Chapter 50: Chapter 50

ROYCE

"What? That's your car," she pointed at the car.

"Used to, but this is yours now. I want you to have it as a birthday gift. This was the first car I bought with my hard-earned money. I'm choosing this as my late birthday gift for you. Giving a gift from my hard-earned money would be the best instead of relying upon my grandparents' wealth." I told Nelly, loud and proud, as I opened the driver's seat door.

Nelly was staring at me the whole time I talked and didn't say a word.

"If this is not your type, we can-"

"I like it," Nelly said, cutting me off. She pressed her lips before she let out a long breath. I would have offered to buy the latest model for her.

"But I can't take it."

I knew she would turn down my gift, but I was prepared. I thought I had to be reasonable.

"It's okay, baby, you can use this for your everyday work. Your schedule is getting hectic; from now on, you won't be late to work or squeeze yourself onto a bus for a long trip."

Nelly blew a little air in the middle of my pitch, and my heart celebrated as it might be her way of giving me a chance.

"Think about the time you would save. You don't have to wait for a taxi. And if you're worried about driving again. We can have more practice just like before. What do you say?"

I took her hands and squeezed them a little. A smile crept past her lips; I took it as a yes. I trapped her into my arms.

"Now, to confirm that you're not declining my gift, let's get you some practice today," I muttered on her hair, my hands caressing her shoulders. Her hair smelled so good, her skin so soft, and I couldn't help but feel a little hard down my belly.

"Before we start, I have a question," I said, settling on my seat.

"What?"

"What do I get from this?" I asked naughtily.

"Excuse me?" Nelly's answer appeared to be a question.

"Hey, you don't get a CEO to be a driving instructor without pay," I winked at her as I drew nearer.

"What do you want?" She was quick to answer as she looked away and focused straight ahead.

"Depends...," I answered.

I caught her looking sideways; a smile crept on her lips.

"Can you just say it?" Her voice had a trace of annoyance. It's cute.

I drew even nearer and whispered in her ear. I wasn't expecting what she did next. Nelly shifted on me, her eyes closed as she pouted her lips a little bit. Too cute. I held back my laughter and pressed my lips on hers. She opened her eyes even when my lips were still on hers.

"What took you so long?" She complained after she withdrew from our kiss.

I plastered a wicked smile as an answer. Nelly rolled her eyes at me, her face blushed. Can't get enough of her cuteness. I still felt Nelly's soft lips; I licked my upper lip; it tasted like orange. She put on a different flavor than usual.

"We should start; I wanna go home early," she started the engine. I nodded in response as I fastened my seatbelt.

It wasn't hard to help her drive again. To my observation, the anxiety was almost gone. I only watch her maneuver the wheel. I even asked her to practice on the racing field, where she had to be excellent at turning right and left.

There was no way she could decline my birthday present. My heart rejoiced for Nelly's healing wounds from the past tragic accident. Although we are yet to discuss the scar she had with Dennis, we'll surely get there. My jaw tightened, remembering the report of the detective I hired to investigate Dennis. That piece of shit has to pay. I gritted my teeth when Nelly tapped me on my shoulder.

"Hey?" She tilted her head to fully face me. "It's boring," she complained, her lips pressed in a thin line.

I jolted a bit before I smiled and realized that the car had stopped. I was trapped thinking about Dennis.

"So, you're taking the car?"

"Yes," her voice softened. "Thank you," Nelly said, showing her trademark smile. The one that I love to see from her.

"Anything for you, baby," I said, gripping her wrist enough not to hurt her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her eyes dilated.

I intended not to answer; instead, I pulled her a little bit, then carried her weight like a child for her to transfer in my seat. We struggled a bit as her head bumped on the car roof. "It hurts," she cried in pain. Although I knew it didn't hurt that much. Her scalp barely touched the ceiling. But I figured it was cute. And of course, being a superhero boyfriend, when she was sitting on my lap, I slowly massaged her scalp, which she claimed to bump hard on the car roof. A woman has her way of being cuddled and cared for by her man.

Nelly closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder, her warm breath fanning on my neck. I was tempted to sniff her hair. It smelled as good as always, rosy, so feminine. "Baby?" I spoke over the strands of Nelly's hair just when I stopped massaging her scalp.

She replied with just a moan-like sound, refused to move, and didn't bother to open her eyes. I stared at her face and intended to stay quiet. We seemed to live in our own world where time has no meaning. But Nelly's eyelid moved, opening it half, enough to view me. "What is it?"

Instead of answering Nelly, I rubbed my nose on hers. She giggled like a child, her eyes closed again, and her cheek flushed. One of my favorite views is seeing her face blushed. "Stop, stop," she held my face as she pulled away. "W-wanna say something?" She asked while catching her breath, one hand clutching her chest.

"Be my date on my birthday," I asked as I trailed my fingers on her soft cheek. "I'll introduce you to my guest, be my dance partner, and you'll be with me for the rest of the night. And as my girlfriend, you can't say no." And just when I thought she would hesitate.

"What should I wear?" She responded with a question that I took as accepting my invitation.

"Leave it to me," I answered, pinching her chin.