Chapter 142 Chapter 142
“I recently took full control of the company, so there are fires that only I can put out. But don't worry, this hectic phase will be over after this month.”
He paused, and his gaze became intense.
“I'm getting ahead with my work now to try to free up more time to spend with you.”
“...I didn't mean that,” Caroline murmured, feeling a little embarrassed. It sounded like she was complaining about being neglected, like a spoiled wife.
“You didn't mean it, but I do,” Nicholas corrected, looking at her with a tenderness that made her stomach flutter. “My dear, don't you want to spend more time with me?”
Don't you want me to be with you?
Under that attentive, penetrating gaze, Caroline's heart raced, beating wildly against her ribs. Her face began to flush.
“I hope so,” Nicholas continued, without waiting for an answer.
He leaned in, bringing his face close to hers. His voice dropped to a deep, husky, indescribably sensual tone.
“Although I can't be with you twenty-four hours a day, I promise you this: when I'm not working, all my free time will be yours. You will have my undivided attention.”
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Caroline's heart felt like it was about to jump out of her mouth. She felt her face burning.
How could this man be so seductive without even trying? Was he unaware of the devastating effect his words had on her?
She had no defenses against such a tender and direct attack.
“Darling, what do you think?” he whispered in her ear, with a charming smile, exuding masculine pheromones that made her dizzy.
Caroline felt her legs go weak, even though she was lying down. She was intoxicated by his presence.
She felt that he was doing it on purpose. He was deliberately using his charm to disarm her. And, as someone who didn't fall in love easily, she was losing the battle against this magnetic man.
As if her will no longer belonged to her, she nodded, mesmerized. “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
Nicholas let out a low, vibrant laugh. He cupped her delicate, pale face in his large, warm hands, treating her like his most precious treasure.
Then he lowered his head and captured her lips.
At first, it was just a quick, light touch. But as soon as he tasted her sweet, addictive flavor, Nicholas's self-control shattered.
He couldn't resist.
The light kiss turned into a storm in seconds. It became deep, possessive, and passionate.
Caroline, already weak, melted completely under his control.
Her body went limp, and she gasped against his mouth, her vision blurring with pleasure.
When Nicholas finally pulled away, just millimeters, both of their breathing was uneven.
He pressed his forehead against hers. His hands still held her face, and his dark eyes took in every detail: her flushed cheeks, her red, swollen lips, her lost gaze.
A dangerous flame ignited deep in his eyes.
Her skin, white and soft as a ripe peach, exuded a seductive fragrance that drove him crazy.
He slid his hand down, pressing his fingertips against her belly over the blanket, caressing her gently.
The desire to devour her right there was overwhelming.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy, electric, and dangerously ambiguous.
Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the spell.
Knock, knock.
Nicholas closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clenching his jaw to suppress the heat coursing through his veins.
“Who is it?” he asked, his voice hoarse and thick.
“Second Sir, the brown sugar water is ready,” replied the maid outside.
Nicholas exhaled, regaining his composure. He lowered his head and placed one last kiss on Caroline's forehead.
“Have some before you go to sleep,” he said softly.
“It will help you feel more comfortable. I'll get it for you.”
He got up, walked to the door, picked up the tray, and returned to the bed.
Caroline's stomachache had already passed, but under Nicholas's watchful gaze, she obeyed. She drank the sweet, warm liquid in one gulp, feeling the heat spread through her body.
Nicholas took the empty bowl and placed it on the bedside table. Then he settled her back down, covering her with the thin blanket up to her neck.
“Sleep now. I'm going to the office.”
Even though it was summer, he covered her well, making sure she wouldn't get cold.
Caroline held the edge of the blanket, blinking sleepily at the tall man standing beside the bed.
His features were soft. The usual coldness and distance had completely disappeared, replaced by absolute affection.
He looked at her as if she were the most important thing in the world.
Caroline's heart skipped a beat. That look was... overwhelming.
“What is it?” Nicholas asked, smiling when he saw her staring at him. He leaned over once more to stroke her head.
Caroline came to her senses, her face flushing again. “Nothing. Go to work. I'm going to sleep.”
She closed her eyes quickly, pretending to be asleep to hide the turmoil in her chest. She didn't want to delay him.
“Okay. Sleep well.”
Nicholas placed another light kiss on her forehead, straightened up, and walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he paused.
He glanced at the air conditioning control on the wall. Reflecting for a second on her physical condition and the fact that she was asleep, he raised the temperature by two degrees to ensure that the room was comfortable, neither too cold nor too hot.
Only then did he leave, closing the door quietly.
In bed, Caroline opened her eyes.
She looked at the closed door, the image of him adjusting the temperature etched in her mind.
A strange, warm emotion blossomed in her chest, something she hadn't felt in a long, long time.
Caroline stared at the ceiling, her heart still warmed by Nicholas's gestures.
She had married reluctantly. Initially, she had agreed to the union only to save her sister, resigned to the idea that a loveless marriage would be her destiny, a sentence of coldness and loneliness.
After all, how could there be happiness in living with a man she did not love?
But...
There, in the silence of that luxurious room, she realized that reality was very different from her fears. That marriage was not the nightmare she had imagined.
In fact... it was good to be married.