Chapter 195
Chapter 195:
Noelle couldn’t take it anymore. She flinched and squirmed away with a stifled protest, trying to escape the tickle. She opened her eyes and glared at him with a pout, her brows furrowed and her beautiful eyes lit with the smallest sparks of irritation.
Ethan smiled, slow and amused. “Not pretending to be asleep anymore p>
Busted, Noelle turned her back to him, refusing to admit anything. “Who said I was p>
“Pretending? I was trying to fall asleep. I was just about to doze off p>
He found her reaction impossible to ignore—it was cute, and she didn’t even realize it. “So I don’t get to tell you a bedtime story tonight p>
“I’m not a kid anymore,” Noelle mumbled back.
Back then, when they were younger, she used to beg for bedtime stories—one more, and then one more after that. But that was a long time ago.
Now lying on her side, Noelle did her best to ignore him. She heard a soft dip in the mattress a few moments later and knew Ethan had lain down behind her. The subtle scent of his shower-fresh skin filled her lungs, familiar and comforting. It was a little intoxicating.
𝘗oр𝘶l𝘢r 𝘴𝘁о𝘳𝗂𝗲s оn ѕ.𝗰𝗼𝗆
Her back stiffened just a bit, and despite herself, her heartbeat picked up. Ethan didn’t say a word either. He didn’t reach out or crowd her. He simply lifted his hand and turned off the bedside lamp.
Only the moonlight filtered in through the small gap in the curtains, casting a silver glow across the walls and floor.
In the stillness, Noelle slowly turned her head to peek at him. His eyes were shut, lashes resting lightly against his skin, his expression calm—like he had already drifted off.
She breathed a small sigh of relief. The day had been long and draining. Between the hospital scare and everything else, her body finally gave in to the weariness. She let herself relax, and sleep found her not long after.
But in the quiet, Ethan’s eyes fluttered open. He hadn’t been asleep at all. He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the peaceful curve of her face beside him. The moonlight touched her features gently, making her look like something pulled from a dream.
Ethan’s heart softened without him meaning to. Reaching over, he pulled her carefully into his arms. She didn’t stir, and they drifted off together.
The next morning, Noelle blinked groggily, slowly waking up. The first thing she saw was a warm, solid chest. Then her hand twitched. It was tucked inside Ethan’s pajama shirt, her palm flat against his abs.
She froze.
Worse—her legs were tangled around his, hugging him like she was trying to anchor herself to him in her sleep.
Her whole body went rigid. Her brain couldn’t even form a complete thought.
How did this happen?
Why was she wrapped around him like a blanket?
She didn’t usually sleep like this. She never slept like this—unless she was in bed with him.
Noelle swallowed nervously and slowly lifted her head to sneak a peek at his face.
Ethan’s eyes were still closed; he seemed asleep. His breathing was calm, lips relaxed. Maybe he hadn’t noticed yet?
Okay. Okay. She could still fix this.