Chapter 956:
His strength seemed to drain all at once. His weight sagged toward her, and he leaned into her as if the floor had shifted beneath him. He pressed his forehead to her shoulder, his breaths warm and shallow against her neck, the room suddenly heavy with the quiet aftermath of their closeness.
Rylie glanced down at her hand, then back at him. The unexpected vulnerability in his posture sent a small ache blooming in her chest.
She gently eased herself free and murmured, “I need to take care of this.”
Brad didn’t move. He kept her trapped in his arms, holding on with stubborn insistence, like a child refusing to let go of something precious. His face stayed tucked against her neck as a low, restless murmur slipped out.
Rylie sighed, half amused, half exasperated. She patted his back gently. “Brad, let go. My hand’s a mess.”
At last, he lifted his head.
His eyes—still dark with heat—locked onto hers. The desire lingering there had softened into something deeper, something that felt like possession and care tangled together. Without a word, he caught her clean hand and pressed a brief kiss to her fingertips before finally releasing her.
Rylie slipped from his arms and stood, acutely aware of the lingering warmth on her skin. She crossed the room and stepped into the bathroom, letting warm water run over her hands, washing away the traces of what had just happened.
She lingered before the mirror, studying her flushed cheeks and the faint fullness of her lips, her mind replaying Brad’s rare, unrestrained behavior—so unlike his usual cold, exacting restraint. Her heartbeat still stumbled in uneven rhythms.
After steadying herself and patting her hands dry with a towel, she stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Brad already dressed in his trousers, his upper body bare, reclining casually in her chair.
A few crumpled papers in the bin hinted at his halfhearted attempt to tidy up. At the sound of her footsteps, he tilted his head, his eyes tracking her every movement. The lamplight brushed across his bronzed chest, making him look even more at ease—almost provoking.
Feel inspired on gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．cо𝗺
Rylie approached the bed, but before she could speak, he reached out and pulled her onto his thigh.
“Still jealous?” Rylie raised an eyebrow, mischief glinting in her gaze.
Brad paused, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his features at the memory of his earlier misunderstanding. Then his expression tightened with stubborn resolve. “Only if I get the same treatment as tonight.”
Rylie let out a laugh she didn’t bother to hide. Brad’s gaze sharpened, lingering on the curve of her smiling lips with an intensity that made her breath catch.
He lifted his hand, fingertips grazing her lower lip with deliberate gentleness. His voice dropped, low and husky. “Say it again.”
“What?” Rylie blinked, caught off guard, her thoughts scattering for a brief moment.
“That you’re only into me,” he murmured, quiet insistence threading through every word.
The room fell into a suspended silence, all sound fading except their breathing.
“Only into you,” she repeated, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.
Rylie’s video call finally connected. Behind the screen, Tommy’s bedroom appeared quaint and wooden, with a round window that framed a distant view of the sea.
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