novelxo Chapter 62
Alistair's muscles tensed up all over his body, his voice hoarse. "Okay."
Audrey readily wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a koala. Completely oblivious to any embarrassment or shyness, she didn't have the mind to dwell on how intimate and ambiguous their position was. Alistair remained steady while carrying her up several flights of stairs.
"Are you... tired?" Hearing his slightly heavy breathing, Audrey, who had just regained her composure, gently asked.
"Not at all. You're very light," Alistair rumbled in response.
Audrey blushed slightly and gently pressed her face against his chest. She actually wanted Alistair to put her down. But fearing another encounter with rats, she could only muster the courage to say, "Thank you." Listening to the soft, cooing voice of Audrey in his arms, Alistair felt his bitterness and resentment instantly vanish.
'Why be jealous? No matter what the guy's intentions toward Audrey were, Audrey's rejection was already quite clear. And the person who can make her let go of her stubbornness and rely on is only me at present. That's enough,' he murmured inwardly. Until she stepped into the house, Audrey's legs were still weak. If it weren't for Alistair still holding her waist, she probably would have slumped down right there.
Alistair helped her sit on a small stool at the entrance. He took out slippers and then squatted down in front of her, reaching out to hold her slender ankle.
'Is he changing shoes for me?' Audrey wondered, her heart thumping.
The man with an air of pride knelt on one knee in front of her, his long fingers gripping the edge of her high heels and pulling them off. The scene was like a slow-motion scene from a movie.
A surge of warmth flowed through Audrey's heart, and she instinctively tried to pull her foot back.
But before she could move, Alistair firmly grasped her ankle, his deep, magnetic voice rich and alluring. "Don't move!"
'No one in the world could resist Alistair's gentleness.' Audrey's breath caught, and by the time she reacted, Alistair had already put soft rabbit slippers on her. And that pair of Christian Louboutin high heels was simply tossed into the trash can. He stayed in a half-squatting position, looking at her and speaking softly. "Okay, you don't have to be afraid now."
Audrey made no response. Her racing heartbeat seemed capable of deafening her eardrums. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed his wrist. Lifting her head slightly, she was met with his chiseled face.
Alistair lowered his gaze slightly, looking down at her with a touch of calculated confusion in his eyes.
Audrey took the initiative to confess, "The guy who just brought me back is Eric Apple. A senior I knew in high school, who once pursued me."
As soon as she finished, she noticed Alistair's jaw suddenly tighten and quickly added, "But I don't have romantic feelings for him."
A flash of surprise crossed Alistair's cold eyes.
With just a few words, she filled his heart with subtle sweetness.
"So eager to explain, are you afraid I'll misunderstand?" he asked.
Audrey sat up straight, nodding obediently. "Yep, I don't want you to misunderstand. Although you might not care, we are already husband and wife. No matter the reason for the marriage, honesty is a must between a couple."
These sincere words seemed to ignite a series of sparks, setting ablaze the suppressed emotions in Alistair's heart. "I care," he replied.
The moment his voice fell, Audrey felt a shadow fall over her vision. 'Did he just kiss me?' she murmured inwardly. Her breath caught as she felt Alistair prying open her lips gently and patiently.
Their breaths mingled. After the initial shock of being ambushed wore off, Audrey stopped avoiding him and even slightly reciprocated the kiss.
Alistair's breathing suddenly grew heavier, and he scooped her up by her hips.
In her fluster, Audrey instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his lean waist. Meanwhile, Alistair dipped down to kiss her again, not giving her a moment to catch her breath, all the while carrying her toward the bedroom. With a thud, she was flung into the soft bed. Almost simultaneously, Alistair's scorching kisses rained down again, forceful and unyielding, trailing from her chin down the collarbone and lower...
"Audrey... Audrey..." he called her name repeatedly, his voice magnetic, stirring inner turmoil inside Audrey.
Audrey's delicate toes curled. She felt a scorching heat throughout her body as if she were on fire. Suddenly, Alistair paused on purpose, his forehead touching hers, and softly asked, "Audrey, can I?"