Chapter 0238
Chapter 0238
Ella POV
“Wake up, lovebirds! It’s nearly noon!”
The sound of Christopher Slater’s voice shattered the comfortable silence. I jolted awake, but I didn’t get far- wrapped securely in a warm, firm embrace. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found Alexander’s face less than an inch from my own, his bright eyes already open and watching me.
He held me close, not even turning his head toward Slater, who had just barged into the room.
“Do you have no sense of propriety?” Alexander asked sharply, his voice low and tinged with irritation.
“I’m so sorry. Of course, I should have expected you to be indecent the morning after your wedding,” Slater replied, his tone dripping with amusement and not an ounce of remorse. “But your car is waiting. This isn’t actually a hotel, you know.”
“Obviously not,” Alexander shot back. “Hotel staff would knock.”
“I’m not accustomed to knocking on doors in my own home,” Slater quipped. “Now, do you need help packing?” “We’ll be down in five minutes,” Alexander replied curtly. Now, would you give my wife some privacy?”
Slater chuckled. “Yes, yes, of course. My apologies, Mrs. Black,” he said teasingly before finally turning and leaving the room.
Alexander didn’t relax until the door clicked shut. Then, with a sigh, he released me from his hold and sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice softening as he glanced at me.
“It’s fine,” I replied just as softly, though my cheeks were still burning from the intrusion.
“You handled that much better than I did,” he said with a chuckle.
“I was half–asleep,” I admitted. “It helps.”
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, before getting out of bed and offering me his hand.
“Come on, Mrs. Black,” he teased. “Let’s get out of here.”
I took his hand, but as Alexander pulled me from the bed, my face heated further. He was shirtless. I was certain he hadn’t been when we went to bed last night. Had he taken it off during the night?
The room was chilly, and I couldn’t imagine why he might have been too warm. My thoughts spiraled as I watched him cross to the dresser, his movements unhurried as he gathered his clothes from the floor to pack.
Had something more happened last night? A dull ache in my head hinted at a hangover, and some of my memories from the evening were hazy at best. Was it possible I had forgotten something important?
My gaze fell to my dress, crumpled in a heap on the floor, and a wave of nerves washed over me. Feeling too exposed in my pajamas, I hurried to my suitcase and fished but a sweater and jeans. Without looking back at Alexander, I slipped into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door behind me.
As I turned to the mirror, I gasped softly. My makeup was still on–intact but quite smudged. I grimaced at the thought of how bad it must be for my skin to have slept in it
I leaned over the sink, splashing cool water onto my face and carefully scrubbing away the remnants of eyeliner and mascara. Yet, even as I tried to focus on cleansing, my mind kept wandering.
1/2
Chapter 0236
+25 BONUS
The image of Alexander’s bare, broad shoulders and define torso lingered. We’d started the night on opposite sides of the bed–so how had we ended up tangled together Had I unconsciously sought out his warmth? Or… had something more happened?
Chapter 0238
Chapter 0238
Ella POV
“Wake up, lovebirds! It’s nearly noon!”
The sound of Christopher Slater’s voice shattered the comfortable silence. I jolted awake, but I didn’t get far- wrapped securely in a warm, firm embrace. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found Alexander’s face less than an inch from my own, his bright eyes already open and watching me.
He held me close, not even turning his head toward Slater, who had just barged into the room.
“Do you have no sense of propriety?” Alexander asked sharply, his voice low and tinged with irritation.
“I’m so sorry. Of course, I should have expected you to be indecent the morning after your wedding,” Slater replied, his tone dripping with amusement and not an ounce of remorse. “But your car is waiting. This isn’t actually a hotel, you know.”
“Obviously not,” Alexander shot back. “Hotel staff would knock.”
“I’m not accustomed to knocking on doors in my own home,” Slater quipped. “Now, do you need help packing?” “We’ll be down in five minutes,” Alexander replied curtly. Now, would you give my wife some privacy?”
Slater chuckled. “Yes, yes, of course. My apologies, Mrs. Black,” he said teasingly before finally turning and leaving the room.
Alexander didn’t relax until the door clicked shut. Then, with a sigh, he released me from his hold and sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice softening as he glanced at me.
“It’s fine,” I replied just as softly, though my cheeks were still burning from the intrusion.
“You handled that much better than I did,” he said with a chuckle.
“I was half–asleep,” I admitted. “It helps.”
