CHAPTER 7: In The Rain

Fuck, this is going to be difficult, thought Candy. She quickly raked her brain. Well, nothing is impossible! She giggled confidently to herself. Knowing this guy well, she had an idea what she had to do.

"Hi Neal!" started Candy pretending to be happy to see him. "What a pleasant surprise! How are you?" She paused waiting for a response.

He didn't give any. Oh, crap, thought Candy.

"I need… help! Heh…heh…," Candy cracked a friendly smile.

"Sorry, can't. Have guests with me," said Neal harshly without looking at Candy.

He's been trying so hard not to have any involvement with her. Considering the humiliation, nightmare, and hardship she had given him, the least he wanted to do would be to lend a helping hand.

Hell if she had to be stranded here all night long in a rain storm! Neal wound the window back up.

"Oh…oh... Neal." Candy held her hand out in the window ledge to stop the window from being rolled up. "Please, help me!" she pleaded. "I-it's c-cold."

A chilly wind breezed making Candy shiver.

"She must be cold," whispered the blonde chick.

"I can give her my coat," said the brunette.

Candy heard it. Putting more acting, she sneezed to gain more support and get the much needed help.

The two chicks watched Neal intently.

Not good, Neal thought. He'd get bad reputation if he didn't help and would be known as a jerk who didn't respect women.

"Wait inside your car, I'll tell… William to come and rescue you," said Neal. There's a sense of bitterness in his voice.

"I can't. Got locked out," sniffed Candy. She moved a strand of wet hair from her face. "I accidentally left my car key inside my car."

Shit, why do I have to keep bumping into her?, thought Neal. For reputation sake, he felt at least he had to go out to talk to Candy so people thought he cared.

"Excuse me," Neal said to his girls.

Neal could tell that Candy was looking. Quickly, he seized the opportunity to show off. He pulled the two chicks towards him and gave each a smooch. He's been wanting to show Candy that he didn't need her. He had plenty of others who're willing to take her place and he's not at all regretting to live his life without her. He felt so great he could finally do that.

The chicks giggled, wiggling happily in his arms. "Don't go, Neal," they said.

"I have to," Neal said extra softly but loud enough so Candy could hear. "Wait for me…"

"It's raining Neal. Be careful," said the brunette.

"You're so brave, Neal," said the blonde. "Don't get cold."

Both chicks reluctantly watched Neal leave.

All these just for going outside in the rain?, Candy rolled her eyes in disbelief witnessing the drama.

Neal got out from the car. Putting one hand in his pocket, he put an unhappy air on his face to show that he's hugely disturbed. One staff hurriedly came to open an umbrella to cover him.

"Thanks, Neal," said Candy. Her tone was sweet, vulnerable. He never before heard she talk like that to him. For a split of second, it made his heart shift, minutely.

Why that voice?, Neal wondered. She regards me as a friend now? It's so tempting to…

Argh… fuck her, he hardened back his heart.

"You're welcome," he snorted. He nodded to send his staff away and held his umbrella himself.

Candy threw her sweetest smile at him. The smile which used to make him drunk in love and lose all his senses.

It won't work to me anymore, Candy. You mean shit to me now, thought Neal determinedly.

"Show me what your problem is," Neal said.

Believing that he's immune to any insanity she's capable of doing, bravely he accepted her challenge. He lifted his face and held her gaze. Slowly, he started to examine her… carefully.

Exquisite porcelain white skin, hot red lips, lovely freckles. Her appearance was in wrecked havoc because of the storm but that only made her look even more desirable. Her curly golden hair was mussed reminding him of sex… a hot sex. Her dress was so sodden that it's sticking to her skin revealing one hell of heavenly curves.

Candy…

Perhaps he held her gaze a bit too long or a little too deeply but by now, it's too late to pull back. Her green gaze easily bored into him with mesmerizing intensity. It pulled him right at the place where he left off… No. It wasn't quite as finished as he had forced himself to believe.

She is beautiful, he swallowed. His body temperature started to rise.

"Neal...," purred Candy.

A drop of water dropped from the tip of her curly golden hair to the valley of her breast - trailing down between her breasts before finally disappeared. He gulped. In an instant, his mind was attacked by sensual fantasies imagining the naked body underneath that wet dress. He knew precisely what he wanted to do to it.

"It's very nice of you to come out," said Candy softly. It's not the gentlest, softest voice she had but it's enough to instantly make his dick* hard and big.

Candy sneezed, gazed imploringly at Neal.

Candy! Neal wiped his forehead which started to sweat although the temperature was cool and the wind was freezing. Damn it…! She still owns me.

He knew that she's deliberately staging her look just to get the desired help. It's obvious. But it didn't stop his heart from slamming like a jackhammer to his ribs.

Enemy or not, it's a sin to resist such a beauty. Fine, I'll fucking play along.

"You're cold. Use my coat," said Neal. Neal nodded to his man who scurried back to the car to pick up the coat and gave it to his master. Neal gave the coat to Candy.

"No need...," Candy declined in a tiny soft voice. "Could you just help me with my mess so I can go home?"

A wind blew and Candy shivered.

"Change," said Neal. He took her to behind the bush and turned his back facing her. "I hold the umbrella for you. Like this. I won't look."

Candy searched his face. It showed nothing but the look of naïve innocence. Another gush of arctic win came by. She's freezing cold, so tempted by the offer... She's very busy in school and work, she mustn't get sick.

