?Chapter 38:


    Cole nced at Elliana’s adorable expression and smiled quietly. Without a word, he walked into the bathroom.


    Elliana thought his silence meant agreement. Cheerfully, she curled up in bed and turned off the light. She remembered their wedding night—how rough he’d been—and decided he could stumble around in the dark for the sofa this time.


    Ten minutester, Cole stepped out of the bathroom and paused. The room was dark and quiet. Soft moonlight slipped through the curtains, gently outlining Elliana’s figure on the bed. Her breathing was slow and steady.


    While away on his business trip, he had missed her scent every night. He longed for the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her lips. Thoughts of her, especially the way she looked the night he left—so beautiful, so tempting—haunted him, leaving him restless and sleepless. Now that they were in the same room, his heart felt settled. But his body told a different story. Heat surged through him, making him ache with a thirst only she could quench.


    The room stayed still.


    Unbeknownst to him, Elliana wasn’t asleep. As he observed her in the darkness, she was secretly watching him too. In the past few days, he used to look at her so openly while she shyly looked away. Tonight, hidden in the dark, her eyes were bold, tracing every inch of him.


    He had just finished showering. A towel hung low around his waist, and the heat from his skin still lingered. His sculpted body radiated strength and raw masculinity. His physique was wless—powerful, lean, and striking. He looked like he had walked out of a fashion magazine. Any woman would struggle to look away.


    Elliana wasn’t immune to his charm. She enjoyed admiring a handsome man, and Cole was in a league of his own. Watching him in the dark felt like a feast for her eyes.


    But just as she was enjoying her silent delight, Cole tossed the towel aside and strode straight toward the bed. Before she could react, he lifted the covers and slipped in beside her. The next second, his strong arm wrapped around her and pulled her close.


    “Ah!” Her heart jumped. Everything changed in a sh. She was content just watching from afar. She didn’t sign up for this close encounter.


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    “Cole, I believe the sofa was your assigned seat tonight.”


    “Heh.” Cole chuckled and took her small hand, cing it on his waist.


    “Why settle for looking when touching feels even better?”


    “Who—who was looking?” she stammered, clearly caught off guard.


    He ignored her denial, moving her hand up to his waist and then his chest. His voice dipped into a teasing murmur. “Feels different touching me awake, doesn’t it? Not like when you were sleepwalking.”


    Her face burned with embarrassment. His skin was hot against her palm, like it was searing straight through. She didn’t remember how it felt to touch him while sleepwalking, so of course, touching him while awake felt different. Still, she muttered stubbornly, “No difference.”


    “No difference?”


    “Yes. Just like touching a mannequin.”


    “Tsk!” He clicked his tongue. “Honey, stop ying dumb. You want me, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s normal for a woman to desire her husband. Why deny it? It’s not like I’m turning you down.”


    “Stop talking!” Elliana quickly pressed her hand over his mouth. He never knew how to be subtle, always making her blush with his words. It was truly overwhelming.


    She added, “I admit you caught my eye. But that’s all it is. Just a passing thought. Like a girl dreaming of a prince—when she wakes up, the dream’s gone. Don’t tease me like this.”


    With her hand still covering his mouth, Cole couldn’t reply, so he kissed her palm instead. His lips were hot, making her snatch her hand back. Before she could catch her breath, he leaned in and kissed her, hard. His arms tightened around her, pulling her into his embrace.


    Elliana wanted to push him away, but her body didn’t listen. Her head spun. His scent was clean and addictive.


    She wasn’t wearing her wig. Her long hair spilled over the pillow. Cole gathered a handful, gently brushing it through his fingers. He kissed her lips again, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Honey, being attracted to me is a good start. I like where this is going.”


    His towel was barely hanging on now. Elliana felt danger closing in. She pressed her hands to his chest, trying to hold him back. But he was unmovable, like a wall of stone.


    He only held her tighter, his voice low and deep. “Honey, don’t you want to have a more intimate connection with me?”


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