Chapter 122

It’s like he stumbled upon his own personal oasis, and once their lips met, there was no turning back. Despite his overwhelming desire, he held back, knowing there was nothing more he could do for now. Charles’ eyes darkened, a telltale sign of his inner turmoil. As he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. With a voice rough from emotion, he directed the driver, “Get us to the hospital.”
After giving the order, Charles pulled Evelyn close, nestling her on his lap. He cupped her chin and kissed her with a fierce intensity. Though he couldn’t take things further, he never let her go throughout the drive. Each kiss left her breathless, only to be followed by another, blurring the lines of who was tormenting whom. It wasn’t until they rolled into the hospital parking lot that Charles finally released Evelyn’s lips, now swollen and tender from his relentless kisses.
At Charles’ nod, Aiden nervously stepped out and opened the back door, keeping his eyes trained on the ground. He wished he could block out the world; he understood all too well the depths of Charles’ possessiveness. One extra glance at Evelyn in her current state could cost him dearly.
Charles bundled Evelyn in his coat, wrapping her up snugly. Evelyn had lost all sense of reality and was driven purely by instinct. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she clung to him like a lifeline. She squirmed in his arms, seemingly trying to escape, but his firm grip held her in place. Evelyn’s face nestled against his neck, her lips brushing against his throbbing artery with each breath, sending warm sensations through him. Though her body was restrained, her lips were anything but.
Charles was wound tight, every muscle tense. The tables had turned. He’d put Evelyn through so much in the car, and she was now dishing back out, keeping him on edge. The short trip from the basement to the upper floor left Charles drenched in sweat, and his body was strung taut like a bowstring. As they arrived, a visible relief washed over him.
A doctor awaited them, ready with a prepared antidote for Evelyn. As the remedy began its work, they returned to the room, where Evelyn continued to test Charles’ patience for another half-hour. Just as his self-control was about to shatter, she finally settled down. The hour had been a trial for him, yet it also drained her completely.
Once the antidote took effect, she slumped into his arms, falling into a deep sleep. “How can one person be so flirty?” Charles muttered, his gaze as dark as midnight. Frustrated, he pinched Evelyn’s cheek harder than intended, leaving a deep red mark on her skin. Her sleepy whimper only fueled his agitation further.
He released her and grumbled, “Next time, I’ll have my revenge.” He carried her to the bathroom to quickly freshen them both up. After dressing her in fresh clothes and pads Aiden had arranged, he laid her, now refreshed, on the hospital bed. Overcome with fatigue, Evelyn curled up and drifted into a peaceful slumber.
Charles stood by her bedside, tucking her in gently before stepping out of the room. Outside, Aiden greeted him with respect, “Mr. Jenkins.”