Chapter 103 You Bewitched Me

Chapter 103 You Bewitched Me
Elizabeth’s POV:

Jaxon’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and when he looked at me, I saw a familiar expression—the same one I often saw on Aunt Camille’s face whenever she looked at him. It was a feeling I knew all too well: guilt.

“When I was a kid, she hurt me many times,” I whispered. I felt he needed to understand that Cruella’s hatred wasn't a new development. She might have played the part of the kind relative while my parents were alive, but the moment they were gone, she became the primary thorn in my life. Whether I was married to Jaxon or not, she was always going to find a way to try and break me.

“Who?” Jaxon asked, his voice low and dangerous.

“Cruella Mitchell. She didn't push me off that boat because of you, Jaxon… it had nothing to do with you.”

Jaxon’s jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might snap. “She really pushed you, didn't she?” I realized then that he might have suspected it, but he had been waiting for my confirmation. I nodded silently, and he immediately pulled me into his arms, enveloping me in a crushing, warm hug.

“I am sorry I wasn't there,” he muttered against my hair. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my forehead into his chest.

“You have always been there,” I told him. He had no idea how much the thought of returning to him had anchored me, helping me escape that blinding white void I had found myself in. Standing here, held by him, was the only thing I had truly wished for during those dark days.

“I am still upset, though,” I said, looking up at him with a deliberate pout. He let out a short chuckle and reached out to gently pinch my cheek.

“You ignored me,” I reminded him. I wasn't going to let him off the hook quite that easily; he had to fix this. If I forgave him the second he walked through the door, wouldn't I look a bit too easy to please?

Jaxon chuckled again, and I let out a small gasp as his hand snaked around the back of my thigh. He lifted me effortlessly. I quickly threw my arms around his neck, letting him carry me back inside.

“I didn't ignore you,” Jaxon had the audacity to lie to my face as he carried me up the stairs. He reached his bedroom and placed me gently on the bed. He turned to leave, and panic flared in my chest. I grabbed his hand instantly. Was this it? Was he going to walk away again?

“I want to freshen up,” he explained, his gaze steady. I searched his face for any hint of a lie, but this man rarely bothered with deception. I suppose when you aren't afraid of anyone, there’s no reason to hide the truth.

I slowly withdrew my hand. Before he headed into the bathroom, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek. My face warmed up instantly, and I felt my jaw go tight from the effort of holding back a massive smile. Jaxon knew exactly what he was doing to me; he laughed out loud at my reaction before disappearing into the ensuite.

I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep while he was in there. A nagging fear told me that if I slept now, I would wake up the next morning to find him gone again. I picked up my phone—luckily, I’d left it at the house before the yacht party, otherwise I would have been shopping for a replacement.

I had a few missed messages and opened the one from Bella.

Bella: A doctor friend of mine says it’s good for you to get some fresh air and walk around. How about we go to the park tomorrow?

Tomorrow was Thursday, and I had already decided to resume school on Monday. Jaxon would likely be at work, and I didn't want to spend the entire day being pampered like a baby by Miss Alice and Aunt Camille. Besides, I needed a friend to talk to. I accepted her invite and continued replying to messages until the bathroom door finally swung open.

Jaxon emerged dressed in grey sweatpants and a T-shirt, his hair still damp. He walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. I kept my eyes fixed on my phone screen, even as my palms turned clammy. He just sat there, watching me. “Uhm… I should probably go back to my own bedroom,” I suggested.

“This is your bedroom from now on,” he stated firmly. He grabbed the pillows and adjusted them against the headboard before leaning back and getting comfortable.

“Why?” I asked. Ever since I had arrived at this house, I had my own room—one I had spent a lot of time decorating. I wasn't sure I wanted to abandon it, even if the idea of sharing a bed with him made my heart race.

Jaxon reached out, took my hand, and pulled me toward him. Within seconds, I was lying across his chest with his arms wrapped securely around me. My heart was beating at a completely abnormal rate.

“Because we are married,” his husky voice rumbled against me, the sound vibrating through my body and making me feel warmer than before.

“We’ve been married for a while now,” I pointed out. That hadn't stopped us from having separate rooms before, so it wasn't a very strong excuse. He merely hummed in response, and we stayed in that position for several minutes.

The silence wasn't suffocating; it felt right. I nuzzled my head against his chest, trying to get comfortable. I couldn't help but wonder how I had ended up like this—trying to get cozy with a man who had terrified the life out of me just a few weeks ago.

It was frightening how easily I had come to love him and depend on him. After a while, I looked up to see if he had fallen asleep, but his eyes were still wide open, watching me.

I clenched my fists, leaned in, and kissed him. It was a light, tentative touch. When I tried to pull away, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment, he cupped my cheek and smashed his lips back onto mine. Jaxon parted my lips, his tongue seeking mine, and I sucked on his bottom lip, feeling myself completely melt into his arms.

When the kiss finally broke, we stared at each other for a long moment. I was about to say something to break the tension, but he kissed me again—rougher this time, pulling on my lip until I was gasping for air.

“I… I was on oxygen just a few days ago,” I managed to mutter. He let out a low chuckle. I honestly needed this natural air more than anything, so as much as I wanted to keep kissing him until I lost my breath again, I also wanted to enjoy this free gift of nature.

“I am sorry that I ignored you,” he said softly, kissing my forehead. I scoffed.

“So you’re admitting it now? You did ignore me?”

He nodded without hesitation. “Why? Was it because you didn't love me anymore?”

Jaxon reached out and pulled on my nose. I slapped his hand away, and he made a clicking sound with his teeth. “I thought you bewitched me,” he whispered.

I gasped, my eyes widening at the accusation. “You should go to sleep,” he said, pulling the duvet up over me, but I pushed it right back down.

I was worried that by tomorrow morning, he might go back to his cold, distant self, and I wasn't ready for the night to end. “Snacks,” I blurted out. He raised a brow in confusion. I pouted and sat up. “You always buy me snacks to make me feel better.”

“Did I?” He tilted his head as if I were making things up. “I thought I always bought them because I was bored.”

So, he only took me to get snacks because he was bored and not to comfort me? Way to go, Beth. Assumption really was going to be the death of me one day.