The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 169: A Cold Bath Will Do

"Okay," Ethan murmured, his voice a low rumble. 

One hand intertwined with Victoria's fingers while the other slid into her damp hair, cradling the back of her head. His hot lips trailed from her earlobe to her cheek.

Victoria felt a bit ticklish and, while dodging, pushed his face away. "Haha... Stop that, it tickles."

"Victoria, Victoria," Ethan repeated her name, his voice thick with desire. "Do you like it when I kiss you like this?" 

He pressed her head against his lips, giving her a hard, lingering kiss before pulling back slightly. 

"Like this? Or like this?" He pried her lips apart, invading her mouth with a fervent intensity.

Victoria's breath came in short gasps as she stammered, "Neither, really. Do you have to be so rough? Can't you be a bit gentler?"

Ethan opened his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on her tightly shut eyelids and the trembling lashes that resembled black feathers. 

His expression was clear and focused, not the look of someone overwhelmed by drugs. 

Initially, he had lost control, but now he was pretending to be more affected than he was, curious to see how far Victoria would go to help him. 

His kisses softened, teasing her lips and tongue, their mingled saliva making the kiss wet and intimate. 

Sensing his change, Victoria began to respond tentatively, her tongue exploring his mouth and being gently sucked in return.

"Ah!" Victoria gasped, her eyes flying open. She wanted to see if her efforts had improved Ethan's condition. 

For a moment, his eyes seemed clear, but they quickly clouded over again. 

As she responded to his suddenly intense kisses, she touched his face with cool fingers, noting that his temperature had dropped significantly. 

His heartbeat, too, was steadier. 

Realizing the truth, she pushed him away sharply. "Stop pretending. You're fine now."

Their lips parted, a thin silver thread of saliva connecting them. Victoria's breath hitched in embarrassment. 

Ethan wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, sighing softly. "Sorry, you're just too irresistible. I couldn't stop."

Victoria bit her lower lip, wincing at the pain. Her lips were swollen from the kissing earlier, and now even a gentle touch hurt. 

Ethan leaned in to inspect the damage, but she shoved him away. "It's your fault! Get off me! How long do you plan to keep pinning me down?"

Suppressing a smile, Ethan slowly got up, his eyes lingering on her lips. "Your lips are injured. You should put some ointment on them."

Victoria slapped his hand away, fuming. "This is all your fault!" 

He could have stopped at any time, but he chose to keep going, leaving her lips sore and swollen. Ethan was such a jerk!

Ethan had been amused by her angry pouting, but now he groaned, clutching his abdomen. 

Victoria quickly supported him, her concern evident. "Are you still not feeling well?"

Gritting his teeth, Ethan seemed to be enduring pain. "The effects of the drug haven't completely worn off. I'm afraid..." 

Seeing Victoria frown, seemingly suspecting he was faking it again, he paused before continuing, "I'm afraid I'll need to take a cold shower."

Victoria relaxed a bit, nodding. "A cold shower should help. But seriously, why didn't you just take one in the first place? Why drag me into this?"

Ethan chuckled, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "I was going to, but then you showed up. Couldn't resist, you know?"

Victoria glared at him, turning to leave. How dare he blame her? 

But Ethan caught her hand. "You don't want everyone to see your swollen lips tomorrow, do you?" 

She paused, then obediently sat on the couch as Ethan fetched a first aid kit from the bookshelf. 

He carefully applied ointment to her lips, his touch gentle. "Don't let your lips get wet tonight, and don't lick them. They'll heal faster that way."

The slight swelling and broken skin on her lips would benefit from the cooling and anti-inflammatory effects of the ointment. By tomorrow, it shouldn't be noticeable to anyone.

After he finished, Victoria peeked out of the study room door to make sure no one was around. She didn't want to be seen. 

She motioned for Ethan to follow her, and they sneaked to his room. Ethan watched with amusement as she quietly closed and locked the door. 

She looked like she was sneaking around for a secret rendezvous. Clearing his throat, Ethan asked, "Are you planning to stay?"

Victoria's innocent eyes met his. "Of course. I don't trust you to take a cold shower alone. I'll wait until you're done. Or I could get Nick to watch you?"

Ethan sighed. "If Nick knows, everyone will know." 

He didn't mind if people found out about tonight, but he knew Victoria wouldn't want that. 

Sure enough, Victoria quickly shook her head.

So, Ethan grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom for a cold shower. 

Victoria settled on the couch outside, turning on the projector and picking a horror movie. Watching horror movies late at night was the best. 

The sound of running water filled the bathroom as Ethan shivered under the cold spray. 

The weather was chilly, and he knew he'd probably catch a cold, but he couldn't do anything to Victoria. He respected her too much to push her boundaries. 

The horror movie's eerie sounds reached him, and he shook his head with amusement. 

She had been so shy during their kiss, but now she was engrossed in a horror movie.

Meanwhile, Jasmine had finished her bath in the guest room. 

She styled her hair to look effortlessly chic, slipped into a sexy nightgown, and spritzed on her most seductive perfume. 

She figured Samuel's drug would be at its peak, making him desperate. She was confident he wouldn't be able to resist her.

Navigating the dark house, she made her way upstairs, having noted Samuel's room location earlier. 

A flash of green light and the faint sound of a baby crying made her freeze, gripping the railing. 

The sound vanished, and she convinced herself it was her imagination. 

Gathering her courage, she continued. 

A gust of wind blew open a window, something furry brushed her cheek, and a woman's scream pierced the air. "Ahhh! A ghost!"