Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Like a Puppy

Claire Kendall put away her phone and rose from her seat to leave.

Ian Rhodes, seated beside her, asked urgently, "Claire, where are you going?"

"I’m going to... the restroom." She composed herself, told a lie, and wound her way through the crowd toward the staircase.

Behind her, Yvonne Warren’s gaze followed her intently.

Claire Kendall went straight to the private room on the second floor and pushed the door open.

The room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. Miles Warren sat in a mahogany chair by the window, one hand resting casually on the armrest, the other slowly rolling a string of blessed prayer beads.

He didn’t look up, his jaw tight and his face cold and expressionless.

Leon Wright, who was sitting opposite him, looked at Claire Kendall as if he had seen his savior and quickly stood up.

"Ms. Kendall, you’re here! Please, have a seat!" As he spoke, he backed toward the door. "The auction isn’t over yet. I’ll go down and take a look. You two talk."

He immediately slipped out, pulling the door securely shut behind him.

Claire Kendall was just about to sit in the seat opposite him when he stopped her.

He looked up, his voice level but filled with intense pressure. "Come here. Stand next to me."

Her movements froze. She awkwardly retracted the hand that was pulling out the chair, shuffled to his side, and stood there obediently like a schoolgirl, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the edge of her qipao.

The man’s deep gaze, filled with scrutiny and possession, raked over her inch by inch.

From her delicate features to her swan-like neck, then to the full curves enveloped by the qipao, finally settling on her slender waist.

Claire Kendall felt completely uncomfortable under his stare, as if she weren’t wearing any clothes at all.

She pressed her lips together. "Miles Warren, what are you doing?"

His tone was mocking. "I should be the one asking that question. ’Working overtime,’ Ms. Kendall?"

Feeling guilty at his question, Claire Kendall tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and softened her tone.

"I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t know the event you mentioned was this auction."

She raised her hand as if taking an oath, doing her utmost to placate him.

"If I had known you were coming, I would have chosen Dr. Warren right away, of course."

The tightness in Miles Warren’s lips eased slightly.

Sensing his change in mood, Claire Kendall pressed her advantage, laying on the charm.

She turned and sat sideways on the man’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and settling into his embrace.

Her voice was soft and sweet.

"I know I was wrong, okay? I won’t lie again."

"Dr. Warren, it was my first offense. Forgive me, please?"

’That mouth of hers... she could talk her way out of anything. Still, he loved the soft, sweet sound of her voice.’

Miles Warren’s icy expression began to thaw, but he still maintained his stern facade.

"Is this all the sincerity you can muster for an apology? Claire Kendall, do you think I’m that easy to fool?"

"How could I be fooling you? My apology is very sincere."

Claire Kendall tapped his lips.

"Dr. Warren, you need to lower your head a bit. I can’t reach."

Miles Warren was silent, not moving an inch.

Claire Kendall huffed. "Fine, Miles Warren. You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you..."

She opened her mouth and, like a little puppy, bit his neck in retaliation.

Miles Warren clearly stiffened.

Claire Kendall had precisely targeted his weak spot. A cunning glint appeared in her eyes, and she bit down a little harder.

But in the next second, he turned the tables on her.

Miles Warren seized her with one hand, pinning her against the window.

The cool glass pressed against her back, a chill spreading through her.

Outside the window and one floor below, the auction was still going on. The auctioneer’s calls and the murmur of the crowd were clearly audible.

If anyone from below were to look up, they would easily spot their silhouettes.

’If Yvonne were to see...’

Claire Kendall’s body trembled with nervousness, her toes curling instinctively. She grabbed his clothes. "Don’t. Not here."

"Scared?" Miles Warren didn’t stop, his kisses trailing to her ear as he spoke in a husky voice.

"Scared your little underclassman will see?"

"Of course not," Claire Kendall’s eyes grew misty from his kisses. "You’re just being a bully."

Her words made Miles Warren laugh in exasperation.

"Claire Kendall, you were sitting so intimately with another man right in front of me. Between the two of us, who’s really the bully here?"

Despite his words, the man’s fingers hooked the cord for the blinds and gave it a sharp tug. The light in the private room instantly dimmed.

In the end, he couldn’t bear to see her scared.

Claire Kendall rested against his chest, panting softly.

Outside the private room, the sound of high heels suddenly approached, growing louder.

"Claire Kendall?!" Yvonne Warren’s clear, angry voice echoed in the hallway.

She wasn’t sure which private room Claire Kendall was in, so she was opening every door along the way.

She had to find out if the person who had just "lit the sky lantern" for Claire Kendall was really her uncle, Miles Warren.

Claire Kendall’s face stiffened, and her heart suddenly clenched.

Miles Warren noticed her unease and gently caressed her lips with his fingertips.

"What are you afraid of? You’re her future aunt."

’Aunt?’

The word stung Claire Kendall, and her eyes darkened.

Long-suppressed thoughts surged within her. She was tempted to lay her cards on the table and tell him about her relationship with Jacob Sinclair.

"Miles Warren, the truth is, I..."

The sound of high heels stopped at the door.

It was followed by a series of urgent knocks.

KNOCK KNOCK!

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Claire Kendall, are you in there?"

The sound of the doorknob turning followed.

Claire Kendall opened her mouth. "Miles Warren, the thing is, Yvonne and I..."

Just in the nick of time, Leon Wright’s voice came from outside the door, stopping Yvonne Warren.

"Ms. Warren, why have you come up here? You can’t enter this room."

"The person inside is an esteemed guest. You mustn’t be rude."

Yvonne Warren had suffered one setback after another at the auction tonight and had been bottling up her anger. Now, she couldn’t help but explode.

Her voice was spoiled and sharp.

"Rude to whom? No matter how distinguished the person inside is, can they possibly be more distinguished than the Warren Family?"

"I just want to know if Claire Kendall is in there!"

With that, she tried to step forward and open the door again.

Leon Wright’s gentle smile vanished, his attitude abruptly hardening.

"Ms. Warren, please don’t make things difficult for me. If you insist on forcing your way in, I’ll have to call security. You don’t want to make an ugly scene at an event like this, do you?"

"You... Leon Wright, who do you think you are? Do you really think you’ve made it big just because you redeveloped that land in the west district? You still had to rely on our Warren Family! Just you wait!"

After spitting out her threat, Yvonne Warren left in a rage.

Inside the private room, Miles Warren’s expression darkened.

He knew Yvonne was spoiled, but he never imagined she could be so disrespectful, arrogant, and utterly lacking in social grace in public.

He lowered his gaze to Claire Kendall. "What’s going on between you and Yvonne? Why are you so afraid of her?"

She swallowed the words that had been on the tip of her tongue and forced a smile.

"It’s not that I’m afraid, really. It’s just some friction at work. Professional rivalry, you know?"

Claire Kendall gave his chest a little push, quickly changing the subject. "Let’s go home. I want to take a good, close look at the embroidery on that qipao."

"Alright."

Miles Warren got his car and parked it at the entrance of the auction house, waiting quietly for Claire Kendall to come out.

"Claire!"

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