Chapter 139 Morning Men Are the Least Able to Withstand Teasing

Chapter 139 Morning Men Are the Least Able to Withstand Teasing

Raymond had already shrugged off his jacket, tossing it casually onto the sofa before rolling up his shirtsleeves and heading toward the kitchen.

"Today, I'm going to show you what I can do."

Eleanor froze for a moment.

Raymond had already tied on an apron and was standing in the open kitchen, pulling ingredients from the fridge. His movements were practiced and confident as he washed and prepped everything.

Eleanor leaned against the counter, watching his busy figure. The corners of her mouth curved upward without her even realizing it.

Soon, the oil in the pan began to sizzle.

Raymond placed the marinated steak into the skillet. The sound filled the air along with a mouthwatering aroma, and the whole apartment felt warmer somehow.

For some reason, Eleanor's mood lifted considerably.

Maybe it was that busy figure in the kitchen that made her suddenly feel like she wasn't struggling through everything alone.

Before long, a perfectly seared steak, a bowl of rich soup, and a small plate of pasta appeared in front of Eleanor.

Raymond handed her the utensils, his eyes carrying a hint of anticipation. "Give it a try."

As he spoke, he grabbed a crumpled piece of paper from nearby and, under the table, quietly crushed it into a ball and tossed it into the trash.

Eleanor caught the movement out of the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Raymond's expression didn't change, though his ears turned slightly pink. "Just... a recipe I wrote when I was practicing before."

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh.

She picked up her knife and fork, cutting a small piece of steak and bringing it to her mouth.

She chewed a few times, her eyes brightening slightly.

"How is it?" Raymond watched her, asking nervously.

Eleanor's eyes crinkled with a smile. "It's good."

"Really?"

"Of course it's real." Eleanor's tone was certain.

Raymond let out a breath of relief, a smile spreading across his face. "As long as you like it."

After dinner, Eleanor felt drowsy.

After being on the go for a full day and night, her body had reached its limit. Now that she'd eaten her fill, exhaustion washed over her in waves.

Raymond finished washing the dishes and came out to find her nearly asleep on the sofa. Moving quietly, he scooped her up into his arms.

Eleanor's eyes fluttered open groggily. "What're you doing?"

"Taking you to bed." Raymond's voice was low. "The sofa's not comfortable."

He placed Eleanor on the bedroom bed, tucked the covers around her, and dimmed the bedside lamp.

After finishing all this, he was about to turn and head to the living room sofa when someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Raymond turned back around.

Eleanor was lying on her side, half her face buried in the pillow, looking at him through hazy eyes.

"Where are you going?" Her voice was drowsy and soft.

Raymond's heart melted.

"I'm going to sleep in the living room. You're not used to sleeping with other people, remember?"

Eleanor didn't say anything, just kept holding his hand without letting go.

Seeing her like this—so drowsy she could barely keep her eyes open, yet still refusing to let him leave—Raymond couldn't help but smile.

He bent down, leaning close to her ear, and whispered, "Eleanor, do you want me to stay?"

A faint blush colored Eleanor's cheeks.

She buried her face deeper into the pillow and mumbled, "You can stay."

Raymond's Adam's apple bobbed.

"But don't try anything else!" Eleanor added.

"Okay." Raymond nodded solemnly. "I promise."

Soon, the lights went out.

The moment Raymond lay down, Eleanor's body went rigid.

She could clearly feel his body heat, his breathing, and that faint scent of cool pine on him...

Just as she was hesitating about whether to scoot away, a firm arm reached over and pulled her into his embrace.

Eleanor's body tensed instantly.

"Raymond!" she warned in a low voice. "What did you just promise me!"

"I remember." Raymond's low laugh rumbled through his chest. "Relax, I just want to hold you."

His chin rested on top of her head, his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her protectively against him.

"Eleanor, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll be right here with you."

Eleanor froze slightly, her eyes suddenly stinging.

After a long moment, she spoke softly.

"Raymond."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Raymond didn't answer, only pulled her closer.

That night, he kept his word.

Even though Raymond could clearly feel the soft body pressed against him, he didn't cross the line.

He simply held her quietly until Eleanor fell completely asleep.

As for him, he barely slept at all.

The next morning.

When Eleanor woke up, daylight had already broken.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire bedroom in a soft golden glow.

She opened her eyes groggily, and the first thing she saw was a broad expanse of chest.

Raymond was lying on his side next to her. His robe had loosened during the night's sleep, revealing his sculpted chest and defined abs. His V-line traced down along his lower abdomen, disappearing beneath the robe...

Eleanor blinked, suddenly wide awake.

As if possessed, she reached out her hand...

Her fingertip landed lightly on Raymond's chest. The touch was warm and firm, the muscle definition clear.

Her fingers slowly slid down from his pecs, gliding over his abs, tracing his V-line, feeling the texture of muscle beneath her fingertips.

The feel was amazing—even better than she'd imagined!

She couldn't resist touching a few more times. Just as she was about to explore further, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Eleanor jumped, her head snapping up.

She found herself looking directly into Raymond's unfathomably deep eyes.

He'd woken up at some point and was now watching her with an intense gaze, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Eleanor." His voice was husky, lazy and seductive. "Why are you sneaking around?"

Eleanor's cheeks flushed crimson.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Raymond only gripped it tighter.

"If you want to touch, touch me properly. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

As he spoke, he pressed her hand back against his chest, even taking the initiative to guide her hand in a slow circle over his abs.

Eleanor's ears were practically on fire.

But she'd never been one to back down easily!

So she took a deep breath and, instead of struggling, boldly pressed her palm flat against his chest. Her fingertips even traced a small circle on his firm abs.

"Fine then, I'll touch you properly."

Her chin lifted slightly, her amber eyes glinting with mischief.

Raymond's gaze darkened instantly.

The next second, he rolled over, bracing his hands on either side of Eleanor and caging her beneath him in his shadow.

"Eleanor..."

His voice was terribly husky, desire churning in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how little it takes to set a man off in the morning?"