Andrew carried Aspen to the second–floor bedroom, moving quickly but gently. He planned to try every alternative method he knew to help her sweat out the drug. Only if all else failed would he consider the final option–one that involved getting directly involved himself.
Downstairs, Tiana glanced at Jameson and let out a cold, pointed laugh. “At least that boy isn’t greedy. If it were certain other men, I bet they’d jump at the chance, turn it into an all–out orgy, and call it charity.”
Jameson’s face turned bright red with irritation. He wanted to snap back and ask her why she was so blunt. However, with the two girls present, he forced a strained smile instead.
He cleared his throat and said, “Lauren, Fran, this place really is lovely. Why don’t you show me around?”
Grateful for the change of subject, Lauren and Francesca eagerly led him off on a tour of the villa.
Tiana, hands folded neatly into the sleeves of her dress, tilted her head and stared up toward the second floor. After a moment, she looked away with a scowl, lips twitching with something between shame and irritation.
She muttered, “That damn brat… how hard is he going at it? She’s crying already! Young people these days have no shame at all!
11
Grumbling to herself, she stormed into the dining area and yanked the glass door shut.
At her level of martial arts, her hearing was absurdly sharp. Even the tiniest sound would not escape her ears, let alone the very non–tiny sounds currently echoing from upstairs.
Andrew had always been proper and serious. She could not help but wonder if he was a complete beast in bed.
An hour later, Andrew finally came down to the main hall, having stabilized Aspen and left her asleep.
Tiana was already waiting, tapping her fingers on the table with an impatient scowl. “Showered yet?” Andrew blinked. “Showered? In the middle of the day? Why would-”
“You young people really don’t care about hygiene, do you? You finish that kind of thing, and you don’t even rinse off?” Tiana snapped.
Realizing what she was implying, Andrew gave a dry chuckle. “Mrs. Rhodes, it’s not what you think. Enthralling Essence is intense, and yes, usually requires a sexual release. But my medical techniques allow for alternative methods.”
Tiana gave a mocking smile. “Alternative methods? You mean, you used your hands, right? You call that a professional solution?
11
Andrew’s expression twitched. “Mrs. Rhodes, you sure are well–informed. But actually, I didn’t use my hands. I used”
She waved a hand dismissively before he could finish. “Whatever you used, I don’t want to know, but at least you have some decency left. You didn’t keep us all downstairs waiting while you and your little maid turned the upstairs into a slip ‘n slide.”
Andrew opened his mouth, wanting to say something–anything to get her to stop being so graphic. He thought, ‘You’re my mother–in–law. Can we not talk like this?‘
However, before he could even form a sentence, Tiana added, “I do have a question, though. Just curiosity, nothing more. What exactly did you do to her to make her scream like that?”
Her eyes narrowed, studying him intently.
Tiana’s eyes were sharp and beautiful, unmistakably inherited by Lauren. The difference was that where Lauren’s gaze was soft and kind, Tiana’s was full of cunning and edge.
It was not hard to imagine–back in her prime, Tiana must have been the kind of seductress who gave men migraines and nightmares.
Chapter 1443
Andrew coughed. “Mrs. Rhodes, I really don’t think you should ask that.”
He meant it.
+25 BONUS
Of every woman he had ever met–young or old–Tiana was hands down the most dangerous. She was not just sharp–tongued, but she could also be sweet as sugar one second and venomous the next.
Most elders kept a respectful distance, holding themselves with grace and restraint.
But Tiana? She was always pushing buttons, doing things no son–in–law should ever have to process.
And more than once, Andrew had caught himself wondering if this woman was mentally sound.
Chapter 1444
