Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 278 It seemed like an eternity since he had felt this way.

A wave of frustration washed over him as he gazed down at her, his eyes a mix of disdain and something deeper...

Whitney met his gaze, but quickly averted her eyes, mumbling in confusion, "Sorry, I didn't expect you to look down." The space between their bodies grew slightly.

Ludwik wasn't sure whether he felt relief or a sense of emptiness.

Suddenly, his hand shot out, lifting her chin forcefully.

With annoyance lacing his voice, he sneered, "So you say you're not trying to seduce me? With all these little games you play, what exactly are you after?" Whitney's eyes flickered, glancing at the cellphone lying on the edge of the bathtub.

A message had popped up from Kelvin just as she had entered the bathroom! After reading it, thoughts of her uncle swirled in her head, sobering her up despite the warm bath. Years of entertaining clients had fortified her tolerance to alcohol. Was she truly drunk, or just pretending? Only she knew the truth.

Ludwik was right; she did have a motive, a spontaneous one at that.

Being humiliated and intoxicated by him tonight was indeed an opportunity, and she had no other choice... With her decision made, Whitney masked her cold intent, leaning closer to him with a mocking anger, "Me, seduce you? What for, to get bored by Elaine's leftovers?" "Get away from me," she pushed him lightly.

But it was like a cat's paw against his chest.

Ludwik narrowed his eyes at her little hand, grabbing it tightly, "Whitney, don't push your luck, and watch your mouth!" Whitney scoffed, "My mouth was clean before, and you didn't likeany better. We're divorced now, you have no say over what I say." She paused, her movements restricted, then suddenly kicked at his leg, mocking, "Actually, you like it when I'm unrestrained, don't you?" Ludwik's lips tightened.

This woman, shamelessly rewriting the script! "What are you even thinking about!" Whitney muttered truthfully, "Looks like I didn't kick you hard enough last night." Ludwik's face darkened, remembering the pain that had sent him to the hospital twice, though thankfully, nothing serious had happened.

Still, facing her remained a struggle, a blow to his pride.

To hide his turmoil, Ludwik quickly stood up, pulling her harshly, his tone growing more hostile, "Enough! Don't try these cheap tricks on me. I won't touch you; I find it disgusting." "If you're that lonely, the parking lot is full of options, not to mention Bryce Orion!" He deliberately made his words harsher, trying to regain control of his wayward thoughts.

Whitney's eyes briefly faltered.

Mocking herself for feeling disgusted by him? She despised him too, especially after whatever was going on with Elaine! But for a cause...

Whitney lowered her gaze, holding back her anger, stubbornly staying put on the floor.

Her wrist reddened from his grip, she pouted, "Who asked you to touch me. Letgo, you're hurting me!" The phrase was ripe with implication.

Ludwik's gaze darkened, trying to discern her intent.

His voice bechoarse, "Didn't you say I was all brute force? Not hurting you would be a disservice to all the names you've called me." Recalling the words she had hurled at him before the party.

Now, in the steamy bathroom, his retort carried an unintended double meaning, Their eyes locked, memories of uncontrollable moments from three years ago flooding back.

Whitney bit her lip, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she turned away, "You brute, I won't speak to you anymore!" "Which part of what I said was brutish?" Ludwik licked his lips, capturing her chin, his gaze deepening, "Clearly, it's your thoughts that are impure!" "I didn't think anything!" His chuckle was low and lazy, making her cheeks burn even hotter. Whitney, realizing the more she denied, the more she admitted, boldly accepted, "Fine, I thought about it, and so did you! You must've thought first, otherwise why would you..." She implied more with her gaze.

Ludwik's throat worked dangerously, his restraint thinning, "Whitney, don't play with fire!" "So what if I do? You finddisgusting anyway." Whitney boldly moved forward, wrapping her arms around his heated neck, provocatively saying, "I love seeing you contradict yourself, torn between desire and disgust, torturing yourself." "You're asking for it!" he pinned her against the damp floor.

But his voice was already hoarsely out of control, damn it, Ludwik felt extrannoyance, why did this woman always manage to provoke him? Despite everything, he still yearned for her, even with Elaine in his life. How could he justify this to Elaine? It must've been the alcohol, or perhaps a desperate need for release...

A surge of frustration washed over him, quickly pushed aside as Ludwik pinned her hands down.

Whitney's eyes shimmered with a drunken haze, she arched up, touching his handsface, mumbling something unintelligible.

Ludwik leaned in to listen.

Her complaints were petulant, "I'm not dirty, you're blind. In these three years, I haven't been with anyone, uplike you, getting dirty with Elaine. I don't want you touching me." Boom, Ludwik paused, his heart seemingly skipping a beat. He pressed his lips together, asking, "You really haven't been with anyone?" "Find out for yourself, unless you're too scared Elaine will find out," she taunted seductively.

"Shut up..." he silenced her with a kiss, his palm feeling her playful resistance.

Ludwik's eyelids twitched, his body and mind losing control...

He moved his hand, pressing his lips more fiercely against hers, his kiss desperate and forceful...

The warmth of his kiss overwhelmed Whitney, her senses numbed by the familiar masculine scent, surprisingly clean and appealing.

She was almost lost...

But in the next second, Whitney sharply regained her senses, lifting her hand, a silver needle gleaming between her fingers, precisely jabbing into Ludwik's neck. "You...!" Ludwik's eyes narrowed, probably wanting to curse, But only a thud was heard as his tall frcollapsed to the side.

Whitney forcefully pushed him away, took a deep breath, and covered her slightly flushed face as she got up. Her eyes were cool and distant as she scoffed, "Who said you could get a free pass? Jerk."