"Okay...," she said slowly, considering. "Don't look. Promise?"

Neal nodded firmly. He turned his head around, holding one umbrella for Candy and one for himself.

Candy took off her wet dress. She changed it and wore Neal's dry coat instead.

"Done, Neal."

Candy lifted her eyes and caught his eyes were watching her.

She screeched. "You said you wouldn't look!"

"I didn't..." His brown eyes glittered, couldn't look more sinful. "Just a bit… Accident. Sorry." He didn't sound sorry at all.

"What did you see?" stormed Candy.

"Not much... Don't worry," he shrugged, giving one umbrella back to her. They walked back to the car. "I like your thong~, though," he said after some lengthy pause. "Try a lace one next time. It'd suite you better." He grinned.

"Fuck you, Neal!"

"Sure… Please..., fuck me," said Neal, licking his lips with his tongue. Shamelessly he stared at her from head to toe and back again.

Oh gross, thought Candy disgusted.

Suddenly she noticed red lipstick marks smearing on his white shirt collar. Her car problems seemed minuscule compared to what she's getting herself into. She shuddered.

This man is dangerous, who knows what he'd do next.

"I haven't properly greeted you," said Neal. His voice was husky. "Candice White Ardlay." He bent to take her hand and kiss it. "You are beautiful."

Candy cringed hearing the line which she always thought belonged only to her prince. No one else should say that, especially Neal. She snapped her hand just before his lips touched it.

"You've been avoiding me," said Neal. "Now we're here in the middle of nowhere you're begging to see me. Why? Got romantic ideas from the wedding and suddenly thought about… us?" His voice was hoarse, strongly emphasized the word us.

The hair on her nape stood up hearing that familiar voice. If history repeated, he'd move closer and pull her elbow next. Instinctively, she inched two steps backward, preparing to run if necessary.

"I got locked out and flat tire," Candy pouted her lips exaggeratedly, shot up her eyebrows excessively.

To him, she looked even more seducing when defiant. Only she could exert such influence. She's so animated, hot, seducing! She always caused a major turn-on and she still could do it.

Neal waved to his man and gave some instruction to him. The man picked up something like a stick from the trunk and used it to do something to Candy's car's door trough the window…

Viola, Candy's car door was now open.

"Wow! Great," admired Candy excitedly.

"How would you thank me, honey...?" Neal whispered.

Her ear pricked.

"Don't call me that," she bit off. "Thank me for not slapping you instead!"

"Fine, suite yourself," said Neal. He turned around and walked back to his car.

Oh no, thought Candy, frightened. The tire! She still had a flat tire to replace.

Seeing him leave, the only person who could help her here in the middle of nowhere, in twilight, made her shudder. She regretted so much that she's didn't follow Albert's advice to use a driver. Argh… She shivered in spite herself. Hurry hurry... Decide on something.

"Eh Neal... Wait… Wait," called Candy back. Her tone was kinder and sweeter. He turned around and grinned triumphantly.

"I invite you to come to Pony's home charity event on Monday," said Candy. "Now, would you help me with the flat tire too? Please?"

"Hm...," replied Neal, looking thoughtful. "Probably it's better if you come with me in my car. I don't want to get my suit dirty."

"Take it off then."

"You want me to take my clothes off, too?" he whispered.

"Stop the bullshit," growled Candy impatiently with a deadly glare. "We both know that it won't be you who replace the tire!"

A quick grin flickered in his tanned face. Neal then nodded to his man and the man hurriedly worked to replace Candy's flat tire. Luckily the rain had stopped by now.

While waiting, with arms crossed and without blinking, he non-stopped devouring her with his eyes. Not even for a second he took his eyes off her. Candy never felt the clock ticked so slowly in her life. She tied her coat tighter making sure no body skin left uncovered.

"Drive slowly with a spare tire," warned Neal softly, his brown eyes heated, glued at her. "I can also give you a ride."

"No thanks," snubbed Candy. She opened her car door. "Oh, you know what, Neal…," she said drily. "Try not to come to Pony's home on Monday. I'd rather not see you there!"

She entered the car and zoomed away.

"Oh she's so rude," said the chicks who over heard her. They got out of the car. One rubbed her face on Neal's shirt, the other caringly patted his chest softly.

She is, thought Neal. She is…

oOOoo

Neal pulled his arms from underneath the two girls who passed out in the sofa in his hotel room.

He had planned to have fun with them. But, now with the picture of Candy kept floating around in his mind, he totally lost all the mood. He had seen fully naked women before but nothing affected him as much as seeing only a glimpse of her skin. It's beyond anything he had experienced before.

Staring no more at the two girls, he picked up the beer bottle from the table and finished what's left.

He used to blame himself for going after her. Now, after seeing her again, he completely forgave himself. Instead, he blamed himself for giving up pursuing her. The old feeling was back, with reinforced strength.

Candy… He closed his eyes and again the image of her face assailed his mind violently unlike it had ever been. It's her that he wanted to have in his bed. No one else.

She's one hell of a challenge, though. Very difficult.

But would he back off? Not in his life. The challenge made her even more desirable! He would get her and wouldn't stop at nothing. Plain, simple. Ignoring the two girls, Neal got up, grabbed his suit and called his driver to take him home.

-To be continued-

Thanks for reading and being here with me.

*dick = penis (a slang word :)

~ thong= panties (women underwear)