Chapter212 Making a Wish Under the Meteor Shower
Looking at the disconnected call, Harrison's expression remained dark.
Just yesterday he'd sent people to make trouble for that cop, and today the company was hit with one problem after another.
A coincidence? He didn't believe it.
It seemed that man was far more than he appeared on the surface. He must have powerful backing.
A strong sense of crisis and defeat washed over him. Harrison irritably loosened his tie.
As if thinking of something, an indiscernible glint flashed across his face.
As night fell, the suburban temperature dropped, bringing a hint of chill.
Miranda lay in the spacious tent wrapped in a thin blanket, scrolling through her phone.
Suddenly, a local news notification popped up: [Tonight will feature the Leo meteor shower, the largest in recent years!]
Seeing the words "meteor shower," Miranda's eyes instantly lit up.
She sat up abruptly, lifting the tent flap. Outside was already silent, with only the dying embers of the distant campfire giving off faint light.
Just then, Clifton's figure appeared at the tent entrance.
Miranda looked at him with anticipation and excitement.
"Clifton," she waved her phone, "the news says there's a meteor shower tonight!"
"Can we go watch it together?"
Her eyes seemed to hold an entire galaxy of stars, sparkling with bright, scattered light that was impossible to refuse.
Watching that pure light in her eyes, Clifton felt something stir in his heart. His usually hard features seemed to soften slightly.
"Later." His voice was low and soothing.
Miranda nodded obediently and lay back down, though sleep eluded her as her mind dwelled on the meteor shower.
After some time, the last sounds of conversation from the other tents faded, leaving only the rustling of wind through the trees.
The tent zipper was gently pulled open.
Clifton emerged from the tent, but this time, he wasn't in his wheelchair.
The man stood against the moonlight and extended his hand to Miranda, his voice especially clear in the quiet night. "Let's go."
Miranda froze for a moment before understanding. She placed her hand in his broad, warm palm.
Clifton led her away from the flat grassland toward a low mountain on the other side.
The mountain path was somewhat rough, but the man walked steadily, his grip on her hand full of strength, giving her complete peace of mind.
When they reached the summit, the view opened up dramatically.
The entire night sky spread before them without obstruction, like a huge black velvet curtain studded with brilliant diamonds.
"Wow..." Miranda couldn't help but gasp in wonder.
Just then, a silver streak of light suddenly cut through the night sky, trailing a long tail before vanishing in an instant.
"A shooting star! Clifton, look, it's a shooting star!"
Miranda excitedly tugged at his arm.
She looked up at the beautiful sight, murmuring, "Fairy tales say if you make a wish on a shooting star, it will come true."
She turned and pulled at Clifton's sleeve. "Let's make a wish together."
With that, she immediately closed her eyes and made her wish on the meteor.
Clifton's gaze slowly shifted from the brilliant starry sky to the woman beside him.
Moonlight and starlight intertwined, gently falling on her serene profile. Her long, curled lashes cast small shadows beneath her eyes, trembling lightly with her breathing.
Beautiful, like a painting.
Clifton felt his throat tighten as his body moved uncontrollably, slowly leaning toward her.
Miranda had just finished making her wish. When she opened her eyes, she saw a handsome face magnifying infinitely before her, the man's scent instantly enveloping her.
Her heart jumped, her breathing hitched, and she instinctively tried to step back.
"Oh!"
But her foot missed its step, and her body pitched backward.
Just as she thought she would fall, a strong, powerful arm swept around her waist, pulling her entire body back into a solid, burning chest.
The distance between them closed to nothing in an instant, their noses almost touching.
Miranda could clearly see her own flustered face reflected in the man's deep eyes.
The darkness in Clifton's eyes gradually deepened, like invisible whirlpools churning, threatening to pull her in completely.
He gave her no chance to retreat.
The man lowered his head slightly and kissed her parted red lips.
"Mm..."
Searing heat came from her lips, stealing all of Miranda's breath and thoughts.
Her mind went "buzz," completely blank.
After an unknown amount of time.
"Click."
A soft metallic snap suddenly rang out on the quiet mountaintop, pulling back Clifton's nearly drowning rationality.
He pulled back slightly and looked down.
Miranda's hands had been struggling unconsciously at his waist as her breath was stolen, and she'd accidentally undone the metal buckle of his belt.
A flash of surprise crossed Clifton's eyes, then that surprise transformed into deep amusement.
He pressed her tighter against him, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile, his low voice against her ear carrying deliberate teasing.
"Want to try it outdoors?"
The suggestive, flirtatious words felt like an electric current, instantly teasing Miranda's taut nerves.
Her face "whooshed" red enough to drip blood.
She buried her face deeply in Clifton's burning chest, shaking her head vigorously, too embarrassed to speak.
God! How had she undone his belt!
Would he think she did it on purpose!
Above her head came the man's low laughter like a cello, the sound carrying chest vibrations that reached her ears clearly.
The next second, she felt herself lighten as she was swept up in his arms.
"Ah!" She gasped softly, instinctively wrapping her arms around the man's neck.
Clifton carried her under the starlight and night sky, walking steadily back to the tent step by step.
As soon as they entered, the tent's space seemed to shrink with the man's presence.
Miranda's heartbeat hadn't yet settled when she suddenly heard faint, suppressed female sounds nearby.
She froze, listening carefully.
"Clifton, did you hear something?" she asked uncertainly.
Clifton gently set her on the sleeping bag and looked at those eyes full of confusion, uttering a single word without changing expression. "No."
Miranda frowned, not believing him. She sat up and held her breath to listen carefully.
This time, she heard clearly.
The sounds were intermittent, sometimes high, sometimes low, mixed with a man's heavy breathing... coming from the direction of that couple's tent from earlier.
After realizing what it was, Miranda's cheeks burned as if on fire, her ears turning completely red.
She quickly lay back down, pretending to sleep.
Watching her like this, the smile in Clifton's eyes deepened.
He leaned down, looking at her adorably red ear exposed outside, and reached out to gently pinch it.
The warm touch startled Miranda, her body stiffening.
Just as she was about to say something, the man's burning breath was already at her ear, asking in a volume only they could hear:
"Want to compete with them?"
All the blood in Miranda's body rushed to her head. Terrified, she shot her hand out from under the covers and clamped it over Clifton's mouth.
"Don't... don't say it!"
Her voice was urgent and embarrassed.
Clifton caught her soft hand, brought it to his lips, and gently kissed her palm.
"Just teasing you."
The man's voice carried soothing laughter, impossibly gentle.
"Your voice is too beautiful. I'm not generous enough to let others hear it."
With that, he lay down and pulled her entirely into his embrace, gently patting her back as if to soothe her.
Outside the tent, the suggestive sounds continued.
Miranda could clearly feel that somewhere on the man's hard, burning body was pressing against her without concealment through the thin fabric.
She didn't dare move, letting Clifton hold her, her nose filled with his pleasant scent.
After some unknown time, the sounds outside finally stopped. Miranda's taut nerves gradually relaxed, and she fell into deep sleep to the man's steady heartbeat.