickly took a naughty turn.
When Nicolas bent down to place her on the bed, Noelle suddenly grabbed his arm.
“What now!” Nicolas looked down at her, noticing the mischievous glint in her eyes.
Noelle grinned eagerly. “Nick, I want to do what we did last time.”
A heavy sigh escaped Nicolas. The moment he saw that sparkle in her eyes, he knew she was up to no good. He set her down and flicked her forehead lightly. “What are you thinking? You’re still injured. Don’t push your luck.”
“What’s the big deal?” Noelle pouted, refusing to let go. “My wound’s already healing. Once it scabs over, it’ll be gone in a few days, no scar left!”
“Let’s wait until you’re fully healed, okay?” Nicolas replied, trying to stick to his principles.
“Ughhh,” Noelle let out a small groan, clearly disappointed. She leaned in, whispering in a teasing tone, “Nick, are you… not up for it?”
She’d read in a magazine that men his age were supposed to be at their peak. Yet, he kept turning her down.
According to the magazine, if a man kept refusing a woman, it was either because he didn’t like her or because he had… performance issues.
Nicolas raised an eyebrow. His eye twitched as he looked at her, forcing a smile. “You little troublemaker, what kind of nonsense have you been reading?”
“It’s not nonsense!” Noelle crossed her arms, defending her source. “It’s full of life truths every woman should know!”
Nicolas sighed. She’d clearly been misled. “No more of those trashy magazines, got it!”
“Why?” Noelle frowned, clearly not happy with his decision.
“Because I said so,” Nick snapped back, his patience wearing thin.
“Humph,” Noelle huffed, then added slyly, “Nick, if you’re really having trouble, you should see a doctor. Don’t be embarrassed! The magazine said men often ignore their problems because of pride, and then it gets worse!”
Her constant jabs about his “performance” were pushing Nicolas to his limit. He’d been restraining himself all this time out of concern for her injury, and now she had the audacity to question his capabilities!
His eyes darkened as he leaned over her, his voice low and dangerous. “You really want to push me, huh?”
“Nick…” Noelle blinked up at him, sensing the shift in his demeanor. His body temperature seemed to rise, his breathing growing heavier.
Nicolas closed the distance between them, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
A sly smile spread across his handsome face as he murmured, “Elly babe, looks like the last lesson wasn’t enough. Fine, let’s see if we can make this a real lesson.”