Chapter 127: "Just Ignore Them"

The private spot Aren had mentioned was a secluded alcove tucked just beyond the path leading to the private gym.

The moment she tugged Caio inside, he turned the tables on her, backing her against the wall until not the slightest space remained between them.

Cool stone met her back, and before she could even lift her head properly, one broad hand had already cupped her face.

His fingers pressed gently into her cheeks, parting her lips into a soft pout, and the next instant his mouth descended over hers, claiming every inch of it completely.

Aren’s eyes flew open in surprise, only to find his already closed, his entire focus consumed by her.

She barely had time to recover before his free hand began roaming over her body with unmistakable hunger. It slid down to cup one of her ass cheeks, giving it a firm squeeze that left no doubt how much he had missed touching her.

"Mm—mm..." she managed to protest.

The muffled sounds were meant to say, "Wait a minute," but every syllable disappeared beneath the slow sweep of his tongue.

Unable to say anything else, she slipped both arms around his shoulders, closed her eyes, and returned the kiss with small, eager pulls of her lips.

Caio felt it immediately.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he pressed himself even closer, his lower body settling firmly against hers until the unmistakable hardness of his cock rested against her belly.

"You see what you do to me?" he murmured against her lips. "I’ve been thinking about this all day, sitting through boring meetings with countless idiots."

Aren shivered as the heavy heat of him reached her even through the thin fabric of her T-shirt.

’He’s already so hard again.’

Wanting to make him feel better somehow, her hand slipped shyly between them until her fingertips found the firm outline beneath his trousers.

She stroked gently along its length, tentative but earnest, and the simple touch was enough to draw a sharp breath from him.

"Hmph... Aren."

The sensation only encouraged him further. His hand left her hip and slid around to the front, finding the soft folds hidden beneath her tight pants.

His fingers rubbed slow, deliberate strokes along the length of her slit, each pass growing more intimate as something wet and warm steadily gathered beneath his touch.

Aren squirmed so hard that the kiss finally broke.

"Hmm... mmm—Caio... stop... someone might hear me."

Soft, helpless moans escaped before she could stop them, forcing her to clamp her lips shut.

Caio had no intention of stopping.

The thumb supporting her jaw shifted upward until it rested lightly against her lower lip.

"Suck on my finger instead. That might muffle it a bit."

Aren couldn’t understand how that was supposed to help. Still, trusting him, she gave it a try.

Gently drawing his thumb into her mouth, she closed her lips around it, and when she gave a small, uncertain suck, a strained groan rumbled deep in his throat.

"Hah... fuck."

For one dangerous instant, all he could picture was those same clumsy lips wrapped around his cock.

His eyes darkened instantly.

"I shouldn’t have tried that."

Without ever explaining it, he withdrew his thumb and replaced it with another hungry kiss. Before long, however, he felt her gradually stop responding.

Her body, though still trembling, started tensing instead of melting. Her knees pressed together until his hand was forced to slow.

"Wait, Caio," she whispered, her voice somehow steady despite the haze clouding her thoughts. "Wait a minute. I think someone’s coming."

A faint frown creased his brow.

"Just ignore them."

He leaned in to kiss her again before she could protest.

Aren tried. She answered the kiss, but something about the approaching footsteps registered in the back of her mind.

’This cadence... the pressure of those footsteps... and that whistling... I know them.’

She drew back just enough to meet his eyes.

"No. I think it’s Oscar. I need to talk to him for a minute. It’s very important."

Caio’s eyes narrowed, displeasure written plainly across his face.

"Who the hell is Oscar?"

Before he could stop her or receive an answer, she slipped neatly from his embrace and hurried out of the alcove.

Stepping onto the path, she found Oscar exactly where she’d expected him.

"Oscar?"

Oscar had been strolling along with both hands buried comfortably in his pockets, absentmindedly whistling while wearing the unmistakable expression of someone deep in thought.

The instant he spotted her, however, every trace of that mood vanished.

His entire face lit up.

"Ariana? You’ve arrived?"

Then, just as quickly, he remembered yesterday. The brightness disappeared beneath an exaggerated scowl as he marched straight toward her.

"I still haven’t talked to you about yesterday!" he burst out, jabbing an accusing finger at her. "How could you just leave without saying a word? I ran all the way back looking for you because I thought something had happened, and you were already gone!"

Aren blinked rapidly, first at the finger, then at his face.

"You were... worried about me?"

Oscar immediately realized what he’d admitted. Heat flooded his face so quickly he had no chance of hiding it.

"I... I mean... I..." The words tangled hopelessly in his throat.

Aren’s expression brightened at once. Smiling warmly, she reached over to pat his shoulder.

"Sorry, Oscar. Jordan and I stayed behind to train in the gym afterward. I didn’t realize you’d come looking for me."

Then, remembering why she had wanted to find him in the first place, she leaned closer and discreetly cupped a hand beside his ear.

"Is our plan ready?"

Oscar considered telling her that Jordan already knew about their plan. But with the memory of Jordan’s brutal threat fresh in his mind, he forced the words back down.

Leaning in, he mirrored her gesture and lowered his voice.

"I was actually coming to find you about that. Everything’s going according to plan. I’ve gathered a team of six men I usually train with. It’s enough to balance the numbers without drawing too much attention. We’ll enter through the maintenance tunnels before you’re dropped into the maze."

Aren’s eyes brightened, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"Good work, Oscar."

The praise struck him with unexpected force. His ears turned bright red.

"Stop smiling like that!" he blurted. "Why are you always smiling like that?"

At that exact moment, another figure stepped calmly out from the alcove behind Aren.

Oscar nearly jumped out of his skin.

Looking up, he found himself staring directly at Caio Sartori, whose expression had settled into one of thoroughly undisguised irritation.

"D-Don Caio?" Oscar stammered. "What are you doing here?"

Caio had every right to look irritated.

He had spent the last several minutes taming his hardened arousal back into something remotely presentable, and the effort had required more restraint than he cared to admit.

Fixing Oscar with an icy stare, he muttered,

"Who’s this brat?"

Aren turned back toward him with a bright smile, seemingly oblivious to everything she’d just put him through.

"Oh, this is Oscar." She pointed cheerfully at the younger man before turning back. "Oscar, this is Don Caio. I invited him to watch the competition."

Oscar instantly straightened. Every trace of the relaxed familiarity he’d shown around Aren disappeared beneath the Sartori Don’s presence.

"Y-Yes, sir. I’m Oscar Marchetti," he said hurriedly. "Don Eduardo’s youngest son. Though... I’m sure we met the last time you visited."

Caio acknowledged him with nothing more than another long, unreadable look.

"Hm. No wonder."

His gaze swept over Oscar once.

"You look exactly like your brother."

Then he turned his full attention back to Aren.

"Finished talking to him?" he asked evenly. "We have equally important business to take care of."

Only then did Aren notice the lingering frost in his eyes. Flustered, she looked back at Oscar and waved both hands apologetically.

"Then... that’s everything we needed to discuss, Oscar. Just go ahead with our plan, okay? I... um... have to talk to Don Caio for a bit."

Oscar immediately flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

"You don’t need to worry. I’ll go get everything ready."

Aren waved goodbye as he hurried down the corridor.

The instant she lowered her hand and turned around, a strong arm circled her waist and pulled her straight back into the secluded corner once more.