Chapter 18 Do You Want It?
“Hungry?” he asked.
“A little.” She hurriedly turned away from the closet.
“You should break that habit of skipping meals.”
She gave a faint smile as she headed downstairs.
By the time she reached the ground floor, Zoe and the others had already left.
“Mr. Hayes was so considerate of you, waiting outside the door the whole time,” Zoe whispered.
Emma washed her hands and glanced toward Liam.
He was answering a call nearby; as when their gazes met, she quickly looked away.
“Did you drink the milk today?” Liam placed the bowl of beef in front of her.
“I did. Thank you.”
“Turn off your alarm tonight. No need to get up early. We’ll leave around 10:30 tomorrow night,” he said.
“Are you coming too?” she asked.
“Didn’t you see the itinerary?” He looked at her, his gaze intense, making her tremble.
“…”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hayes…” She stammered nervously.
“It’s fine,” he said. “No need to check. Just follow me then.”
Then he focused on his food, seemingly deep in thought.
Suddenly, he changed the subject. “Ben is still in the hospital, but the police have suppressed the case—no record was filed.”
“Have you ever crossed someone?” He continued, his gaze turning cold and piercing.
Emma’s hand tightly tugged at the corner of her shirt.
Now that he had asked, she recounted the events truthfully.
…
He laughed after listening to the whole thing.
“What are you laughing at?” she asked, puzzled.
“You truly impressed me … manipulating others to fight your battles,” he commented. Admiration welled up inside him, reinforcing his belief that his choice had been wise.
“Really?” She was taken aback, expecting his temper to flare up. “Don’t you think I—”
“You handled it well. But remember to tell me next time. Don’t act on your own.” He reached out and wiped the juice from the corner of her mouth.
Does he mean he will protect me?
Does he mean he will protect me?
Color crept onto her cheeks, leaving her mind blank.
“I’ll go upstairs and shower first.” He gently ruffled her hair before leaving the table.
As she ruminated on his words, he had finished the shower.
After the meal, she sat on the sofa in the study and tried to power through her design drafts. But her mind swirled with Liam’s subtle gestures.
Frustrated, she set her laptop aside and slumped back against the sofa.
Liam watched the graceful curves traced by her silk nightgown, his Adam’s apple moving in a hard swallow.
Then she sat up, set down her drawing board, and quietly searched for something on the computer.
“Liam.” She turned to look at him.
“Hmm?”
“Where did I put that box of design sketches when we moved last time?” she asked.
He rose slowly, walked to the display shelf, and pulled out a large cardboard box.
“Is this it?”
“Yes, that’s the one.” She knelt on the sofa and reached out to take the box as if it were a treasure.
“You didn’t prepare the sketches, did you?” he asked, having seen right through her.
She smiled awkwardly, opening the box on the sofa.
“It’s fine. I have plenty of backup drafts.” He looked at her fondly, casually draping his arm over the back of the sofa behind her.
She instantly stiffened. What’s he going to do? Kiss me? Or…
What’s he going to do? Kiss me? Or…
Enveloped by the pine resin scent that clung to him, her fingers trembled slightly as his breath brushed her neck.
He casually picked up a sketch and examined it closely.
She hurriedly snatched the sketch back and stuffed it into the box, afraid he might notice something.
“I’ll show you once I’ve made my selection. You should get back to work…” She shifted nervously to the side.
He chuckled, stood up, and returned to his desk.
He gazed at the tulips on the desk, and a faint smile touched his lips before he resumed his focused work.
…
At 11 p.m., Emma finished organizing the designs.
“I’m going to bed,” she said, stretching.
“Me too.” He shut down his computer instantly.
Then, the two got into bed at the same time.
Darkness enveloped the room along with the restless pounding of her heart.
She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, sweating from nervousness.
Suddenly, a wave of warmth washed over her lower abdomen. Her body was pulled backward into a warm embrace.
She froze, and he also remained still.
“You…” Her voice was faint and tense.
Her hands clenched into fists instinctively, and her whole body trembled slightly.
He traced her arm, moving toward the clenched fist, tight with anxiety.
He gently soothed her.
“Don’t worry. I won’t touch you.” He murmured, dropping her guard.
“Don’t worry. I won’t touch you,” he murmured, easing the tight coil of fear inside her.
That night, she slept soundly.
The next morning.
Groggily, she found her hand resting on his chest, her face resting on his solid shoulder, and her leg was draped over his. She didn’t dare move because something hard pressed against her thigh.
“Awake?” Liam’s husky voice broke the silence.
“Mm.” She murmured, flustered.
After a long silence, he asked, “Want it?”
The arm she was resting on suddenly bent, his hand cupping her slender waist.
When he touched her waist, her entire body trembled.
“No… I don’t…” She resisted, stiff with tension.
“Then…” He swallowed hard.
“Can you move your leg?” he asked.
She immediately rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.
Liam sighed, pulled back the covers, and tucked them carefully around her.
Then sound of running water drifted out from the bathroom.
A low, stifled gasp echoed from inside…
–
He went downstairs first, and Emma followed a moment later.
When she reached the living room, she heard voices chatting.
Noticing Liam sitting on the sofa talking with Lillian, Emma’s eyes widened.
“Ms. Cox?” She stopped beside the sofa.
Liam’s gaze shifted from Lillian to her as the tight T-shirt perfectly outlined her curvaceous figure.
“Oh, Emma!” Lillian hurriedly stood up, walked toward her, and gave her a warm hug.
“What are you doing here?” Emma returned the embrace.