Chapter300
On the patio, Douglas had just filled the hot tub with water, adjusting the temperature to a cozy 102 degrees Fahrenheit—not too hot to handle.
At the sound of the door sliding open, Douglas looked up and caught sight of Diana, clad in a creamy white bikini that highlighted her flawless figure, her bare feet padding softly against the floor.
For a moment, Douglas was caught off guard.
Diana had a petite yet shapely figure, her smooth alabaster skin usually concealed by conservative office attire. Now, in a fetching bikini, she was undeniably captivating.
"Is the water ready?" Diana asked, noticing Douglas’s stunned expression as she approached the tub, dipping her toe in to test the warmth.
"Yeah, it's perfect," Douglas managed to respond, swallowing hard as he stood up. He grabbed a towel from a nearby rack and walked toward her.
Diana watched him approach and purposefully descended the hot tub steps, immersing herself by the time Douglas reached the edge.
"How's the temperature? Comfortable?" Douglas asked with a wry smile, looking down at her.
Without looking at him, Diana splashed water over her shoulders and nodded, "Yes, it's quite nice."
"What would you like to drink? I'll get it for you," Douglas offered, his gaze lingering.
"You pick. I'm good with anything," Diana replied nonchalantly.
"All right, give me a sec," he said, and with that, he placed the towel down and turned back into the house to fetch the drinks.
Diana’s eyes followed his retreating form, her eyebrows lifting in amusement.
She was curious to see if Douglas would keep his hands to himself tonight. But honestly, relaxing in the warmth of the hot tub felt incredibly soothing—she hadn't indulged in such comfort in a long time.
She slid over to the edge of the tub, sat back, tilted her head, and slowly closed her eyes for a restful repose.
A few minutes later, Diana heard the splash of someone entering the water. Opening her eyes, she saw Douglas, wearing only a loosely tied towel around his hips, carrying two wine glasses and a bottle of red wine as he approached her.
In that instant, Diana's previously steady heartbeat fluttered into disarray once again.
There before her was the vigorous youthfulness and strength of Douglas’s twenty-one-year-old body—full of life and allure.
"I thought you weren't joining me?" Diana commented with a surge of emotion, though her face remained the picture of calm.
Douglas watched her with a grin that seemed almost too pure, untainted by any impurity. As he walked toward her, he teased, "Quite a big pool for just you. Doesn't it get lonely?"
By the time he reached Diana's side, he had set down two wine glasses and began pouring the drink.
"Not at all!" Diana felt the temperature in the pool rise a few degrees as Douglas got closer, her body growing warmer, though she managed to keep a calm expression. She shook her head with a smile, "To me, you're the same whether you're in the pool or out of it."
Douglas handed her a filled glass.
Taking it from him, she sipped daintily.
"That's not the way you drink this wine," he said, his gaze intense as if flames flickered in his eyes.
Raising an eyebrow and feeling even thirstier under his burning stare, Diana countered with composed amusement, "And how should one drink it?"
"I'll show you." With that, Douglas took a swig of his drink, reached out to cradle the back of Diana's head, and pressed his lips against hers.
Diana's eyes widened, the dim light, the mist from the water outlining Douglas's youthful and handsome features with intense affection.
Gradually, Diana closed her eyes.
Encouraged, Douglas grew bolder and set his wine glass aside.
Buzz—Buzz—Buzz—
Time flew, and just as they were about to break that final barrier, Diana's cell phone on the pool's edge began to vibrate.
Soaked in the hot spring, Diana felt dazed with stirring emotions and had no intention of answering. However, a glimpse of the caller ID on her screen jolted her awake as if struck by lightning.
Abruptly, she pushed Douglas away, reached for the phone, and answered the call.
Douglas, suddenly pushed into the water, felt as though he'd plunged into an abyss— a hollow feeling hard to describe.
"Liam," said Diana, calming her ragged breath and speaking softly after a glance at Douglas.
On the other end, Liam picked up on the distress in Diana's voice. His handsome face furrowed with concern, but he said no more, simply instructing, "Get over to the Willow Heights mansion. I'll be waiting."
"Okay." Without a second thought, Diana agreed.
It was as if by reflex—in her professional life, she never refused a command from Liam.
As soon as she finished speaking, the line went dead with a 'beep' signaling the end of the call.
Diana pulled her phone away from her ear and looked up, only to lock eyes with Douglas's restrained yet mournful gaze.
She couldn't help feeling irritated with herself.
Douglas squinted at her, wiped the water from his face, and asked with a hoarse voice, "What's up?"
"Sorry, Douglas, I need to head back. Can you give me a lift?" She regretted coming to the hot springs with him. It was just too far out.
"Is something wrong? Do you really have to go back now?" Douglas was on the verge of despair.
He was in agony.
"How about you stay the night here, and I'll take a cab back?" Diana suggested, starting to walk toward the edge of the pool.
"Wait!" Douglas reached out quickly and grabbed her hand, his eyes pleading like a lost puppy, but his words held no hesitation, "I'll take you."
Diana turned to look at him and, on impulse, broke into a smile.
