Chapter 0172
Chapter 0172
Alexander POV
Ella lay quiet and still beside me, her breathing steady but her body tense. Despite her insistence that this arrangement was fine, I knew she was uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame her–this situation was awkward, to say
the least.
As I lay there, the memory of that night crept into my mind unbidden and unwelcome. The night David had poisoned her. I clenched my jaw, pushing the thought away but it lingered, as it always did. That night had been a mistake. Not because of my being there for her, but the way I handled it after.
E
I should have known better than to let things escalate the way they had. Ella had insisted she wanted me to stay, and I’d been unable to resist. Something about her vulnerability, her raw honesty, had shattered my resolve. Walking away from her then had been impossible, and now regretted it–not because of the moment itself, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
I couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to be with her again. This time, without desperation, without the weight of danger hanging over us. My attraction to Ella wasn’t something I could ignore or push aside–it was persistent, undeniable, and, at times, maddening.
I lay still in the dark, watching her back as she lay on her side. Her breathing had softened, a sign that she might finally be asleep. I waited, unwilling to disturb her. This arrangement was never going to work for me, not because I didn’t trust myself, but because I couldn’t sleep beside anyone. Not anymore.
Not since…
I pushed that thought away too, focusing on the present. After several minutes, I whispered her name into the darkness.
“Ella.”
No response. She didn’t stir, didn’t make a sound.
Satisfied that she was asleep, I carefully slipped out from under the blankets, moving as quietly as I could. I crossed the room with measured steps, avoiding the furniture in the dim light. Reaching the recliner, I grabbed the quilt draped over the back and settled into the chair.
It wasn’t comfortable, but comfort wasn’t the point. I wasn’t expecting to sleep much tonight anyway. I pulled the quilt over me, closed my eyes, and tried to relax. Morning would come soon enough, and I needed to rest, even if only for a few hours.
Ella POV
Having Alexander beside me felt far more comfortable and peaceful than I had imagined. The steady warmth of him behind me was soothing, but it also left me hyper–aware of his presence. My heart seemed to beat louder in the quiet of the room, and no matter how I tried, sleep eluded me.
I closed my eyes and focused on steadying my breathing, hoping to lull myself into rest. Even if I didn’t fall asleep right away, at least calming my body might help me feel less restless. I was hovering on the edge of consciousness, my mind finally beginning to quiet, when Alexander softly said my name.
My heart jumped at the sound, and I immediately wondered what he could possibly want at this time of night. I hesitated, unsure if I should respond or pretend I hadn’t heard him. My indecision stretched too long, apparently, because Alexander shifted quietly, slipping out of the bed.
I listened, expecting to hear him head toward the bathroom, but instead, I heard the creak of the chair across the room as he sat down.
7/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0172
Confusion swirled through me, followed quickly by a pang of hurt I hadn’t expected. Why would he choose not to sleep beside me? It was silly to feel this way–I scolded myself silently for reading too much into his actions. There could be a dozen practical reasons for him moving to the chair.
But logic didn’t erase the sting.
I lay there, eyes open in the dark, my breathing steady but my thoughts anything but. I told myself it didn’t matter, that this arrangement was only temporary and it didn’t mean anything, but I couldn’t stop listening.
