Chapter Twenty-Two: Bathing Together

"Let go of me!" Layla exclaimed, but she didn't resist his hold.

Sensing she didn't resist his touch, Tristan flashed a grin and whispered in a husky voice, "Come on, it's not stalking. Plus, I just did you a big favor. How are you planning to show your appreciation?"

Layla shut her eyes, feeling the warmth of Tristan's chest and his breath on her skin, which triggered memories of their intimacy in bed. Her face turned crimson, and she stuttered, "How do you want me to thank you?"

Tristan locked eyes with her, his intense gaze emitting a faint golden gleam in the dim light, resembling that of a predator eyeing its prey.

He leaned in closer, his warm lips grazing her ear as he whispered, "You already know."

Layla felt weak in the knees, her heart racing uncontrollably. She held onto his shirt, biting her lip as she met his intense gaze, her legs involuntarily pressed together.

Tristan smirked triumphantly after seeing her reaction. He quickly picked her up, ignoring her shy protests, and placed her in the car before zooming off into the night.

The car was speeding almost at the top speed and eventually came to a stop outside Layla's place. The assistant hurried to open the car door. Tristan stepped out first. He then covered Layla with his suit jacket, scooped her up, and marched towards her house.

Once inside, Tristan pressed her against the door, causing her to gasp for air.

Despite the dim surroundings, she could feel his gaze, intense and hungry, on her. Her heart pounded as she started to speak, "Tristan, I..."

Before she could finish, Tristan's lips crashed onto hers in a passionate and urgent kiss.

His breath was hot, his tongue exploring with fervor. She tried to protest, but his dominance rendered her speechless. Her body weakly pushed against him, her hands fumbling in a futile attempt to resist. Sensing her response, he grabbed her wrist and held it firmly above her head.

Unable to resist anymore, she eventually surrendered and softly murmured between breaths, "Just be gentle, please."

Tristan seemed to take her words as a cue to escalate things, his excitement and impulses taking over like a caged wild animal that had been set free. With ease, he lifted her up, eagerly exploring and caressing her body with urgency. Layla felt a thirst like someone lost in the desert, only able to quench it by drinking in his kisses.

As he gradually undressed her, his kisses felt like raindrops cascading intensely over her skin. As she felt his face buried in her chest, Layla gasped for air and whispered, "Let's stick to how things were before."

He stopped kissing her. After a prolonged silence, he slowly lifted his head, his eyes dark and unfamiliar as he gazed at her. He pretended not to understand her implied words and asked, "What was it like before?"

Layla avoided his gaze and replied, "I was talking about the kind of relationship we had before. I hope you can keep it between us and not disclose it to anyone, or we'll have to end things."

Tristan paused, then gave a wry nod with a smile, "Alright, if that's what you want."

He then leaned in to kiss her again.

She stopped him once more, saying, "But I haven't taken a shower yet."

Tristan's eyes lit up, responding, "Me neither."

Layla hesitated briefly before finding herself effortlessly lifted by him. He took her towards the bathroom, casually suggesting, "Let's go together."

...

The next morning, the soft light of dawn peeked through the curtains and shone on the wooden floor.

Layla awoke with a troubled expression, gently tapping her forehead as if something was weighing on her mind.

Tristan, noticing the sound, emerged from the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed, offering comfort, "Another nightmare?"

Layla met Tristan's comforting gaze, finding a sense of calm in his presence before suddenly burying herself in his arms.

Tristan returned her embrace, his concern evident in his expression.

As Layla pulled away, she asked, "Why have you been staring at me?"

Tristan's worried look transformed into a soft smile as he admitted, "You look adorable when you're asleep. I never had the chance to see it before, and now I don't want to miss it."

Their gazes locked, a silent anticipation hanging in the air. Layla made the first move by encircling her arms around his neck, leading to a fervent kiss. Tristan instinctively felt the urge to do something for her, but she gently pushed him away.

"Time to head to work!"

Tristan grinned, planting a brief kiss on her lips before releasing her.

Tristan watched the door with a hint of sadness as Layla walked to the bathroom. He contacted his assistant, requesting, "Book me an appointment with the top psychiatrist around."