Chapter 25
Austin sat on the couch, one long leg crossed over the other, his posture exuding effortless nobility. He idly toyed with a hairpin that belonged to Suzanne, rolling it between his fingers.
The moment the bathroom door creaked open, his gaze shifted toward her.
Suzanne stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a towel.
The fabric barely covered her—it was too short at both the top and bottom, leaving her fair, slender legs completely exposed.
Austin’s gaze darkened.
Suzanne froze.
When did he get back?
A cool breeze swept past, and a chill ran down her spine. She suddenly felt as if she were standing in front of him with nothing on at all.
Heat rushed to her cheeks in an instant.
Quickly crossing her arms over her chest, she stammered, “W–Why didn’t you say anything when you came back?”
Her eyes flickered toward the bed, where her pajamas lay. To reach them, she’d have to walk right past Austin.
Frustration bubbled inside her. If she had known, she would have brought the pajamas into the bathroom!
Austin remained silent, his deep-set eyes holding an unreadable expression.
A scorching heat filled his gaze.
Suzanne’s face burned even hotter.
Flustered, she turned her head away, her voice barely above a whisper. “Y–You… Don’t look!”
Their interactions had always been distant. Even after marriage, they lived separately. This was the first time they had ever been in such an intimate situation.
She couldn’t handle it.
Determined to end this embarrassment, she bolted toward the bed to grab her pajamas.
But in her panic, she misjudged her step—her foot caught against the leg of a nearby cabinet.
Before she could react, she stumbled forward.
Her breath hitched. If she fell like this, her face would slam straight into the floor!
However—
A strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against something firm and solid.
The expected pain never came.
Instead, Suzanne found herself pressed up against Austin’s chest.
She barely had time to breathe out in relief when she realized something even worse—
The towel.
It had come undone.
Blood rushed to her head.
Her brain went blank.
She clenched her eyes shut, biting her lip so hard it nearly hurt.
Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse—
Austin moved.
Her body was still pressed against his, her bare skin against his warmth.
Panicking, she clung to him even tighter and blurted, “Don’t move!”
Austin stilled.
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. His voice was husky when he asked, “Are you sure?”
Suzanne’s eyes snapped open.
What did he mean by that?
He wouldn’t—
Her heart pounded wildly.
Without thinking, she reached up and covered his eyes with her hands. “I don’t care! Close your eyes first! You can’t look!”
Her voice was firm, but to Austin, it sounded incredibly soft.
His lips curled slightly.
Her delicate hands trembled slightly against his skin, and the faint scent of her lingered in the air.
His throat went dry.
Even with his eyes closed, her image became even clearer in his mind.
Swallowing hard, he finally said in a hoarse voice, “Alright.”
Suzanne carefully checked that he had indeed closed his eyes.
Only then did she let out a relieved sigh and slowly lower her hand.
The moment she was free, she bolted.
Grabbing her pajamas from the bed, she clutched them to her chest and darted back into the bathroom.
She moved as quickly as a startled rabbit.