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, before getting out of bed and offering me his hand.
“Come on, Mrs. Black,” he teased. “Let’s get out of here.”
I took his hand, but as Alexander pulled me from the bed, my face heated further. He was shirtless. I was certain he hadn’t been when we went to bed last night. Had he taken it off during the night?
The room was chilly, and I couldn’t imagine why he might have been too warm. My thoughts spiraled as I watched him cross to the dresser, his movements unhurried as he gathered his clothes from the floor to pack.
Had something more happened last night? A dull ache in my head hinted at a hangover, and some of my memories from the evening were hazy at best. Was it possible I had forgotten something important?
My gaze fell to my dress, crumpled in a heap on the floor, and a wave of nerves washed over me. Feeling too exposed in my pajamas, I hurried to my suitcase and fished but a sweater and jeans. Without looking back at Alexander, I slipped into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door behind me.
As I turned to the mirror, I gasped softly. My makeup was still on–intact but quite smudged. I grimaced at the thought of how bad it must be for my skin to have slept in it
I leaned over the sink, splashing cool water onto my face and carefully scrubbing away the remnants of eyeliner and mascara. Yet, even as I tried to focus on cleansing, my mind kept wandering.
1/2
Chapter 0236
+25 BONUS
The image of Alexander’s bare, broad shoulders and define torso lingered. We’d started the night on opposite sides of the bed–so how had we ended up tangled together Had I unconsciously so
Chapter 0238
Chapter 0238
Ella POV
“Wake up, lovebirds! It’s nearly noon!”
The sound of Christopher Slater’s voice shattered the comfortable silence. I jolted awake, but I didn’t get far- wrapped securely in a warm, firm embrace. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found Alexander’s face less than an inch from my own, his bright eyes already open and watching me.
He held me close, not even turning his head toward Slater, who had just barged into the room.
“Do you have no sense of propriety?” Alexander asked sharply, his voice low and tinged with irritation.
“I’m so sorry. Of course, I should have expected you to be indecent the morning after your wedding,” Slater replied, his tone dripping with amusement and not an ounce of remorse. “But your car is waiting. This isn’t actually a hotel, you know.”
“Obviously not,” Alexander shot back. “Hotel staff would knock.”
“I’m not accustomed to knocking on doors in my own home,” Slater quipped. “Now, do you need help packing?” “We’ll be down in five minutes,” Alexander replied curtly. Now, would you give my wife some privacy?”
Slater chuckled. “Yes, yes, of course. My apologies, Mrs. Black,” he said teasingly before finally turning and leaving the room.
Alexander didn’t relax until the door clicked shut. Then, with a sigh, he released me from his hold and sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice softening as he glanced at me.
“It’s fine,” I replied just as softly, though my cheeks were still burning from the intrusion.
“You handled that much better than I did,” he said with a chuckle.
“I was half–asleep,” I admitted. “It helps.”
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, before getting out of bed and offering me his hand.
“Come on, Mrs. Black,” he teased. “Let’s get out of here.”
I took his hand, but as Alexander pulled me from the bed, my face heated further. He was shirtless. I was certain he hadn’t been when we went to bed last night. Had he taken it off during the night?
The room was chilly, and I couldn’t imagine why he might have been too warm. My thoughts spiraled as I watched him cross to the dresser, his movements unhurried as he gathered his clothes from the floor to pack.
Had something more happened last night? A dull ache in my head hinted at a hangover, and some of my memories from the evening were hazy at best. Was it possible I had forgotten something important?
My gaze fell to my dress, crumpled in a heap on the floor, and a wave of nerves washed over me. Feeling too exposed in my pajamas, I hurried to my suitcase and fished but a sweater and jeans. Without looking back at Alexander, I slipped into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door behind me.
As I turned to the mirror, I gasped softly. My makeup was still on–intact but quite smudged. I grimaced at the thought of how bad it must be for my skin to have slept in it
I leaned over the sink, splashing cool water onto my face and carefully scrubbing away the remnants of eyeliner and mascara. Yet, even as I tried to focus on cleansing, my mind kept wandering.
1/2
Chapter 0236
+25 BONUS
The image of Alexander’s bare, broad shoulders and define torso lingered. We’d started the night on opposite sides of the bed–so how had we ended up tangled together Had I unconsciously sought out his warmth? Or… had something more happened?
