Chapter 21 Not Done Playing

Eleanor's heart skipped a beat—what madness was Aaron up to now?

Without hesitation, she clenched the doorknob, pulling against it, but Aarongrabbed her chin, and kissedher.

“Let go—” Eleanor clenched her teeth, her voice a resisting whisper through gritted teeth.

But with a deft pinch of his fingers,

She cried out in pain, opening her mouth, unwittingly giving him the opening he sought.

His tongue twisted and turned, numbing and aching, as Eleanor whimpered, pounding her fists against him in futility—his chest was as solid as a fortress, utterly unyielding to her strength.

She attempted to kick him in her mermaid-style dress, but the hem was too low, her kicks delivered ineffectively against Aaron's leg, only making him deep in lust.

Sensing her attempt at an old trick, Aaron tightened his grip on her jaw, pulling back only inches.

“Trying to bite me again?” His lips glistened after speaking, and he leaned down once more to claim her kiss.
With a slight turn of her head, Eleanor's attempts to dodge were in vain as Aaron's kiss landed on the small mole at the corner of her eye.
Aaron bit down playfully, and she winced, trying to wiggle out of his grasp but found herself once again firmly caught in his embrace.

"Aaron, you bastard!" she hissed, struggling with desperate energy, hoping to make enough commotion that he might back off.

But the clerk from outside the changing room had long disappeared.

Vincent was in another dressing stall, a heavy curtain separating them, blind and deaf to the thudding noises emanating from within.

Aaron continued to kiss her while his other hand slid effortlessly from her waist to the zipper down her back.

The dress, no longer secured, succumbed to gravity and slid downward.

Eleanor shivered as cool air embraced her skin.

In a bid for elegance, she had foregone the straps of her dress. Now, her black demi-bra strained to contain what little it could, threatening to expose her further.

Eleanor, having been taken care of so well by Victoria, had skin soft and delicate,

Aaron's breathing grew heavy, his fingers tracing a path from her jawline downward, and her mind exploded.

"Miss Patterson, Miss Thompson is asking if you're ready," came a voice suddenly from outside the door.

Eleanor stiffened, breaking out into a cold sweat.

The clerk stood just beyond the door; without that barrier, her flushed, inviting expression would have been clear for anyone to see.

"Uh!" Eleanor bit her lip, seizing Aaron's mischievous hand.

"Miss Patterson, is everything alright?" the clerk knocked directly.

Her breathing was rapid and frenzied.

She had never asked anything of Aaron before, but now, with a pleading look in her eyes, she silently begged him to stop.

However, instead of heeding her request, he whispered huskily in her ear, "You've never been more bewitching."

Eleanor's face flared red—not from shyness but from sheer humiliation.

"Miss Patterson?"

Thinking quickly, Eleanor responded, "Just about done, can you... can you ask Miss Thompson to come and have a look?"

The sound of the clerk's footsteps faded away.

A low chuckle seemed to escape Aaron's throat.

Panic filled her as she caught the reflection of Aaron's dangerous gaze in her teary eyes, like an abyss pulling her down further and further.

"Eleanor, do you have any idea what you're doing? Thinking that if Vincent comes over, I wouldn't dare touch you?" He taunted.

"I never answered your question last night. It's not that I can't play the game; it's that I'm not done playing yet."

His lips brushed against her forehead, punctuating each word as if he were tapping directly into her heartbeat.
Chaos and collapse.

...

When Vincent arrived, Eleanor was pinned in front of the dressing mirror by Aaron, who hadn't truly taken her, teasing her inch by inch, seeking to rip through her defenses.

"Eleanor, are you done?" Vincent called, knocking on the door.

Strange sounds came from inside. She knocked again, "Eleanor?"

Eleanor groaneds, which she tried to muffle with the back of her hand, "The dress... it doesn't fit right, I was just about to take it... off."

"Okay, take your time. I'll go wait for Aaron, he stepped out to take a call and hasn't come back," Vincent said and left.

Eleanor dared not relax, as Aaron still wouldn't let her go.

His fingertips stroked her tear mole at the corner of her eye. When she cried on the bed, the mole was stained with tears, exhaling an enticing scent.

And so it was at this moment.

He whispered seductively, "You're not allowed to go on any more blind dates."

...

After getting herself together, Eleanor stepped out of the fitting room and told the clerk she was leaving first, asking them to inform Vincent.

The clerk noticed her blushed cheeks, her delicate lips looking like they had been fiercely ravished.

A few exchanged puzzled glances.

Leaving the boutique, Eleanor's legs were shaky, and she nearly tripped.

Wesley followed behind her, "Miss Patterson, Aaron asked me to take you home."

The last thing Eleanor wanted now was to see anyone related to Aaron!

She knew she shouldn't take out her irritation on others, but could only manage a poker face, "I'll drive myself."

"Aaron said you're not a great driver, it's not safe."

Eleanor was speechless.

She turned, catching a glimpse through the storefront window of Aaron lounging on a sofa in the brightly lit center, flipping through a fashion magazine, exuding an air of refined abstinence—as if the man who'd lost control in the fitting room wasn't him.

She glanced at Wesley holding a shopping bag, not needing to look to know it contained that particular dress.

Vincent, having changed into his suit, heard Eleanor had left and a meaningful look flashed in his eyes.

"Aaron, what do you think about this dress? I tried another one when you were on the phone, wasn't quite satisfied with it."

She twirled on the spot, her face beaming with joy.

Aaron hummed a response and put down the magazine, "Take your time; I've got to head out, there's something I need to take care of."

"Aaron..." Vincent's heart sank, his tone a mix of complaint and annoyance, "Grandfather said you were going to accompany me while I tried on dresses."

She was always the pampered princess; it was always her canceling plans on others. How could it be that she was being stood up now?
She tugged at Aaron's sleeve, feeling it was hardly excessive given they were on the brink of engagement.

Aaron brushed her hand aside without a flicker of emotion, his unflappable gaze meeting hers as he spoke with cool authority, "Behave, will you?"

Vincent knew of Aaron's rise to where he was today—the Patriarch of the Quinn family, a powerhouse in Nan City whose call was answered without question, a man of immense wealth and power. Such men often harbored a certain alpha dominance.

Especially when it came to disdain for being tethered, particularly by women.

Yet if he wanted her to toe the line, she would show him she could.

Her demeanor quickly softened into understanding as Vincent offered a conciliatory smile, "Go ahead then, I'll send you pictures."

As she watched his retreating figure, her eyes caught the two or three-centimeter scratches on the back of his hand, stark and looking freshly inflicted by fingernails—wounds which hadn't been there before.

Her fist clenched suddenly, the smile on her face cracking inch by inch into a fierce resentment.

She had overheard a conversation at the door of the fitting room just moments ago.

Entering the car, Aaron's expression was dark as he dialed a number on his phone, "Fire the residential manager."

The person on the other end hesitated, "Did he offend you?"

"I've already made it clear what isn't to be served to my guests. If he can't follow simple instructions, he's useless to me!"

"Understood."

The driver inquired, "Aaron, are we heading back to the Family Ancestral Home?"

The car's interior was dim; Aaron looked over to the empty seat opposite him, his fingers caressing the Green Diamonds ring, the muffled laughter of a woman echoing in his ears.

Edward had made her laugh.

In a cold voice, Aaron instructed, "Take me to the Fencing Club on Huahe Road."