Liar Liar Billionaires

28. I wanna be a bad boy game

Chloe watched as Sebastian splashed a bucket of water onto the face of the firmly tied man before them.

Then a slap followed, dragging the man out of his deep slumber.

"Welcome back," Sebastian said to him.

"Wh-"

"Save your breath. It’s not the time to talk." Sebastian patted his wet cheek hard before walking towards the trio who stood at a distance in silence.

"What now?" Amir asked, his angry eyes focusing on the target.

"I want to leave him in the dark for a few minutes,” Sebastian replied.

"Do we have that kind of time? He needs to pay for his s**t. He even tried to drug Chloe.” Amir was finding it hard to keep calm. It seemed the whole bomb deal also shook him a bit too much.

Sebastian restrained him with his palm to his chest. "And he will," he said. "But you need to calm down before we ask him questions. Once we have our answers, he will pay."

Chloe hoped that they wouldn’t deal with the culprit in an extremely gruesome way. If they do, it would just confirm the suspicions about them.

With a sigh of relief and detachment from the moment, she turned towards the window side. It was then she noticed Nathaniel watching her.

Since he saved her from getting injected by their target, she hadn’t spoken a word to him. Because she didn’t want the little stirs she had successfully managed to put aside to come back.

So, with a weak fake cough, she straightened her posture and positioned herself near the window.

She then watched the quiet night.

"Chloe?"

Her breath hitched. She didn’t expect to be disturbed by him so soon.

But, she turned regardless of her hesitation and answered, “Yeah?”

"How are you doing?" Nathaniel asked after his gaze had roamed her body for a few seconds.

"I am good."

"Hmm."

"Do you need something?" she asked him with narrowed eyes.

"I uh..."

"If you don't, please excuse me."

With a quick clasp of her hand, he stopped her from walking away. Chloe, who didn’t want to give the flip in her belly attention, coldly glanced at the contact.

And with the same expression, she met his eyes and said, “Could you let me go?”

His fingers wrapped around her wrist tightly.

Before she could protest again, he said, "Thank you."

She frowned. "What for?"

"For taking this risk for Amir."

"Well," she managed a sarcastic smile. "Unlike you, he is a consistent friend."

His tongue clicked. "I have been a douche, haven't I?"

Chloe sighed. He was clearly about to find his way back to her heart. She wasn't going to allow that. She would try her best to stop her.

After making a click with her mouth, she ranted, “Honestly, you’re terrible at being a douche. You keep trying too hard to be a bad boy. And it doesn’t even suit you.”

Nathaniel blinked. "Uh..."

"You know what," her eyes flickered to her wrist before she continued. "Since you are so committed to pushing me away this second then drawing me close the next, you should at least have the guts to be bold about it.”

For what seemed like an endless second, silence ensued.

Then, his deep chuckle followed.

Chloe tilted her head in confusion. She wondered what was so amusing.

She didn’t wonder for long.

"Chloe..." he started, his hand still around her wrist. "You have no idea, do you?" Her brows quirked. "You are a f*****g dangerous woman." Her eyes narrowed at his sentence. “Clearly, pushing you a thousand miles away is not enough to get you out of my freaking mind.”

She shook her head to resist the delightful storm rousing within her.

“You…” His intense eyes searched her face. “Every side of you I’ve seen so far… they all make me want more.” A smirk pulled his lips. “Especially your feistiness. It's so raw and tempting. It makes me want to grab you, kiss you, take you to my bed and do things to you.”

"S-stop it," she whispered, her eyes unable to hold his gaze.

"You make me want more of you, Chloe.” He stepped closer, and his voice became lower, heavier, and more intent as he said, “I won’t stop myself anymore. I’ll not hold back again.”

Her fluttering eyes managed to lock with eyes and her betraying heart yearned to hear more.

Nathaniel continued, “I want dates with you. I need more of your smiles and also that sexy sexiness of yours. I…” His grip tightened, but not in a harmful way. “...want to be the man in your life.”

A gasp dragged out of her as emotions crashed within her. The emotions she was aware of, combined with those she wasn’t aware of, and her heart became a playful field.

But she didn’t want any of that. Not anymore. She already made a decision to focus on her mission only.

Sighing hard, she finally said, “Nathaniel, I-”

“Chloe, I’m not asking if you want this to happen. I’m telling you.” He reached for her other hand. “I need you to brace yourself.”

"What for?" she asked wearily.

"I will continue what I started. And this time…” He brought a hand to her face and gently traced her skin with his knuckles, his eyes sparkling, his touch making Chloe feel a little woozy. “This time, Chloe, I’ll do things right.”

"Why are you doing this to me?" she mumbled.

"Because I want you." He crumbled every inch of her recent decision with that statement and his soft, low, determined voice. “And, I must have you.”

With a little summoned strength, she retorted, "If I let you."

"Oh.” He leaned in to tease her senses with his scent. "We'll see about that." Then he kissed her. It was a short one. But it was enough to have Chloe circling thoughts in her head.

"Guys..." Sebastian called. "It's time."

"Do you even care about me, Nathaniel?" she asked, stopping him from taking one more step. "Or is this part of your 'I wanna be a bad boy' game?"

“I care.” He turned his head slightly in her direction and said, "A lot more than you think."

That was it for Chloe.

The feelings were officially back, and this time with a huge wave.