Chapter 228

228 – Cuddling Is The Only Option

Madeline:

The motel room did not smell bad. It seemed they had used air freshener.

The bedsheets were clean. It was a small room, but it looked neatly arranged.

There was one queen–size bed against the wall and a couch beside it with a window behind it.

There was no closet and no carpet.

There were no extra chairs, only two thin blankets, one already on the bed and one folded near the couch.

After we placed the children on the bed, we covered them with the blanket.

My kids were little, and I could squeeze next to them, but I knew they would get uncomfortable.

We had to ask for many pillows, and since my kids moved in their sleep, we needed to place pillows between them.

Once I set everything up, I realized there was no space left for me on the bed.

After tucking the children in, we stepped back from the bed and our eyes landed on the couch at the same time.

It looked wide, but not wide enough for two adults without brushing against each other.

Someone could sleep on it only if they cuddled and stayed close.

We shared a brief glance and then looked away.

“I will take a shower,” I murmured, rubbing my arm.

“Okay,” he replied without lifting his eyes.

I slipped into the small bathroom. The floor was cold. Some of the tiles were cracked.

I leaned the gown against the wall and stepped under the water.

Once the steam touched my skin, my muscles eased.

Still, a strange agitation kept rising inside me, something that had started after he marked me.

A timid pull kept building in my body, almost like I was craving something I should not.

I tried to push the feeling away and focus on anything else.

Once in a while, the feeling struck again and my body shuddered.

By the time I finished, I noticed the bottom of the gown had soaked up water from the floor.

It dragged as I lifted it in my arms.

“I cannot wear this,” I sighed.

I would catch cold if I put it on again. The gown was huge and now it was wet.

I would also have no space to sleep if I tried wearing it on the couch.

I set the gown aside and gently knocked on the door to get Baxter’s attention.

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228–Cuck$ngs The Only Option

+25 Bonus

I waited until I heard a light knock from the other side.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

I opened the door a little and leaned toward the small crack.

I saw him standing outside, but he kept his gaze down and away from me.

“The gown is soaked,” I uttered. “I cannot wear this. What am I supposed to wear now?” I asked tiredly.

Baxter cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair. He still refused to look at me.

“Do you have your undies on?” he asked.

I grunted at once.

“I am not coming out just in that,” I replied quickly.

I was wearing a white bra and the tiniest panties and that was it.

“Then wear my coat on top of it. That is what I am trying to say,” he commented.

I groaned awkwardly but knew I had no other choice.

“I left it on the couch,” I pointed out, waiting behind the door and growing colder.

He walked to the couch and grabbed the coat.

When his eyes accidentally lifted toward me, I pulled back behind the door again. I only slipped my hand out.

He returned and passed me the coat. His fingers brushed lightly along my skin.

I pulled my hand back fast, almost like something had sparked between us.

I shut the door and slipped into the large coat. It swallowed me completely.

The hem reached just below my underclothes.

If I kept my arms down, the upper part of my thighs stayed covered, but my legs were bare.

I took a breath and reminded myself I could not stay in the bathroom forever. Baxter would need to use it too.

When I stepped out, he was not paying attention. He was taking off his shoes while sitting on the couch.

His

gaze moved down and then up, and he froze. I grunted softly and crossed my arms.

He turned away immediately, stood up and rushed past me while rubbing his neck, and disappeared into the bathroom.

I started to wander around the room, trying to figure out where to sleep.

Baxter came out, wiping his hair with his hand.

He seemed to notice the way I kept staring at the couch, as if I was trying to decide what to do with it.

“It is fine, you can sleep on the couch,” he told me.

“Where would you sleep?” I asked him.

“I will sleep on the ground,” he replied, and my eyes widened.

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228–Cuddling is the Only Option

+25 Bonus

“But then take the blanket, put it underneath you, and roll it over you,” I suggested.

I would have given him a pillow too, but he shook his head again.

His hands settled on his waist as he stared at me.

“You will catch a cold,” he muttered, “You are practically-,” then paused and looked away. “Naked p>

I looked down at my chest and realized the coat had loosened. Half of my breast had slipped into view.

I pulled the coat together and folded my arms across my chest.

If I lifted my arms too much, I would be fully exposed.

An awkward silence settled between us before he cleared his throat.

“Unless you are okay with us sharing the couch,” he uttered. “We can cuddle or something. It will be warm p>

His suggestion hit me like a silver bullet.

Ruby Walker

Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.