Chapter 3 Denial

• In a bedroom, on the vastly spacious bed, two hot bodies were intertwined in a passionate exchange.
• Sounds of stifled moans and heavy gasps of pleasure filled the air.
• The fervent exchange thundered on for one whole night before it finally subdued.
• Clarice was finally sobering up, despite feeling sore all over. She squinted her eyes, and her eyes burned affectionately at the face which was just inches away from hers.
• “Xavier.”
• Clarice closed her eyes shut after mumbling his name one time. However, she continued to call out Xavier's name over and over again.
• “Xavier, Xavier...”
• Streams of tears rolled down her eyes and onto her cheeks as she mumbled under her breath.
• The suggestive aura in the room dissipated into thin air, and the air grew thick with frustration.
• Elijah narrowed his eyes and stared impassively at Clarice. He wiped away the tears on the corners of her eyes, then pinched her chin as he demanded, “Clarice Greene. Open your eyes and take a good look.”
• Clarice shuddered from the cold voice and opened her eyes unconsciously.
• “Xavier.”
• Oblivious to the danger that was about to befall her, Clarice reached out and circled her hands around Elijah's neck as she repeatedly called out Xavier's name.
• “Damn it!”
• Elijah blew a hard punch on the bed and steadied himself to get out of the bed, carrying Clarice with him.
• With the oblivious woman in his arms, the man strode toward the bathroom.
• In a fit of anger, the man had wanted to throw the woman in his arms but decided against it in the end as he felt his heart soften for her.
• His face fell, and Elijah got into the spacious bathtub which could fit even three people snugly with Clarice. After turning on the heater, he started to fill the bathtub with water.
• He washed the woman in his arms awkwardly and rinsed himself with some water before carrying her out of the bathroom.
• He did not linger in his own room and carried Clarice into the adjacent room instead.
• “We'll settle our scores after you wake up,” Elijah said to the woman who was deep in slumber before hugging her to sleep.
• It was easy to sleep through the night and beyond when one was all tuckered out.
• It was already afternoon when Clarice finally woke up.
• She was greeted by the sight of a firm chest when she opened her eyes. The chiseled chest was beautifully toned.
• Last night's events played out in her head like a movie.
• She remembered that the man in her memories was...
• “Xavier!”
• Her smile faltered as brief as it had appeared at the sight of the strange man before her.
• “Who are you?”
• She could not recognize the man before her!
• It was him yesterday?
• Clarice pushed the man away exasperatedly as she wrapped the blankets around herself and sprung up from the bed. She regarded the man before her warily.
• “Why? Are you going to chuck me aside after sleeping with me?”
• Elijah's lips curled into a mocking grin as he regarded the startled little deer before him. As he stretched himself out lazily, his six-packs and Apollo's belt slowly emerged out of the sheets, and into Clarice's plain sight. The man unabashedly sat up, revealing his nether regions. Clarice turned crimson red and hurriedly averted her gaze.
• “What are you getting shy for? We've done everything there is to be done.”
• “Shut up!” Clarice snapped at him.
• She turned and glared at him, carefully keeping her eyes level with his.
• Then, it suddenly hit her that the man kind of resembled Xavier.
• So did I mistake him for Xavier last night?
• He... Could he be...
• All colors drained from Clarice's face as she widened her eyes in disbelief as the bitter pang of realization hit her.
• “You... Are you Elijah Zimmerman?”
• Clarice's voice shook from the sheer shock upon the revelation. She felt as if someone was strangling her, draining all air out of her lungs.
• The man, however, beamed with delight at her response.
• He reached to pinch her chin and closed the gap between them as he mocked, “So, you've managed to recall who I am?”
• The closer the gap between them, the more Clarice's body stiffened.
• “I certainly have not expected that you're still a virgin after marrying Xavier for almost a year and a half. Should I rejoice in the honor of popping your cherry, my nephew's wife?”