Rika Kawasaki yanked Kaoru Hoshitani back into the car with almost no pause, immediately following it up with another long, domineering kiss.
Kaoru Hoshitani could only shut his eyes tightly, his long lashes trembling violently like butterfly wings in a storm, his breath ragged and burning.
He was forced to endure this invasion, a mix of punishment and possessiveness.
Only when both of them were nearly out of breath did Rika Kawasaki finally, reluctantly, and slowly let him go.
Kaoru Hoshitani collapsed weakly onto the passenger seat, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.
The lack of oxygen left his mind dizzy, while a distinct sting of swelling lingered on his lips.
After a few moments, the two of them finally stepped out of the sports car, which had felt like a miniature prison.
The temperature-controlled chill of the parking lot rushed at them, carrying faint scents of tires and concrete.
Standing beside the car’s mirror-bright surface, Kaoru Hoshitani’s face showed an unnatural flush against his pallor.
His features were written with undisguised loathing and humiliation as he used a trembling hand to hurriedly straighten his pale linen shirt.
The collar was tugged askew, and the hem had been pulled out from his waistband, crumpled and clinging to his side.
In his other hand, he clutched a wet wipe pulled from the dashcam compartment, fiercely and almost self-destructively scrubbing his lips and cheeks, trying to erase every lingering trace of the woman’s warmth and saliva, until his delicate skin was left faintly red from friction.
Luckily, he’d left the house bare-faced, with no habit of wearing makeup—otherwise, his face would already be a complete mess, even more humiliating.
Rika Kawasaki, of course, took in every detail of Kaoru Hoshitani’s furious and disheveled appearance.
Rather than any displeasure, her gray eyes were lit by a hint of pleasure—a satisfaction akin to watching prey struggle under her control.
She casually pressed the lock button on the car key. The sports car let out a sharp “chirp” and the hazard lights flashed twice.
Then, with long strides, she walked over to Kaoru Hoshitani, and, without a word, wrapped her arm around his slender waist as if declaring her ownership, holding him tightly and firmly by her side.
“Mm…!”
Kaoru Hoshitani’s body went rigid at once, then began to struggle violently.
He twisted, trying to shove her away with his elbow, his beautiful eyes burning with anger as he hissed, “Let go! Don’t touch me!”
Yet no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t budge Rika Kawasaki’s iron grip in the slightest. Her arm was full of strength, locking him at her side.
Their bodies were pressed close, and he could feel the outline of her muscles and the warmth of her body through the thin fabric.
“Don’t make a fuss,” Rika Kawasaki’s voice sounded above his head, carrying a strange blend of coaxing and undeniable command, as if soothing a sulky little animal.
“It’s rare that I have free time today, so I brought you out… shopping.”
Only now, almost as an afterthought, did she reveal the purpose behind dragging him out today.
“Shop…ping…?” Kaoru Hoshitani’s struggle abruptly halted, as if he’d heard the world’s most absurd joke.
He looked up in disbelief at the playful smile on the face so close to his, his lips trembling from a mix of outrage and absurdity.
“You… ha… hahaha…” He actually laughed in anger—a short, sharp laugh, brimming with sarcasm and despair. “Shopping? Rika Kawasaki, are you insane?! What’s our relationship?! Criminal and victim! After all those… those disgusting things you did to me, how can you even have the nerve—how dare you—think you can just take me out shopping?! How thick is your skin?!”
His fury and humiliation erupted like a volcano, his whole body trembling violently, even his fingertips tingling.
The accumulated fear, repression, unwillingness, and now this ludicrous “shopping” declaration finally shattered his last pretense of composure.
He suddenly lifted his free, fair arm—slender and delicate—and with all his strength, swung it at Rika Kawasaki’s mocking face!
The slap whipped up a faint breeze, his eyes blazing with unwavering rage.
But that furious hand never got within ten centimeters of its target. Mid-air, it was intercepted and gripped by a larger, stronger hand, with flawless precision!
Rika Kawasaki’s reflexes were terrifyingly fast. Without even shifting her arm from his waist, her other hand lashed out like a raptor, instantly seizing his wrist.
The force made Kaoru Hoshitani feel as if his wrist bones would shatter, drawing a gasp of pain from him.
Taking advantage of her hold and physical strength, she twisted and pressed forward in a smooth motion—
“Bang!”
A dull thud. Kaoru Hoshitani’s world spun as his back slammed into the cold, hard concrete support column in the parking lot, forcing a muffled cry from his lips.
Rika Kawasaki had already pressed her body against him, pinning him completely between the wall and herself, forming a prison with no escape.
Both his hands were easily pinned above his head with one of hers, leaving him as helpless as a butterfly pinned to a specimen board.
Still, he stubbornly lifted his head, his tear-brightened eyes full of rage glaring at Rika Kawasaki from up close, as if trying to burn her with his gaze.
He bit down hard, almost grinding out a hoarse threat from between his teeth: “Let me go! You maniac! Don’t think I won’t—won’t call for help right now! This is a public place!”
“Heh.”
Rika Kawasaki met his bluster with a soft, mocking laugh from deep in her throat. She arched an eyebrow slightly, her gray eyes cold as glass, reflecting his impotent fury.
“Still want to fight back?” Her voice dropped low, laced with danger and a slow, deliberate tone.
She leaned in, her hot breath brushing his sensitive ear. “Did you forget… there’s something I still have in my hand?”
Her gaze flicked pointedly to his restrained wrist, then back to his wide, terrified eyes.
