Chapter 290: Safe Driving is Important

[Chapter 290: Safe Driving is Important]

A few minutes later, the convertible that had fallen behind just passed them. Before it could change lanes, another massive SUV unexpectedly cut in from another street. Eric instantly slammed down on the gas. The convertible's driver wildly jerked the steering wheel, managing to avoid a head-on collision with the SUV. However, the whole car lost control, crashing directly onto the curb, slamming into a transformer with a loud thud and sparking a series of bright flashes. At the same time, the lights in many houses around them flickered off.

Realizing what had happened, the SUV driver hit the brakes for a split second but soon accelerated away, leaving the scene. Eric opened his car door and looked at the convertible, where several dazed youths seemed to have passed out. He shrugged at Elisabeth and said, "See? Instant karma. I told you, reckless driving harms everyone involved."

"Quit messing around and call 911," she snapped at him but then took a step forward and halted.

Eric took out his mobile phone and dialed 911, explaining the situation. They didn't leave immediately, instead choosing to wait patiently.

"Julia's villa isn't far from here. It might be out of power too," Elisabeth suddenly uttered, glancing at the darkened homes.

"No worries," Eric reassured her. "They'll have it fixed soon."

...

As they waited, two or three minutes later, a young man in his twenties stumbled out from a nearby house, muttering curses as he approached them. Under the streetlight, he looked completely dejected, his hair messy, and a scruffy beard covering his face. Even from a distance, Eric and Elisabeth could tell he was intoxicated, as he leaned unsteadily.

The young man stepped in front of Eric and whistled at Elisabeth. Then he noticed the wrecked convertible behind them: "Whoa, whoa, was there an accident? Is anyone dead?"

Elisabeth frowned and sidled closer to Eric, who leaned against the car, deliberately ignoring the young man.

Feeling bored, the drunk guy wandered around aimlessly a few times but didn't leave. Instead, he stepped closer, eyeing Eric. "Wow, you're that... that guy. Let me think. Oh, the director of Running Out of Time, right? Eric Williams, isn't it?"

Eric simply nodded slightly, not confirming or denying it. The young man quickly shifted his gaze to Elisabeth. "Is this the newbie you're trying to promote? Hehe, she's not bad. But she doesn't compare to that Nicole Kidman girl. Man, those long legs, wow. I've dated a few long-legged girls, but none were as stunning as her..."

Bored, Eric realized this guy was obviously one of those "in the know" types and was about to engage him in conversation when a small hand reached around his waist and grabbed at his flesh, giving it a painful twist.

Eric gasped, swatting Elisabeth's hand away, rubbing his side, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"Hmph!" Elisabeth huffed and turned away.

The young man noticed their interaction and smirked, lowering his voice. "That's one fiery lady, Eric. I think a girl like that needs to be handled. Want me to teach you a few tricks?"

"Uh, no thanks," Eric responded, trying to hold back the drunken man's breath that was pouring into his space, tightening his grip on Elisabeth's wrist as he frowned.

Soon, police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances arrived one after the other. Eric summarized the situation to a police officer, who quickly recognized him. The officer didn't keep him around long, taking down notes before letting both Eric and Elisabeth go.

...

Once back in the car, Eric waited for Elisabeth to get into the passenger seat before starting the engine. He took one last look at the wrecked convertible. Meanwhile, the drunken man was animatedly gesturing to a police officer, saying, "Officer, this has nothing to do with me. I don't know those guys! Sure, I had a few drinks, but I wasn't driving! I live in that house right there. I was about to go to sleep when, out of nowhere, my bedside lamp blew out. Now this!"

Julia's little estate was not far from the scene, and after just a minute or two of driving, they arrived. Just as Elisabeth suspected, the villa was dark.

...

Eric stopped the car and said to Elisabeth, "Go on inside, I'm heading back."

She hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Julia went to San Francisco. She said she might not be back today. No one's home at the villa."

"Huh?"

"I'm... scared of the dark," Elisabeth mumbled, sounding like a mosquito.

