Chapter 135

 135:
Seated in his wheelchair, he gripped her wrist firmly yet tenderly, his other hand resting lightly on her back. Despite his gentle hold, she felt completely ensnared by his presence.
His lips curled into a rare, playful smirk, his eyes twinkling with uncharacteristic boldness. “So, this was on your mind the whole time, huh? I had no idea you wanted me like that,” he murmured, his warm breath brushing against her neck, sending playful shivers down her spine.
Her cheeks flamed even hotter at his words, her heart pounding in her chest. Embarrassment surged through her, making her eyes water slightly, turning them a deeper shade of red.
“I’m not eager at all—not in the slightest!” She attempted to wriggle free from his grasp, but her efforts were futile. She retorted with feigned indignation, “I’m just worried that my charm is too much for you to resist, and you might get carried away.”
Collin raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of thoughtful amusement. “Charming, indeed,” he agreed, his voice rich with humor.
She parted her lips, preparing to fire back with a sharp retort, but she was momentarily distracted by her own flustered state, brushing aside her earlier awkwardness.
However, Collin’s calm and matter-of-fact acknowledgment only made her feel more bashful.
His gaze lingered on her flushed cheeks, and he felt a tightness in his throat, a sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her…
Collin inhaled sharply, reining in the impulse that threatened to break his composure. With an earnest expression, he reassured Linsey, “Your injuries are still healing. Believe me, I’m not some beast devoid of restraint. I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
After a brief pause, he eased his grip just a little and chuckled lightly. “So, what’s it going to be? My lap or the bed while I rub this ointment on you?”
Lₐtᴇst chαptɘrs in g𝒶lnovels.𝗰𝓞𝗺
Startled from her thoughts, Linsey quickly scrambled off his lap and turned her back to him, opting for the safety of the bed. Her cheeks flushed with a fierce blush as she silently removed her pajama top and lay facedown, trying to calm the pounding in her chest.
The soft sound of Collin’s wheelchair approaching contrasted sharply with the tension hanging in the air. Linsey couldn’t see his expression, her focus entirely on the cold sensation of the ointment as he gently applied it with a cotton swab to the healing wounds on her back.
The room was wrapped in a hushed stillness, broken only by the occasional soft clink of the ointment jar.
Soon, Collin finished tending to her. As he capped the ointment, he advised softly, “Put your top back on. Don’t risk a chill. Try to get some rest tonight.”
Linsey responded with silence, swiftly pulling her pajama top over her head and burrowing under the blanket without a backward glance. Her deliberate avoidance spoke volumes—she wasn’t ready to talk to him.
Seeing her stiff back, a silent testament to her stubbornness, Collin couldn’t help but let out a gentle chuckle. His face showed a mix of fondness and resignation as he shook his head and turned his wheelchair to leave the room.
Exhausted from the day’s relentless demands, Linsey finally succumbed to the comfort of her bed. As she nestled her face into the soft folds of the blanket, a subtle scent— unmistakably Collin’s— enveloped her, soothing her frazzled nerves. Her eyelids grew heavy, her breaths deepened, and soon, she was lost in the tranquil embrace of sleep.
In the shadows of the room, Collin remained awake. Seated at a desk cluttered with documents, he worked diligently, the only light a pair of lamps casting a warm, amber glow over his solitary figure.
Aware that Linsey had drifted off, he moved with deliberate quietness, the rustle of paper softened by his gentle touch. His eyes, however, frequently strayed from the documents before him to the serene figure on the bed. The sight of Linsey, her silhouette a soft curve under the blanket, stirred something within him. After countless nights of solitude, the simple reality of her presence was both novel and comforting. Of all things, he hadn’t expected to find someone sleeping so calmly this close to him.
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