It wasn’t until the bedroom door shut behind her that Edith finally snapped out of her daze.
Memories of that night by the river, inside the car, surged up in vivid, embarrassing detail.
In a flash, she wriggled free from Justin’s arms and bolted to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
Justin was left standing outside, a little stunned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his brows drawn together in concern as he stared at her blurred silhouette through the frosted glass.
From his vantage point, Edith stood frozen just inside the door.
She blurted out, “Nothing, really. I just… I want to take a shower first…”
Justin’s lips curled into a faint, amused smile. His voice softened. “Alright. I’ll wait.”
Leaning against the door, Edith stared up at the ceiling. The warm yellow light from the spotlights pooled around her, wrapping her eyes in a hazy glow.
A tangle of images flashed through her mind–breathless whispers and tangled limbs.
God.
She wasn’t some wide–eyed virgin, but she’d never been that bold before. Never so desperate, so shamelessly tangled up in someone else.
Heat crept up her cheeks, coloring her face a deep red.
She stayed in the shower for a long time–so long that Justin knocked on the door more than once, worried she might’ve fainted in there.
When Edith finally emerged, she was wrapped in a dark men’s towel,
damp hair clinging to her neck. Justin was waiting right outside.
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Mist hung about her, softening the lines of her pale skin, still tinged with pink.
Justin couldn’t seem to look away. Edith felt his gaze and grew self–conscious, lowering her head. “Why are you waiting here…?”
He snapped back to himself, afraid she’d think he was some kind of creep. “You were in there so long, I got worried something happened.”
Edith lifted her eyes, a bit misty. She asked, “So, when I called you earlier… you showed up so quickly. Does that mean you were waiting at
the Summer House?”
As soon as she asked, she worried she was being too presumptuous.
She quickly corrected herself, “Or was it just a coincidence? Did you have
other business at the Summer House?”
Justin didn’t hesitate. “No, I was waiting for you at the Summer House.”
There was something burning in his eyes, something so intense Edith felt it might swallow her whole.
The steam from her shower drifted out into the hallway, thickening the air
between them.
The temperature kept rising, making Justin’s throat feel tight.
If they stayed in this room together any longer, he wasn’t sure what might happen. He cleared his throat and said, “Latonia’s made up the guest room for me. I’ll go sleep there tonight.”
He turned to leave, but suddenly felt a small, damp hand close around his
wrist.
Edith’s fingers were slender and trembling as she barely managed to hold onto him. She looked embarrassed. “No, you can’t. I can’t let you sleep in the guest room.”
She’d been raised to believe it was unthinkable for the person who’d helped you to be banished to a guest room.
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Justin’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “So… are you trying to keep me here?”
Edith almost let go in shock.
She’d been bold enough in the car already. That was one thing–she’d felt she had no choice.
But if she took the initiative now, would Justin think she was just… that kind of woman? Always wanting more?
The thought sent a fresh wave of red across her cheeks. She hurriedly let go of his wrist, stammering, “No, that’s not what I meant…”
Justin’s disappointment was obvious.
Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.