<b>Chapter 106 </b>


    -HUNTER’S POV-


    “Mr. Reid, we’ll take care of the groceries right away.”


    Head Maid Sally’s voice cut through the evening air as I pulled into the mansion’s circr drive. She and Ana stood waiting by the front steps, their expressions carefully neutral as I cut the engine.


    I had called ahead, knowing Celine would need help with the bags.


    What I hadn’t expected was the way both women’s eyes would widen when Celine stepped out of my car, transformed from the maid in uniform who had left this afternoon into the stunning woman in thevender dress I had bought her.


    Celine’s face burned crimson under their scrutiny, her hands smoothing nervously over the soft fabric.


    I could practically hear the wheels turning in their heads, the assumptions being made, the gossip that would spread through the staff quarters by morning.


    “Celine,” I called as she moved toward the backseat, clearly intending to get Caesar herself.


    But I was already there, carefully lifting my sleeping son into my arms. His small body was warm and heavy with exhaustion, the tiny teddy


    bear still clutched in his fist.


    “Hunter, I can take him,” Celine called behind me as I headed toward the east wing.


    I ignored her, my steps steady as I carried Caesar away from the servant quarters, away from the prying eyes and whispered judgments.


    This was where he belonged now. Where they both belonged.


    At the door to their suite, I waited while Celine fumbled with her keys, her hands trembling slightly. When she finally got it open, I stepped


    inside and made my way directly to Caesar’s room.


    The space still smelled faintly of fresh paint, but it was warm and weing now. Iid him gently on the small bed, working carefully to


    remove his shoes without waking him.


    His darkshes fluttered against his cheeks as I pulled the covers up to his chin.


    “He looks exhausted,” I murmured, stepping back from the bed.


    Celine watched from the doorway, her expression soft. “It was a big day for him.”


    “For all of us,” I said quietly, meeting her eyes.


    We stood in the living room afterward, the silence stretching between us like a taut wire. The easyfort we had found at the amusement


    park seemed to have faded the moment we returned to reality.


    “Thank you,” Celine said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “For today. For everything.”


    I shrugged, ufortable with her gratitude. “It was nothing.”


    “It wasn’t nothing to Caesar.” Her brown eyes were earnest, grateful. “He’s never had anything like this before.”


    “He should have,” I said roughly. “He should have had everything.”


    Before she could respond to that loaded statement, I cleared my throat. “You must be tired. You should get some rest.”


    “What about you?” she asked. “Did you… did you have fun today?”


    The question caught me off guard. Fun. When was thest time someone had asked me if I’d had fun?


    “Yes,” I said honestly. “I did.”


    Her smile was radiant, transforming her entire face. “Good. I’m d.”


    Before I could process what was happening, she rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. ‘Her lips were warm, gentle, and the sweet scent of her perfume filled my senses.


    My pulse stuttered as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.


    “Goodnight, Hunter,” she whispered.


    I nodded stiffly, not trusting my voice, and turned toward the door. She closed it softly behind me, and I made it exactly ten steps down the hallway before I had to stop.


    “Fuck,” I groaned, running both hands through my hair.


    A chokedugh escaped me as I looked down at myself. My jeans were ufortably tight, my body responding to that innocent kiss like I


    was a teenager again.


    Heat burned through my veins, and every rational thought in my head was being drowned out by the memory of her lips on my skin.


    I leaned against the wall, my head falling back as I fought for control. It would be so easy to go back. To knock on that door and take what I


    wanted.


    To carry her to my bed and spend the night showing her exactly how much she affected me. But I had promised her we would take things


    slow. I had given her my word.


    Even if it killed me.


    Twenty minutester, I was in my study with a ss of whiskey in my hand and my phone pressed to my ear.


    “Vincent.”


    “Hunter!” Vincent’s voice was barely audible over the pounding music in the background. “What’s up, man? You sound like hell.”


    “I need advice,” I said bluntly, taking arge swallow of whiskey.


    Vincent’sughter boomed through the phone. “Holy shit. The great Hunter Reid needs advice? This is the,best news I’ve heard all week.”


    “Your sense of humor hasn’t improved,” I muttered.


    “What about your maid? You know, the mother of your son?”


    My grip tightened on the ss. “Celine is the problem.”


    “Then solve it,” Vincent said matter–of–factly. “March your ass over there and….”


    “We have boundaries,” I cut him off, “She wants to take things slow.”


    13:03 Tue, 5 Aug


    ue, 5 A


    There was a pause. “Wait. You’re actually respecting boundaries? Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”


    “Vincent.”


    “Okay, okay. You want to blow off some steam? I’m at this new club downtown…..”


    “No.” The word came out sharper than I’d intended.


    “No?”


    I closed my eyes, admitting the truth I’d been avoiding. “I only want her.”


    The silence stretched between us.


    “Christ, Hunter,” Vincent said finally, his voice suddenly serious. “You’re in deep.” <fncb0e> Latest content published on FindN()vel</fncb0e>


    I ended the call without responding, but his words echoed in my head as I sat in the dark study, nursing my whiskey.


    In deep. Was that what this was? This constant need to be near her, to protect her, to make her smile?


    Setting down my empty ss, I stood and reached for my car keys, intending to go for a drive to clear my head. But my pocket was empty.


    My keys. Where had I left them? The memory hit me. Caesar’s room. I had set them on his nightstand when I’d taken off his shoes.


    I checked my watch. Past ten o’clock now. I could wait until tomorrow.


    But the thought of seeing Celine again, even briefly, was too tempting to resist.


    I made my way back to the east wing, my footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. At their door, I knocked softly.


    No answer.


    I knocked again, a little louder this time. Still nothing.


    I was about to turn and leave when my hand found the doorknob. I turned it experimentally, surprised when it gave way. Unlocked.


    “Celine?” I called out as I stepped inside, my voice echoing in the empty living room.


    No response.


    The space was dimly lit by a singlemp, and as my eyes adjusted, I noticed something that made my breath catch.


    Thevender dress I had bought her was draped over the back of the couch. Her shoes were kicked off beside it.


    The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom, apanied by something that made my chest tighten.


    Celine was humming.


    Her voice was soft, melodic,pletely unguarded. She had no idea I was here, no idea that I was standing in her living room, fighting the most intense internal battle of my life.


    I should leave. I should grab my keys from Caesar’s room and get the hellout of here before I did something we’d both regret.


    But my feet wouldn’t move. The sound of her voice, so peaceful and content, held me frozen in ce.


    I forced myself to turn toward Caesar’s room, retrieving my keys from the nightstand with hands that weren’t quite steady. The boy was still


    * 58<b>% </b>


    sleeping soundly, his teddy bear now tucked under his arm..


    When I returned to the living room, the humming had stopped. The water was still running, but the silence felt different somehow. More charged.


    I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, keys in my hand, knowing I should leave but unable to make myself move toward the door.


    The bathroom door was just down the hall. Twenty steps, maybe less.


    My hand tightened around my keys as I fought with myself. This wasn’t who I was supposed to be. I was controlled, disciplined. I didn’t chase after women or break promises.


    But Celine wasn’t just any woman.


    The water shut off, and I heard the soft sound of movement behind the bathroom door. I had maybe thirty seconds before she emerged.


    I could stay. I could wait here and see what happened when she found me in her living room, still dressed for the day we’d shared, still carrying the scent of her perfume on my skin.


    Or I could leave, honoring the boundary she’d set, the promise I’d made.


    The bathroom door handle turned.


    I made my choice.