Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 222: Disgusted That I’m Old?

Since Gideon Sheffield returned to the country and cleared up what happened five years ago with Natalie Vaughn, Zane Thorne has been smiling noticeably more.

He already had handsome features and a strong facial structure, and when he smiled, it was like the sky clearing after rain or willows budding in spring, naturally drawing people’s gaze to the smile at his lips, making it hard to look away. By the time you reacted, you were already staring in a daze, and your lips would unconsciously curve up too.

This was exactly what happened to Natalie Vaughn. These past few days at Dragon’s Crest Villa with Zane Thorne, she would often become mesmerized just by watching Zane’s smile, resting her chin in her hands and tilting her head slightly, looking like a total... Oh, wait, a fangirl’s expression.

Each time Zane Thorne saw her like this, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Do you really like watching me smile that much?"

Natalie Vaughn nodded without hesitation.

"You look really nice when you smile, it makes you seem several years younger all of a sudden."

Especially now when Zane’s hair has grown a bit longer. It’s warm indoors, so he only wears a loose sports vest, revealing his lean arms. Occasionally, when he lifts his arms, she can catch sight of his abs and his exceptionally defined waist.

Although drawing a connection to a youthful vibe might be a stretch, Zane Thorne like this definitely gave Natalie Vaughn a certain feeling.

It was as if she was seeing Zane from five years ago, the young, talented athlete full of spirit on the racing track.

Young, vibrant, dazzling.

Thinking of this, Natalie felt even more regretful, wondering why she didn’t get into racing with Yana back then.

She truly longed to see Zane’s youthful vigor on the racing track with her own eyes; just watching those race videos wasn’t nearly enough.

Upon hearing this, Zane didn’t seem as happy as one would imagine. He put down his water, walked toward Natalie Vaughn, placed his hands on the center island, leaned slightly forward, and stared at her.

"Do you think I’m old?"

From Natalie Vaughn’s perspective with Zane leaning over like this, she could see his chest and abs through the neckline, getting a full view.

There’s no denying that Zane’s body is indeed good—muscular, but not excessively so. That tight, well-defined physique is truly tempting.

Isn’t there a reason people say that humans have an attraction to food and beauty?

Such a figure can never be enough to see, touch, or indulge in.

Natalie found herself parched, unconsciously swallowing, her gaze fixated. Especially on Zane’s tattoo at his waist, a dragon soaring amidst thunder and rain, ascending into the skies to transform into a true dragon.

It was just too vivid and lifelike.

Zane was just like that dragon.

Seeing Natalie so captivated, Zane found it amusing, reaching out to pinch her face, which had gotten slightly plumper these past few days thanks to him.

"I’m asking you a question. Is it really that good to look at?"

Natalie blinked, not wanting to look away, yet Zane was adamant about competing with his own physique for attention.

"Nina, look at me."

Natalie clicked her tongue, furrowing her brows slightly in frustration as she looked up at him, clearly annoyed.

"What."

Zane raised an eyebrow, pleased that she’d given in to looking at him instead of his body.

"Do you think I’m old?"

Zane asked once more.

After all, men in their forties are like blooming flowers, and Zane hadn’t even reached thirty yet, supposedly in the prime of a man’s life. But compared to Natalie, he was indeed a bit older.

Six years, if you consider a three-year age gap as substantial, then there’s effectively two gaps between them.

Natalie intended to give a perfunctory answer to brush it off, but seeing his expression wasn’t so great, she swallowed again.

"What?"

Zane repeated his question once more.

"Do you think I’m old?"

Natalie started to laugh it off, pulling at Zane’s hand with a smile.

"How could I think that? Why would I think you’re old? You’re just perfect! Considerate and mature."

As she spoke, she tried to pull Zane’s hand away, but didn’t dare to use force, knowing that Zane was pinching her face, and using force would only make it hurt more.

Zane snorted softly; her sweet words didn’t hide the fact that her eyes lit up when she saw him like this.

Natalie was excellent at observing the situation.

"Honey~, it’s just that I haven’t seen you dressed this way before, so I felt curious."

Zane squinted his eyes.

"Really?"

Natalie nodded immediately.

"Really!"

Zane raised an eyebrow.

"Then I’ll wear it more often for you?"

Hearing this, Natalie’s eyes lit up immediately, nodding eagerly.

"Yes, yes!"

As soon as she spoke, her face hurt again. Zane clearly didn’t believe her nonsense just now.

In the end, her entire face turned red from Zane’s pinching, and he continued to ask.

"Wanna touch?"

Natalie hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of Zane’s body, nodding. Just as she reached out, Zane grabbed her hand.

"In your dreams."

With that, Zane stood up and went back to the room to change into another set of clothes.

Even more youthful, more athletic, more vibrant.

Natalie: ...

She was certain Zane was doing it on purpose!

Natalie wanted to have the resolve not to watch Zane, but his alluring physique was too tempting. His arms, his body, no matter how she looked at it, never got old; not looking made her itch with desire, and looking only made her want to touch even more.

That darn man, first not letting her touch, then teasing her! 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Yet Zane didn’t stop there; he went even further. He often went to the fridge to fetch water, and during these moments, when he tilted his head and raised his arm to drink, not only were his abs visible, but his seductive Adam’s apple too, and the veins on his hands subtly stood out—the hands themselves were quite attractive.

Natalie had no idea where to look; everywhere was attractive, everywhere was seductive.

Zane seemed aware that she was sneaking peeks, deliberately curling his lips into a smile, enticing her. Then he would raise his arms to touch the back of his neck, tilting his head to stretch. Sometimes, he’d just lie down and do a few dozen push-ups.

Even though there’s a dedicated gym, he wouldn’t go there; he’d insist on exercising where she could see. If that wasn’t intentional, then what was?

The most captivating moments came when his hair was damp with sweat and he was panting.

Not like he was working out, but rather, like he was... in bed.

It was obvious he was trying to seduce Natalie on purpose.

Just hearing this sound made Natalie restless; she knew better than anyone what Zane was like in bed.

Damn.

Zane really was a petty, small-minded man; she’d only said he looked younger today by a few years—which was a compliment! How was that meant as a dig at him being old?

Truly inexplicable!

Snack in hand had lost its flavor, and the movie wasn’t interesting anymore. She started chugging water, and her gaze kept falling back on Zane.

Seeing the sweat on his forehead trickling down his perfect profile, from cheekbones to chin, from chin to Adam’s apple, finally dripping onto the floor, Natalie couldn’t stay seated any longer.

She approached him, looking at him drenched in sweat, swallowing hard.

"I want to work out, too."