"Well, alright, that sounds perfect!"
Arduous couldn't hide the smirk on his lips when his mother instantly agreed with his volunteer to drive Elizabeth home. Even Aunt Liza wasn't against it and kissed Elizabeth before turning to go back inside the house, leaving the two of them.
Elizabeth already stood beside him, waiting. He sported a smile at her and put his hands on his pocket.
"I hope you don't mind that I volunteered to drive you to your hotel?"
"No, it's okay. And thank you by the way,"
"No worries, pretty. You still owe me for what happened at the lobby."
Instantly, Elizabeth blushed with that and remembered that she hadn't apologized for what happened yet. Remembering that, she looked at him to apologize but before she could even say a word, Arduous cut her off politely.
"Wait, let me just get my car so we can talk on our way."
Arduous didn't let her respond and jogged towards the house parking lot to get his car. She wasn't surprised anymore when she saw that he owned a sports car.
"Ride in,"
She shook her head hearing the term that he used instead of "come in". She wasn't innocent not to pick that one up, she was just a virgin, that's it.
Arduous immediately sped off the highway as soon as she gets in.
"So… what were you saying a while ago?" he asked, taking a quick glance at her.
"Oh, yea, I… just wanted to properly apologize for what happened in the lobby. I was in a hurry so I wasn't able to apologize properly."
"Ah, yea. It's fine, I get it."
"Thank you."
"Hmm… so, it's where you are staying until Tuesday?"
Elizabeth nodded, "Yea. As I said, I already paid in advance when I booked and they have no refund policy."
Arduous nodded and mumbled to himself, "Hmm, that's good."
"What's good?"
He didn't know that she still managed to hear it. He chuckled and shook his head, she was obviously oblivious of what was running in his head at that moment.
"Nothing. Just don't mind me."
The car fell into silence after. The soft hum of the car's engine provided was the only background noise.
As he drove through the night, Arduous couldn't help but sneak glances at Elizabeth, his eyes tracing the contours of her profile in the dimly lit car. She was a vision of elegance, her hair falling gently over her shoulders, and her eyes carrying a hint of innocence and obedience, something that stirred his interest towards her more.
"You know," Arduous finally broke the silence, a sly smile tugging at his lips, "It's quite the coincidence that we keep running into each other today."
Elizabeth turned her gaze towards him, her eyes curious but guarded. "It does seem that way, doesn't it?"
Arduous took a moment to determine whether she was getting what he was saying. When he realized that she doesn't, he shook his head and changed the topic.
"Yea, couldn't help but notice how sexy you look in that dress. It perfectly embraces your curves."
Elizabeth's cheeks flushed slightly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're quite the smooth talker, Arduous. But thank you for the compliment."
It was the one of the rare times that someone other than her parents and best friend complimented her body. She had always been praised because of her beauty and cleverness, but for some reason, not with her body.
As Arduous drove, he initiated a conversation over random things so they wouldn't fall into silence. His goal was to get to know her and get close to her anyway and luckily, he managed to find common ground with Elizabeth, sharing stories about his work and his hobby of playing basketball during his free times. It turned out that Elizabeth was interested to men who plays basketball for some reason.
"Well, since you'd be staying here for three months, perhaps you would like to go with me if I get to play with the boys?" he then invited.
"You mean with your friends? Sure."
It was another yes to him that he was starting to like but at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder how she easily trusted him.
"Are you really like that?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Like what?"
"You easily trusted me. I mean, it's not like I'm someone whom you shouldn't trust but we just met a few hours ago."
"Well, it's not like you are planning something with me."
His lips twitched into a smirk hearing that. Oh, if she only knew.
Arduous took a moment before responding in a challenging tone, "Well, what if I am?"
Elizabeth looked at him before shaking her head, "I don't know but one thing I can say is that, I don't think you do."
His smirk widened as he chuckled sexily with that.
"Well then, if that's what you say. We're here."
The car slowed as they reached the hotel. Arduous parked the car and turned to her. She thought he was going to say goodbye but was surprised when Arduous leaned to remove her seatbelt.
He was so close to her that he could smell his manly scent that for some reason, making her feel something she couldn't explain. While Arduous , who also smelled her lavender scent and the fact that his lips were so close to her breasts started to give him a hard-on.
From his peripheral vision, he could tell how firm they were as his mind started to make fantasies. And before he could even lose control of himself, he quickly leaned back, mumbling a curse.
Elizabeth's gaze went to her and the desire that he saw in her eyes intensified what he was feeling at that moment. He could only take a deep breath as he convinced himself that it wasn't time yet to make his move.
"T-thank you," she stuttered.
"No worries, I'll walk you to your room."
She didn't get the chance to respond again when he stepped out of the car and jogged to her side to open the door for her. They were silent as they made their way in the hotel and in the elevator, with Elizabeth thinking the attraction that she felt a while ago towards Arduous, whilst the latter was controlling himself from his fantasies.
He could see how she was biting her lips and it wasn't helping him.
When the elevator arrived at the floor of her hotel, he let her lead the way and she did, he was watching how her lips were naturally swaying as she walked. He wondered how it would sway while she was on top of him.
"I'm good here."
His train of thoughts halted when she stopped in front of the third door on the hallway.
Room 301.
Knowing the hotel as it was where he usually go with Liliene, he knew she was renting a standard room.
"Thank you and uhm, take care."
Elizabeth was still biting her lips and it was really testing him. He was about to let it go and turn around to leave when she suddenly rolled her tongue on her lower lip, making him lose his control.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Arduous uttered a curse before opening his eyes again and crashing his lips to hers.
"Fuck. It's a taste of heaven." he thought.