Inappropriate

Long Xia had spent a week at Yuan Bojing's apartment. She informed her family that she was staying with a "friend," so she would not be home, and she would be out of commission.

She received a phone call in Yuan Bojing's bedroom, and she began to chat with the other person on the line.

Yuan Bojing entered his room, leaning against the doorframe, watching as he overheard her say to the caller, "all right. I will see you soon."

"Was that the fiancé?" he said, stepping in further when she hung up.

Long Xia faced him. Yuan Bojing had kept his distance for most of her stay, and she has rarely seen him, but now he was closing in on her, asking questions…

"If you must know, it was."

"Jin Qing?" he began. "Very bold of you to snatch the head of the Police Department." He chuckled darkly.

Long Xia smiled at him unkindly. "It's perfect. My family can be further protected this way. If we have the Head of Police on our side, then there's no longer a need to hide in the shadows. We'd be invincible."

"That is until he one day retires, and when he's replaced, what then?"

Long Xia sighed. "Must you always think about the future?"

"I must think about the future," he cut in, "because it's the only way to think steps ahead, and when he's old and grey and no longer of use, you'll be stuck with him."

Long Xia looked at him. "So?"

"So, you would waste your time on someone you don't love."

She rolled her eyes. "Why must love be relevant in a marriage of convenience? I never imagined you'd be a hopeless romantic."

Yuan Bojing did not say a word as he chewed on his lower lip. My god…she thought. She had been teasing him, but judging from his expression and silence, there was indeed a woman that he loved.

Long Xia squeezed her hand, her nails digging into her palm. It was none of her business, but she did not understand why she felt such a wave of anger. Whoever this woman was, it was clear it was someone he could not be with.

It then indeed proved what she suspected for years. When Yuan Bojing fucked her, he was using her as a release. To him, she had been a distraction, not someone he could ever want, not while he was in love with someone else…which must be why he refused to touch her again.

Embarrassment and pain of the reminder washed over her.

She steeled herself not to look weak or vulnerable in front of him. Not again.

Holding back the sting of tears in her eyes, Long Xia faced him, long and hard. "I'm going home, but I appreciated your hospitality and will pay you back for the medical expenses."

He took her wrist. "You don't need to pay anything. Despite what you think of me, Xiatian, I care about you."

Then why all the distance, the years of torment? Yuan Bojing had always been hot one minute, then cold the next when it came to her, reminding her that there could be nothing more.

It had been torture, and she figured a marriage with Jin Qing would hopefully bury any feelings she harboured for him. That man was handsome, respectable, and good at his job.

Long Xia picked up her crutches and started to stalk out of his bedroom. "You still can barely walk," he said after her.

"I know," she replied. "But it's inappropriate for me to live in another man's apartment while I'm engaged."

Yuan Bojing stalked over toward her so quickly. She backed against the wall to keep herself from falling. "I didn't take you as one who cared about their image."

She sneered at him. "Even so, I still have a good reputation, and I'd be damned if I let you ruin it."

Long Xia's eyes widened, not expecting him to look the way he was. Like hurt crossed his eyes. Now, why was she the one feeling guilty when he's the one that hurt her?

"Will you be telling your family what happened to you?" he said, caressing her face gently.

She sucked in a breath. "Not the full story, but enough to let them know I'm injured."

"You can stay here."

Long Xia held her breath. She couldn't. The proximity between them kept closing in, and it was awakening parts of her she kept hidden, and she did not want to dare cross a line she could never take back.

"It would be inappropriate," she told him.

He leaned forward. His palms lay on the wall, on either side of her. "I never claimed to be appropriate," his voice dropped low.

She knew. Long Xia knew what he was capable of. Not only in the sparring ring and during their hours of training, but everything from his sweet words to his seduction…and he was good at everything.

His amber eyes glowed. Long Xia instinctively licked her lower lip, and Yuan Bojing's eyes darkened as he watched, tempted to sink his teeth there. He neared her, and Long Xia titled her head back, eyes fluttering.

He began to kiss her lower jaw feather-soft, holding her face in place, making his way down her neck. She moaned, despite herself.

Her crutches fell to the floor. Her legs melted as she wrapped her arms around him, his tongue working over the skin of her neck. And she wanted more.

Long Xia shook in his arms, and Yuan Bojing went to look into her eyes, noticing the tears that fell down her face.

"I hate you," she choked softly, sobbing in his embrace.

Yuan Bojing swallowed thickly, a lump formed in his throat. "I know."

He then let go of Long Xia slowly, pain etched in his face as if he did not want to let go.

She quickly picked up her crutches to stalk out of the apartment as fast as she could.

Why? She asked herself, tears cascading down her face. Why was he doing this now?