Chapter 1843:


    “Thank you for the presents,” Christina said. She pressed a brief, sweet kiss to his lips and added, “That’s your reward for being so thoughtful.”


    Dn let out a quietugh, though it was clear a small kiss hadn’t quite satisfied him. “Is that really all I get?” he teased.


    “What else were you hoping for?” she asked, meeting his gaze, a warm, fluttery feeling rising in her chest.


    “This,” Dn whispered. He leaned in and kissed her properly.


    Christina’s cheeks flushed. She pressed her hand against his chest and nced toward the front of the car, suddenly conscious of Edwin just a few feet away.


    Dn caught her look and smiled. He reached over and pressed a button. A dark partition slid smoothly into ce, sealing off the driver’s view entirely.


    He brought his hand to the back of her head and drew her closer, deepening the kiss. They both closed their eyes, and the world outside the car ceased to matter. Their breathing grew unsteady, and they held onto each other with the quiet urgency of two people who had been apart far too long.


    When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless and wearing the same expression — soft, unhurried, entirely content.


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    Dn looked at her with quiet tenderness and gently smoothed her hair back into ce with his fingers.


    “You must be exhausted after such a long flight,” he said.


    “I’m not that tired,” Christina said, settling her head against his chest.


    He smelled familiar and warm, and the moment she was close to him, something in her unwoundpletely. Then, almost immediately, she felt the heaviness of sleep creeping over her and tried to disguise a yawn.


    Dnughed. “Look at you — you’re already yawning.”


    “I don’t know why. It just came over me all at once,” she told him.


    He tightened his arm around her. “Then go to sleep.”


    “I don’t want to. I want to talk to you. I can sleep once we’re home and cleaned up,” she said softly.


    “Alright. What’s on your mind?” He rested his chin lightly on top of her head, breathing her in with a quiet, contented smile. Simply having her close made him feel more at peace than anything else in the world.


    “Is Bethel doing better? She hasn’t had any more trouble with the Dawsons, has she?” Christina asked.


    “She’s getting stronger. I think she’s finally put the Dawsons behind her for good. But Brendon is another matter entirely…” Dn’s voice dropped.


    “What about him?” Christina asked, nestling deeper into his arms. It had been too long since she had been this close to him, and she found the warmth and solidity of himpletely irresistible. Being held by Dn always made her feel both safe and wonderfully at ease.


    Dn’s brow creased with irritation — just the name was enough to put him on edge.


    “He’s been trying to slip onto the Dawson estate. And it isn’t only Bethel he’s looking for — he’s been asking about you as well,” Dn said, his voice low and clipped.


    Christina caught the edge in his tone immediately.


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