Chapter 136

 136:
As the clock ticked on, Linsey shifted restlessly, the blanket slipping away. Noticing this, Collin abandoned his papers and rolled his chair closer to the bed, his concern evident. Reaching her side, he paused, taking in her pained expression—eyes squeezed shut, features contorted by some silent agony. There was no doubt about it—she was being haunted by something in her sleep.
An uneasy feeling gripped his heart, sinking deep. Tentatively, he reached out, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder in a silent offer of reassurance.
“Don’t,” she murmured, her voice fraught with vulnerability. Her fingers clutched at his, gripping them tightly as she pleaded in a hoarse whisper, “Don’t leave me… please, stay with me.”
A trace of distress flickered across his eyes as he watched her. Without a moment’s hesitation, he clasped her hand, eased himself out of the wheelchair, and lay down beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“No need to be scared. I’ll never leave you,” he murmured, his lips lingering softly on her forehead.
Linsey’s furrowed brows smoothed out as she absorbed his words. Almost instinctively, her arms encircled him, her body pressing closer, seeking solace in his presence.
During their tender embrace, her abdomen unintentionally brushed against his thigh, causing Collin to stiffen, his body taut with sudden tension as he fought the urge to pull away.
A soft, startled whimper escaped Linsey when she sensed him retreating, and she clung to him even more desperately, her body molding tighter against his.
This renewed contact elicited a low, hoarse groan from Collin. He inhaled sharply, his eyes darkening as they settled on her serene, sleeping face. The rhythmic cadence of her breathing lulled him, yet he could not bring himself to disturb her slumber.
Trapped in a tumult of emotion, he steeled his resolve, forcing the rising tide of desire to recede. With closed eyes and a deep, steadying breath, he fought to clear his mind.
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That night, while Linsey slept deeply, Collin remained awake, his restless vigil marked by a storm of emotions he struggled to contain.
The morning sun filtered into the room, and Linsey’s eyelids fluttered open, the weight of sleep still clinging to them. For a few disoriented seconds, she simply stared at the fabric of the shirt inches from her face, gradually realizing it was Collin’s chest she was using as her pillow. A wave of nervousness swept over her.
With a cautious, barely perceptible movement, Linsey lifted her head to peek at Collin, who remained deeply asleep beside her. Her mind raced with questions. When had he joined her in bed? How had she failed to notice his presence until now? And when exactly had he enveloped her in his arms?
She nibbled her lower lip anxiously, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks. Despite herself, her gaze lingered, becoming transfixed on Collin’s peaceful face. In sleep, his usual facade of sharpness and distance melted away, revealing an expression of serene calmness that belonged only to him. The gentle warmth emanating from his body enveloped her, sending her heartbeat into a fluttering, erratic rhythm.
She debated internally whether to rouse him, torn between prolonging this rare moment and the necessity of starting their day. Her deliberation was abruptly cut short by the low, persistent buzz of a vibrating phone.
Linsey’s eyes darted toward the sound and she noticed Collin’s brows twitch in the barest hint of disturbance, signaling he was waking up. For a fleeting instant, Linsey wished the world outside could remain at bay, just a little longer.
Seeing Collin so undisturbed was a rare and unexpectedly endearing sight she hesitated to interrupt.
With a determined air, she carefully propped herself up on one elbow, attempting to lean over him to snatch the phone from the bedside table to silence its insistent buzzing.
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