Chapter 9

 9:
Still, the thought of being so close to someone she barely knew made a wave of unease settle in her chest.
But there was no turning back now. She would just have to adapt.
Collin caught the hesitation in her eyes, his gaze unreadable as he gave a slight nod. After a beat, he spoke again, his voice softening.
“It’s getting late. I usually go to bed early. I hope you can adjust to my schedule.”
Linsey nodded quickly, though her stomach churned.
“That’s fine. I’ll bring my suitcase in.”
“Wait,” Collin interrupted, his voice steady. “Given my physical condition, I’ve always had the house staff help me with certain things. But now that you’re here, I’d prefer not to trouble anyone else.”
With that, he wheeled himself toward the bathroom.
“What?” Linsey froze, confusion rippling through her.
He stopped at the bathroom door, pushing it open with a smooth motion. Then he turned to face her, his gaze unflinching.
“Help me bathe.”
Linsey’s mouth went dry.
“How?”
He raised an eyebrow, his tone almost teasing.
“By helping me undress, of course.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. But recalling what Collin had just said, she swallowed hard, forcing herself to step forward, her nerves tightening with every step.
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She stared at him, silently reminding herself that, regardless of how unfamiliar or uncomfortable this moment was, he was her husband. This was part of her duty.
Her hands shook as she clenched them into fists, then slowly extended them toward the buttons on his shirt.
The buttons were tiny, delicately designed, and her palms were slick with nervous sweat. No matter how hard she tried, her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, slipping over the first button again and again without success.
Collin stood motionless, an amused glint in his eyes as he watched her struggle.
He knew she must resent this—resent having to care for a disabled man like him. He remained still, curious to see how long she would hide her discomfort.
To his surprise, though she was flustered at first, Linsey quickly regained her composure. With determination etched on her face, she continued her task, slowly unfastening each button one by one. As the fabric of his shirt parted, his sculpted, muscular chest was revealed in all its glory.
His raw, masculine energy filled the air, the power in his frame undeniable.
Linsey had never been this close to a man before, and as her eyes flickered over his chest, her cheeks flushed a deep red. Her hands trembled, her breath catching in her throat.
He watched every tiny shift in her expression, feeling a surge of confidence. He was certain he had the upper hand.
Just then, her soft, cool fingertips brushed against his abdomen. The contact was brief, but it sent a shock through him.
His body tensed as an overwhelming surge of heat rushed through him. It was as if every pulse of blood in his body had concentrated in one place, igniting a wave of warmth that spread rapidly throughout him.
Linsey had just finished unbuttoning Collin’s shirt and was about to reach for his belt when his expression suddenly hardened.
.
.
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