Chapter 86 Too Close for Comfort
So he just sat there, saying nothing, quietly watching her cry.
But behind the lenses of his glasses, his eyes were full of raw, unhidden ache.
3.59%
+5 Free Coins
He lifted a hand, almost to pat her back, but stopped halfway, forcing himself to simply offer her a tissue instead.
Stella’s wailing only grew worse–until she blew a little bubble of snot.
The moment she realized, the last shreds of her rational mind kicked in. She slapped her hands over her face. “Peekaboo!”
Her free hand snuck toward the tissues on the coffee table.”
Oh god! She’d said she didn’t care about keeping up appearances, but this was just too embarrassing!
It was impossible not to laugh at the sight of her covering her face while stealthily grabbing
tissues.
Once she’d wiped her nose, she caught him suppressing a laugh.
She glared at him, lifted her chin, and–her voice raspy from crying–snapped, “Hmph! If you want to laugh, then laugh. I don’t care!”
Her eyes were watery from tears, her once–pale nose now flushed red, the picture of unintentional allure.
Those wide, peach blossom eyes tried to glare, but without the slightest bit of menace–it was like a kitten batting with its paws, more ticklish than threatening.
In the end, he couldn’t hold it in.
A low chuckle escaped from his throat, his chest vibrating with it.
She’d said she didn’t mind–but seeing him actually laugh made Stella bristle.
The wine made her bold. She shot to her feet, grabbed Nathan’s tie, and threatened, “Oh, you really laughed? Fine, I’ll remember this, buddy!”
Her sudden nearness caught him off guard.
00
1/3
22
22
OR
1
III O
<
11:41 Fri, Aug 22 G.
Chapter 86 Too Close for Comfort
He was seated, she was standing.
With his tie in her grip, he was forced to tilt his head back to look at her.
Her warm, wine–scented breath brushed across his face as she spoke.
59%
+5 Free Coins
Heat spread through him like wildfire, his long fingers pressing into the sofa cushions until the veins stood out against his pale skin.
From this angle, so close, she could clearly see the long, thick lashes behind his glasses, the proud bridge of his nose, and the small amber mole that rested on its tip.
Her throat suddenly felt dry. Her gaze drifted lower to his lips.
Thin, soft–looking, faintly flushed.
The kind of lips that seemed far too easy to kiss.
Her grief was suddenly swept away by something warmer, heavier.
Her heartbeat kicked up–pounding loud in her ears.
“Sorry. My fault,” he murmured.
The man who was usually untouchable tilted his chin up, his lips slightly parted, voice low and enticing, his pale, sensual throat working as he swallowed.
Stella blinked, huffed with mock arrogance, “That’s better.”
She released his tie, though her heart didn’t slow in the slightest. “I’m going upstairs to sleep. Crying’s made me tired.”
Nathan didn’t stop her. His voice was low, rougher than usual. “Mm. Good night.”
One glass of wine wasn’t enough to make her lose control–she still darted up the stairs, leaving only a faint, fresh scent in her wake.
She didn’t see the unnatural flush on his face, or the sharp edge of desire in his eyes.
Once her figure disappeared from view, he glanced down, his voice cooling. “Behave yourself. Keep this up and one day you’ll scare her.”
Sunlight slipped through the crack in the curtains, spilling across the pale green bedspread.
An arm as fair as porcelain stretched lazily across it–slender and elegant.
C
22
22
ORD
|||
2/3
11:41 Fri, Aug 22 G
Chapter 86 Too Close for Comfort
The whole scene looked like an oil painting rich with color and light.
Bzz bzz.
Her phone vibrated twice.
Stella cracked one eye open, groped for the cool device, and saw Ethan’s WhatsApp
messages.
“I’m boarding now.”
“Landing a little after eleven. See you at the hospital.”
259%
+5 Free Coins
She tossed the phone aside, planning to sleep a bit longer–when something jolted her
awake.
She sat up sharply.
Then bolted to the bathroom to shower.
She remembered now–last night she’d spent the whole night dreaming those kinds of dreams.
And the star of them had been Nathan.
Under the warm spray of the shower, she gave herself a small slap.
So wrong!
Well… not wrong exactly.
When she’d been little, her mother had explained sex to her–wanting her to know how to protect herself.
Now she was an adult. She didn’t feel ashamed over that sort of thing.
It was just… the choice of dream partner that was a little problematic.