“Those… video and photo evidence,” she enunciated each word like a demon’s whisper, driving every syllable into his ears, “Did you really think, just because we’re out of that apartment, I’d be powerless against you? Hmm?”
“……”
Kaoru Hoshitani’s pupils shrank sharply, his blood freezing in that instant.
The threat hanging over his head like the Sword of Damocles, enough to destroy everything, was brought up again with a chilling, casual cruelty.
The fire in his eyes was doused as if by a bucket of ice water, leaving only the ashes of despair and fear. He bit his lip hard, silent and motionless, his chest still heaving, betraying the storm within.
The defiance leaked out of him like air from a punctured ball, completely deflated.
By Rika Kawasaki’s usual standards, anyone daring to bare their fangs at her “pet” would earn a severe punishment, not stopping until he was utterly subdued and trembling.
But today, she seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. Maybe it was because the bet was nearly up, or perhaps for some other reason.
She’d brought Kaoru Hoshitani out to have fun, and didn’t want a small hiccup to ruin the rare occasion and leave both of them in a bad mood.
Watching the little man before her, drained of all strength and left only with terror and aftershock, whatever annoyance she felt melted away.
“Alright,” her tone softened, even showing a rare trace of patience. She released his wrists, then gently pinched his cold cheek. “Don’t throw these little tantrums, hmm? Be good.”
With that, she suddenly dipped down and planted a quick kiss on the tip of his small, startled nose.
The unexpected, almost affectionate gesture made Kaoru Hoshitani freeze, a new flush rising where the previous redness had just faded.
“Let’s go, I’ll show you something good.” Rika Kawasaki acted as if she hadn’t noticed his stiffness, still coaxing as she spoke.
Then her arm circled his waist again, half-holding, half-embracing, guiding him away from the cold cement pillar and toward the softly lit elevator lobby not far away.
Kaoru Hoshitani did fall quiet, making no more moves to resist. He moved like a delicate puppet with its soul withdrawn, letting Rika Kawasaki hold him as he stumbled along at her side.
From this moment on, no matter what she said in his ear, he only lowered his head, his thick lashes hiding all emotion, lips tightly pressed together, giving not the slightest response—using silence to erect his last fragile defense.
Rika Kawasaki didn’t mind at all. To her, as long as he stayed quietly at her side and didn’t cause trouble, he was being obedient enough. His harmless little tantrums were just another kind of amusement.
The two of them took the gleaming showcase elevator, smoothly rising to the ground floor.
The doors slid open without a sound, and the bustling, bright world of the luxury mall—filled with opulent fragrances and background music—unfurled before their eyes like another world entirely.
By now, Kaoru Hoshitani’s face was no longer hidden behind a mask or a cap.
That pure, almost ethereal, exquisitely beautiful face was fully exposed under the dazzling mall lights, for all the well-dressed shoppers to see.
Almost the moment they stepped out of the elevator, it was like a stone dropped into a still lake, sending out ripples in all directions.
Countless gazes—some subtle, some overt, from men and women alike—locked onto Kaoru Hoshitani from every angle.
The women’s eyes flashed with open amazement and admiration, some even a little dazed; the men’s were full of complex scrutiny and appraisal.
Those stares were as sharp as spotlights, leaving him at a loss, wishing he could disappear into the floor.
He lowered his head even further, shrinking back instinctively, wanting to hide in the shadow cast by Rika Kawasaki’s side.
Rika Kawasaki saw all of this clearly. An intense surge of pride and possessiveness rose in her chest.
She reveled in the attention—especially when all those dazzled female eyes finally landed on her, their looks turning to envy, jealousy, and a hint of unwillingness.
Look, this rare and beautiful “treasure” belongs to me.
Her arm tightened reflexively around Kaoru Hoshitani’s waist, as if silently declaring her ownership to any would-be admirer.
Still, she hadn’t forgotten the main reason for coming today.
They’d barely taken ten steps along the mall’s bright, spacious main aisle when Rika Kawasaki turned and, holding Kaoru Hoshitani close, headed straight into an imposing boutique whose windows displayed impeccably tailored, high-quality men’s clothing.
The automatic doors slid open, releasing a wave of expensive scents—fine wool, genuine leather, and a cool woody fragrance.
Inside, the lighting was soft and layered, artfully highlighting every hanging or displayed garment like a piece of art, with gentle jazz music playing in the background.
“Welcome, Madam, Sir. It’s a pleasure to be at your service.”
Almost as soon as they entered, a saleswoman in a fitted dark suit and silk bow tie, her hair perfectly coiffed, greeted them with an impeccable professional smile.
Her gaze first swept swiftly and expertly over the tall, striking Rika Kawasaki.
Years of experience let her judge almost instantly: this slightly rebellious, casually dressed young woman with a proud air belonged to the “Missy” type—someone with a strong background, carefree spending habits, and a dislike for being overly attended to.
But as was her habit, when she turned her attention to the young man clinging at the “Missy’s” side—his head always lowered—she caught a glimpse of Kaoru Hoshitani’s side profile as he glanced up to survey the surroundings, and it was as if she’d been magnetically fixed in place, lost in a brief, unmistakable daze.
The impact of that face even made her well-trained professional composure falter for an instant.
Her pupils dilated, her breath caught for a heartbeat.
She’d seen her share of handsome men and beautiful women, even celebrities and models, but this face…
That pure, chilling beauty—combined with the fragile vulnerability he showed in that moment—created an almost hypnotic allure.
She nearly forgot her next lines, simply staring for a moment, until she caught herself, hurriedly forcing her gaze back to Rika Kawasaki.
Only then did she feel her ears flush a faint pink and her heart begin to race inexplicably.