After considering it, Eric replied, "I'll walk you in then."

"Okay," Elisabeth finally nodded after lingering a moment.

They cautiously made their way into the dark villa, standing in the pitch-black living room, before Eric asked, "Do you know where there are any flashlights or candles?"

In the dark, Elisabeth shook her head. "I'm not sure, but Julia usually keeps some small things in the cabinet under the TV."

"Oh," Eric acknowledged. "Why don't you go check it out?"

"I... you go," she stammered, her voice trembling slightly in the darkness.

"I don't know where it is. I've never been here," he protested.

"Liar," Elisabeth countered. "Don't think I don't know about your relationship with Julia."

"I won't deny it. I've seen Julia a few times, but I really haven't been here."

"The TV is on the east wall," she clarified, sounding slightly anxious.

"Forget it, let's go together," Eric said, reaching out in the darkness, grabbing her small hand. "Lead the way."

Elisabeth instinctively tried to pull away but didn't put in much effort, instead guiding Eric in the direction of the TV. Moments later, she tripped over something on the floor and stumbled forward. Eric felt her pull and quickly yanked back, catching her soft, fragrant body as she fell into his arms.

He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling Elisabeth's fast and deepening breaths, and leaned in tentatively, kissing her softly, trailing down to her lips.

They remained in silence, tangled in their kiss for who knows how long until Elisabeth, recovering her strength, pushed him away slightly.

"You jerk, you definitely planned this," she lightly scolded.

Eric, unknowingly, had slipped a hand under her top, tenderly caressing her smooth skin while whispering in her ear, "If you don't agree, I could just walk away right now."

Elisabeth lightly hit Eric's chest a few times and then got on her toes to kiss him again.

After such clear signals, Eric was certainly not going to play coy; his touches grew more passionate.

"Don't do it here, no, don't take off..." she protested, her voice filled with bashfulness, gradually turning into incoherent murmurs.

Maybe it was the cover of darkness, but Elisabeth's resistance was soft, allowing Eric to soon slip her out of her clothing. He found the sofa, guiding her down onto it. Their quickening breaths and the soft thuds of their bodies pounding together soon filled the room, mixed with Elisabeth's low, barely suppressed calls.

Time slipped away, and Elisabeth suddenly wrapped her arms around Eric tightly as if clinging like an octopus. Feeling her tension, Eric momentarily paused, gently caressing her softly quivering back.

"I... I'm ready," after a long moment, Elisabeth finally spoke so softly.

Eric, momentarily taken aback, smirked and playfully thrust forward, "What about me?"

She gasped, trembling, using her hands to hold him back as she caught her breath a few times before declaring, "I don't want to do it here. I want to go to the bedroom. In there, do whatever you want."

"Okay, where's the stairs?" Eric lifted her effortlessly.

"In the northwest corner. Just pull out first, okay?"

"No can do," Eric replied, lifting her soft backside once more as they walked carefully toward the stairs. Given the darkness and carrying someone, he took his time to reach the top.

"Go east; my room is the second one," Elisabeth murmured, resting her head against his shoulder.

He nodded and, as he fumbled, grasped a doorknob and pushed inside. Though she felt a bit uneasy, Elisabeth was already a bit foggy in her thoughts, and any notion of discomfort quickly vanished.

The bedroom curtains were drawn, but due to light filtering in from other areas of Los Angeles, it wasn't as dark as on the first floor. Eric could vaguely make out the outline of a large bed and carried Elisabeth over.

Laying her on the bed, he flipped her over, climbing on top.

"Not again! This is so perverted," Elisabeth exclaimed, clearly conservative in this regard, arching her back in protest. Eric soothed her softly, pivoting her head to kiss her before she finally gave in, wrapping her arms around his waist. Moments later, in the dim light of the bedroom, Eric was surprised to notice a figure shifting on the other side of the bed.

It was a woman's shadow. The only other woman who could possibly be in this house was undoubtedly Julia.

*****

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