My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 57: Take Another Bite

The very mention of Crystal Rhodes made Nina Wynn’s fingertips tremble.

Caleb Rhodes looked at her, his voice low and a little hoarse. "Nina, I need time."

Over the past few days, he had employed various means to uncover information he never knew before, and every new discovery filled him with rage.

During the years he was away—no, even in the early years when he was still in Elysian City—Nina Wynn’s life with the Rhodes Family had been far more wretched than the video revealed. Yet, the true mastermind remained elusive. He had tried everything, but there wasn’t a single clue.

The work was too clean.

The person pulling the strings was being protected far too well.

He certainly had his suspicions, even suspecting his own older brother, but he currently had zero evidence.

Besides, if a member of the Rhodes Family was truly behind this, the stakes were far more complex than he had imagined.

Most importantly, he couldn’t expose the culprit through conventional means, or the Rhodes Family would collapse overnight.

The fall of the Rhodes Family would benefit no one.

It’s always been winner takes all. When the nest falls, no egg remains whole. No one would escape unscathed.

At that point, not only would the Rhodes Family be destroyed, but the Nash Group would also fall.

It was a consequence that neither the Rhodes Family, nor he himself, nor even the Ainsworth Family could afford to bear.

So, he still needed time to maneuver around them.

He wouldn’t let any of them off the hook, no matter who they were. Anyone who dared lay a hand on what was his would pay a thousandfold.

But his little thing seemed to be growing impatient.

He gently brushed back the hair at her temples and whispered, "Have some patience. The Joyce Family is just the beginning."

Nina fell silent.

A draft slipped through the half-closed door, making her wispy bangs flutter against her forehead. With her gaze lowered, her expression was unreadable.

After a long while, she finally whispered, "Caleb, do you like Crystal Rhodes very much?"

Caleb Rhodes watched her long, curled lashes tremble, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "What do you think?"

Nina’s face was still unnaturally pale, though much better than a moment ago. Her soft, fair hands were clasped together, giving her a docile appearance—as if the feral little thing who had just lost control and bitten him wasn’t her at all.

"You do. She’s your family. You’ve doted on her since she was a child, giving her countless gifts."

Never mind anything else, her annual birthday presents alone were staggeringly expensive—luxury goods, sports cars, and even a mansion on one occasion.

Back then, she had secretly watched the pampered young lady’s birthday parties from the shadows. It wasn’t the gifts she craved, but the world of affection that Crystal Rhodes commanded.

But she had long since buried that envy and longing in the past.

Caleb stroked her soft hair, his voice softening. "Nina, I can give you anything you want—a hundred times better than what she has."

Nina bit her lip tightly.

Whether he meant it or not, she felt a sliver of comfort in that moment.

Her gaze fell to where she had bitten him. A row of small, deep teeth marks indented his skin, breaking the surface and leaving bloody punctures.

Her handiwork.

She touched it and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Caleb’s tone softened considerably. "What do you think?"

Nina got off his lap, retrieved some alcohol and cotton swabs, and had him place his hand on the table. She began to disinfect the wound, dabbing it gently.

As she cleaned it, she realized she must have bitten down harder than she thought. The wound was quite deep; Caleb’s wrist would definitely be a sight tomorrow.

When she was done, she was too embarrassed to meet his eyes. After a moment’s thought, she found two adhesive bandages in the first-aid kit and tried to apply them. But the wound was a full circle of marks, and the small bandages could only cover the two deepest punctures.

It looked absurdly ugly, completely out of place on his lean, elegant wrist.

The tips of Nina’s ears reddened. "I’m sorry," she whispered.

Her blush made something stir in Caleb. He smoothly scooped her up and settled her back onto his lap. Tilting his head, he pointed to his shoulder. "There’s one on my shoulder, too. You should treat it."

Nina instantly recalled what had happened two days ago, and her ears flushed an even deeper red.

She had definitely bitten him hard then, and she seemed to recall drawing blood.

She wanted to inspect the bite on his shoulder, but he was still wearing his shirt, so she couldn’t see it.

Nina bit her lip and stole a glance at Caleb, only to find him watching her with a teasing smile. "Unbutton it and see," he said.

Nina’s face burned hotter, but seeing no way out of it, she reached for the buttons on his shirt.

She had done this several times before, so her fingers moved with practiced ease.

Pulling the fabric down from his shoulder, Nina examined the bite from two days prior.

It looked better than the one on his wrist. The skin was only slightly broken, but a ring of bruised teeth marks remained, a clear sign of how much force she had used.

She gently pressed the bruised area. "Does it hurt?" she asked tentatively.

Caleb watched her, his eyes a bottomless, dark pool. "If you like it so much, you can take a few more bites. Just don’t bite anywhere that shows. It’s inconvenient."

In an instant, Nina felt her face flush so hard it might just combust.

’How could he turn something she was so ashamed of into a joke?’

A trace of exasperation crept into her voice. "Caleb!"

Caleb loved seeing her blush with embarrassment, and he found her little fits of temper just as adorable. He tilted his head, pointing to his other shoulder. "Bite this side, too."

Nina’s eyes widened. ’Is he a masochist?’ she thought. ’That looks so painful, and he wants me to do it again?’

Caleb watched her with that same teasing smile. "If you want to, you can do it now."

Nina shook her head frantically. "No, I won’t. It hurts."

Caleb lowered his head, his voice a husky whisper in her ear. "It doesn’t hurt when you do it, Nina."

His voice was deep, and his warm, moist breath on her sensitive earlobe sent shivers down her spine. She instinctively tried to pull away.

But Caleb wouldn’t let her retreat. His large hand clamped around her waist, his voice dropping lower still, thick and raspy. "If you don’t do it now, you’ll be punished for biting at the wrong time later."

With that, he rose, holding her easily with one arm, and started toward the bedroom.

Even though she knew she wouldn’t fall, being held with just one of his arms unnerved her, and she instinctively wrapped her own arms around his neck.

With just the two of them in the house, the intimate atmosphere was enough to make one’s heart race and cheeks burn.

Once in the bedroom, Caleb placed her on the bed. Against the snow-white sheets, her skin seemed almost translucent. Her jet-black hair fanned out around her, a stark contrast that highlighted her fair skin and tempting red lips.

Caleb’s gaze lingered for a moment, the shadows in his eyes deepening. He narrowed his eyes and began to undo the remaining buttons of his shirt.

He moved slowly, his eyes flicking to Nina every so often. He said nothing, but his intent was predatory and clear.

He was already tall and imposing, and his presence was overwhelming. Now, as he stood over her while she lay sprawled before him, Nina’s heart pounded with a mixture of fear and trepidation.

She didn’t dare lift her head, curling into herself and shrinking to the far edge of the bed as if she wished she could merge with the mattress itself.