Something Beautiful And Wicked

Upon arriving, Luo Wanting pulled up at a small, three-story hotel for the night. They reserved a room, entering immediately. While Luo Wanting made some phone calls back at home, Shi Ailin went to do some laundry so they can be refreshed and packed for the next morning. 

When she returned, she noticed Luo Wanting sitting by the edge of the bed with a tense and strained expression, and she wondered what might be causing it. 

Holding the basket, she asked, "Is everything all right?"

He waved a hand to encourage her to move forward. Shi Ailin put the basket aside, and Luo Wanting pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He tapped his mouth with his finger. 

Eh? Shi Ailin thought, blushing hard. Did he want her to kiss him? 

She leaned over, planting her hands on each side of his face, falling into his embrace. His gaze scorched and burned when her mouth lightly touched his. But then he took over, his lips moulded onto hers, kissing her hot and desperate until they were short of breath and not caring about it. His hand slid beneath the back of her shirt, c.a.r.e.s.sing the skin of her back in small circles. Shi Ailin made an attractive sound against his lips, a soft cry, a plea. Her hair cascaded over his face, and he kissed her harder, their bodies moving against each other as their mouths collided. Shi Ailin could feel his rousing excitement, and although she wanted to engage in s.e.x with him, she stopped to say, "Are you not going to answer my question?"

Luo Wanting's head collapsed on the bed, and he sighed. He pinched the space between his brows. "Give me a moment," he told her. 

Shi Ailin laughed softly, understanding that he needed a moment to calm down. The mood shifted, and he had to relax and extinguish that inflamed excitement. 

She pulled away from him, crossing her arms. "That's why you get for getting ahead of yourself." 

Still lying down, his grey-green eyes flashed with a consuming and sweltering, unyielding look. He gazed at her as if he was itching to toss and tumble and to f.u.c.k. But there was also a deep affection in them that worshiped her. 

She had to look away because she knew he was teasing her with that expression. 

Luo Wanting sat up and stood, walking toward the desk in the room. His eyes glazed over the physical maps she purchased from the store. "Your parents would have done everything to be hidden, so that means that they avoided very dense and populated areas, so I don't want to start asking locals because it can take too long and attract too much attention." 

Shi Ailin looked at him, waiting for him to finish as if she knew he had more to say. 

He folded his arms over his c.h.e.s.t. "Remember I told you the Black society runs as a network?" 

"Yes," she answered. "You said they all connect."

He continued. "Indeed. There are many factions, organizations, small bands, and even more empires that interconnect at some point or another because we import and exchange. But many groups are power-hungry; therefore, not all of us are joined. Nonetheless, there is a way to reach out to them through those connected pathways, but it's not that easy." 

"What does this have to do with my parents?"

Luo Wanting released a breath. "Your parents were the former monarchs of our secret society. They would know everything about these networks and pathways in the Underworld, which means they both have enemies and allies ingrained in them." 

"Oh," Shi Ailin responded, "So, they must have been in contact with some of their allies in other parts of the country." 

"Secretly, yes," he said.

"So, how do we contact them too?"

"You know some of them," she said, soft, holding his gaze. 

"Hm, well, I can't necessarily say I am on good terms with whom I want to connect with, but they might know something without trying to kill me." 

"Well, we have to go then!" She said too eagerly. 

"Easy," he said. "It's far too dangerous. If I bring you, it might be the stupidest thing I've ever done." 

Shi Ailin scrunched her brows, and she pouted. "I can't have you keeping things from me all the time for my protection. You have to let me go!" 

"And what If I lock you in here and go without you?" he said. 

She pulled away to cross her arms with an, "Hmph, then I'll break up with you." 

His eye twitched. "You're really going to use that against me?" he questioned. 

"For the rest of our lives," she countered heartedly. 

Despite his mood, Luo Wanting smiled, reaching out to touch her skin, c.a.r.e.s.sing her face so gently that she couldn't help but lean onto it. "You're thinking that far ahead?" He teased. 

Her cheeks flamed. "No—I, well, we're dating with the intention of marriage, aren't we?" 

Luo Wanting lifted her chin, and he pressed a kiss on her mouth. "Since you want to marry me, I suppose you can come with me." 

"Eh?" She said, her face reddening. He then let go of her, walking away. She trailed after him, "Don't act like you weren't thinking about it!" She shouted. That damn fool was teasing her! 

"Who said I was?" he acted coolly. 

"Wanting!!!" she said, fl.u.s.tered, the colour rising on her face, but Luo Wanting had already stepped in the bathroom. He smiled smugly to himself. 

He then hopped in the shower, as Shi Ailin never realized that she affects him far more than he does her. 

After he washed up and changed, he then told her, "We should go purchase some new clothes since we have the meeting tonight, and we have to leave right after."

"Tonight?" she questioned. "It's already dark, and we already rented this room." 

"I know," he said. "But, unfortunately, all Underworld meetings happen after dark, princess, and we can't waste any time, and we don't want people following us." 

When they purchased, changed, and left, Luo Wanting parked near a deserted and small restaurant, but Shi Ailin knew that's not at all what it seems.