Chapter 106: A Jealous Dream

Chapter 106: A Jealous Dream

Iris clumsily grabbed James's hair with one hand and his collar with the other, pulling him toward her as if afraid he might run away.

James didn't run.

James wasn't a missionary who would be easily startled.

He pulled Iris into his arms,

reaching his hand through her hair, drawing her deeper into the shadow cast by his bowed head,

Iris's hair was thick and soft, like crumpled silk.

James's fingers slid in from her hairline, his fingertips gently pressing against her scalp, slowly rubbing in circles, as if soothing a startled cat.

Iris felt her scalp tingling, that sensation spreading from the crown of her head to the back of her skull, from there down her spine,

her entire backbone felt like someone had gently plucked it, producing a silent tremor.

Her legs began to weaken.

James's hand promptly caught her waist, his other hand reaching around her back, embracing her slender curved waist, then returning her kiss.

His lips moved from her lips to her brow, from her brow to the tip of her nose, from her nose to the corner of her eye.

The skin at the corner of her eye was so thin he could feel the warmth of her tears...

Hot, salty, tasting like seawater.

The hallway was very quiet, only the sound of two people breathing and their heartbeats.

Iris didn't know when she had started crying.

She only knew her face was covered in moisture, unable to tell if it was tears or something else.

Her legs were weak, unable to stand, her whole body leaning against James like a tree bent by the wind, needing another tree to keep from falling.

"James..."

Her voice was muffled, coming from his chest,

"Are you telling the truth? You don't dislike me?"

"No."

"You won't find me annoying because I said these things and transfer me away?"

"No."

"Then can I stay by your side? Not as your subordinate, but by your side... your personal side."

James was silent for a second, then answered seriously,

"Yes."

Iris buried her face deeper, curling up in his arms like a cat that had finally found its home.

At the end of the hallway, Daniel poked his head out for a look, then pulled back.

He turned around and gave Matthew a thumbs up.

"It worked."

Matthew took off his glasses to wipe them, letting out a breath.

"I almost rushed in to kiss for them."

"You try rushing in, the boss will throw you out the window."

The two bickered quietly, tiptoeing away.

Their leather shoes on the floor made very soft sounds, like mice stealing food.

Hearing them leave, James scooped up Iris and carried her straight back to his office.

He kicked the door shut behind them.

Their passionate kisses moved from shirt collars to her fitted suit skirt.

Iris's face flushed red, not refusing as James's fingers explored toward her secret garden...

Later, Iris only remembered a few things.

The desk lamp in the office was left on, its warm yellow light continuously glowing, casting their shadows on the wall, overlapping together like paper cutouts that could never be separated.

On the floor, her suit skirt and James's jacket lay together, impossible to tell whose was whose.

Her black stockings were bunched up in a ball, tossed on the armrest of the sofa.

When James laid her on the sofa, his movements were gentle, as if placing something fragile.

She closed her eyes, her hands gripping his arms the whole time, her nails digging into his skin, leaving several curved crescent marks.

"Does it hurt?"

He asked.

She shook her head.

"Even if it hurts, I won't let go."

She said.

That night, James didn't go home.

And Iris didn't leave the office either...

After their passion,

James and Iris sat on the windowsill at the end of the hallway, shoulder to shoulder, looking at the city outside.

The window was cracked open, cold air pouring in from outside, blowing Iris's hair up, brushing against James's arm, tickling.

"James."

"What is it."

"This time, how long will you be in Emberlyn?"

"I don't know. If it's quick, a month. If it's slow... hard to say."

Iris's finger traced circles on the windowsill, round and round.

"When you come back, will you still recognize me?"

James turned to look at her.

"Did you plan this with Cleo? Asking the same question."

Iris paused, then smiled.

The smile wasn't big, but it was genuine, her eyes curved like two crescents.

"Cleo asked too?"

"Yes. Asked yesterday."

"So what did you answer?"

James looked out the window, the city lights twinkling in the darkness like an upside-down starry sky.

"I said no. I won't fail to recognize her. Or fail to recognize you. I won't fail to recognize any of you."

Iris lowered her head, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth. She rested her head on James's shoulder, closing her eyes.

His shoulder was broad and firm, not particularly comfortable to rest on, but she didn't want to change positions.

"James."

"Mm."

"Do you know how long I've waited for this day?"

"Six years?"

James said uncertainly.

Then he tapped Iris's nose,

"Don't tell me that back then you were still a minor. If you were thinking about men's bodies at fifteen, I'd think you weren't a proper girl."

"So do you want me to be proper, or not?"

Iris tilted her head, asking back with rare playfulness.

James affectionately pinched Iris's nose.

"You've learned bad habits."

Iris widened her eyes.

"How did you know I just learned them?"

James froze.

Iris covered her face.

Laughing so hard her whole body shook.

James couldn't help but laugh along.

The laughter wasn't loud, but in this quiet night, at the end of the hallway with just the two of them, it sounded especially pleasant, like a bell that hadn't been rung in a long time.

Iris peeked at him through her fingers.

She rarely saw James laugh. Most of the time he was expressionless, not even frowning when angry.

But now he was laughing, the curve of his mouth not large, but there was light in his eyes—not the city lights from outside the window, but a warmer, softer light, like flames in a winter fireplace.

It was the expression she had always longed to see.

She hoped James could always smile like this.

Instead of showing that eerie satisfied smile after killing someone.

Iris reached out her arm, wrapping it around James's shoulders, leaning in to kiss the corner of his mouth.

"James, I ran out of energy earlier, that time doesn't count. Let's... do it again..."

After tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time, Iris ran out of energy again and passed out.

After cleaning her up, James held her in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.

He never expected that after six years of celibacy, less than two months after breaking his fast, he suddenly had three girlfriends...

Could this be Satan's way of compensating him?

In James's dreams, besides Iris's sweet smile, there was also an angry Cleo hugging her arms, saying he must love her more...