Chapter 68
Chapter 68:
Kristine turned — and found herself facing him directly.
Her gaze stalled, uncertain where it was safe to settle. As he moved closer, the air filled with the clean scent of soap mingled with the warmth of his skin. He stopped directly in front of her, his breath brushing past her cheek.
“I’m done. Do you want to use the bathroom now p>
Kristine backed away until she was nearly pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window. “Yes p>
Colton studied her expression for a brief moment before stepping aside.
Without hesitation, Kristine slipped past him, grabbed a set of clean clothes, and disappeared into the bathroom. The moment the door closed behind her, her racing heartbeat slowly began to quiet.
𝗟a𝘁𝘦𝘴𝗍 с𝗵𝗮𝘱𝘵𝖾𝘳s 𝗈𝗻.с𝘰𝗆
Outside, Colton watched where she had gone, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
She still loved him.
Kristine stepped out of the bathroom and immediately caught sight of Colton, settled casually on the bed. She stopped, startled to find him still there. She had expected him to be long gone — spending over an hour inside should have been enough to make him leave.
Without warning, Colton rose, crossed the room, and lifted her into his arms with no effort, carrying her back to the bed. Kristine tried to sit up, but he pulled her close and eased them both down together.
“Let go of me!” she snapped.
Her back pressed firmly against his chest. When she twisted away, the sudden rush of heat between them felt like a spark hitting gasoline. A rough sound vibrated in his throat.
“Don’t move,” he warned quietly. “If you keep squirming, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do p>
Kristine went rigid.
Sensing the unmistakable shift in him, she stilled completely and stopped fighting his hold. Perhaps the exhaustion of the past few days had finally caught up with her — before long, sleep weighed down her eyes.
By the time she woke, daylight already filled the room.
The first thing she noticed was the heavy arm stretched firmly around her waist. Then her gaze moved to Colton’s sleeping face. In sleep, he looked like a different person — his features relaxed and free of their usual sharp coldness. A softer side showed itself. Faint shadows of blue marked the skin beneath his eyes.
When Kristine shifted slightly, his grip did not loosen at all. How could anyone hold on so tightly even while asleep?
“You’re full of energy this early.” His voice drifted down from above, laid-back and faintly teasing.
She lifted her chin and fixed him with a fierce look. “Let me go p>
Without argument, Colton released her. “You really did sleep like a rock last night p>
She jumped off the bed. “It doesn’t matter who’s around — my sleep isn’t affected, even if a pig’s snoring beside me p>
His expression clouded immediately. “So that’s what you think of me p>