This is ridiculous, I told myself firmly. I should just ask hi
I ran my fingers through my hair, coaxing it into something passable, then quickly changed into the sweater and jeans. Dressed and feeling a bit more grounded, I gave my reflection one last glance.
I opened the door to find Alexander waiting. I avoided his gaze and stepped into the room, hurrying over to my suitcase to pack while Alexander disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up and change.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0230
Chapter 0238
Chapter 0238
Ella POV
“Wake up, lovebirds! It’s nearly noon!”
The sound of Christopher Slater’s voice shattered the comfortable silence. I jolted awake, but I didn’t get far- wrapped securely in a warm, firm embrace. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found Alexander’s face less than an inch from my own, his bright eyes already open and watching me.
He held me close, not even turning his head toward Slater, who had just barged into the room.
“Do you have no sense of propriety?” Alexander asked sharply, his voice low and tinged with irritation.
“I’m so sorry. Of course, I should have expected you to be indecent the morning after your wedding,” Slater replied, his tone dripping with amusement and not an ounce of remorse. “But your car is waiting. This isn’t actually a hotel, you know.”
“Obviously not,” Alexander shot back. “Hotel staff would knock.”
“I’m not accustomed to knocking on doors in my own home,” Slater quipped. “Now, do you need help packing?” “We’ll be down in five minutes,” Alexander replied curtly. Now, would you give my wife some privacy?”
Slater chuckled. “Yes, yes, of course. My apologies, Mrs. Black,” he said teasingly before finally turning and leaving the room.
Alexander didn’t relax until the door clicked shut. Then, with a sigh, he released me from his hold and sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice softening as he glanced at me.
“It’s fine,” I replied just as softly, though my cheeks were still burning from the intrusion.
“You handled that much better than I did,” he said with a chuckle.
“I was half–asleep,” I admitted. “It helps.”
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine, before getting out of bed and offering me his hand.
“Come on, Mrs. Black,” he teased. “Let’s get out of here.”
I took his hand, but as Alexander pulled me from the bed, my face heated further. He was shirtless. I was certain he hadn’t been when we went to bed last night. Had he taken it off during the night?
The room was chilly, and I couldn’t imagine why he might have been too warm. My thoughts spiraled as I watched him cross to the dresser, his movements unhurried as he gathered his clothes from the floor to pack.
Had something more happened last night? A dull ache in my head hinted at a hangover, and some of my memories from the evening were hazy at best. Was it possible I had forgotten something important?
My gaze fell to my dress, crumpled in a heap on the floor, and a wave of nerves washed over me. Feeling too exposed in my pajamas, I hurried to my suitcase and fished but a sweater and jeans. Without looking back at Alexander, I slipped into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door behind me.
As I turned to the mirror, I gasped softly. My makeup was still on–intact but quite smudged. I grimaced at the thought of how bad it must be for my skin to have slept in it
I leaned over the sink, splashing cool water onto my face and carefully scrubbing away the remnants of eyeliner and mascara. Yet, even as I tried to focus on cleansing, my mind kept wandering.
1/2
Chapter 0236
+25 BONUS
The image of Alexander’s bare, broad shoulders and define torso lingered. We’d started the night on opposite sides of the bed–so how had we ended up tangled together Had I unconsciously sought out his warmth? Or… had something more happened?
This is ridiculous, I told myself firmly. I should just ask hi
I ran my fingers through my hair, coaxing it into something passable, then quickly changed into the sweater and jeans. Dressed and feeling a bit more grounded, I gave my reflection one last glance.
I opened the door to find Alexander waiting. I avoided his gaze and stepped into the room, hurrying over to my suitcase to pack while Alexander disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up and change.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0230
ught out his warmth? Or… had something more happened?
This is ridiculous, I told myself firmly. I should just ask hi
I ran my fingers through my hair, coaxing it into something passable, then quickly changed into the sweater and jeans. Dressed and feeling a bit more grounded, I gave my reflection one last glance.
I opened the door to find Alexander waiting. I avoided his gaze and stepped into the room, hurrying over to my suitcase to pack while Alexander disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up and change.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0230
This is ridiculous, I told myself firmly. I should just ask hi
I ran my fingers through my hair, coaxing it into something passable, then quickly changed into the sweater and jeans. Dressed and feeling a bit more grounded, I gave my reflection one last glance.
I opened the door to find Alexander waiting. I avoided his gaze and stepped into the room, hurrying over to my suitcase to pack while Alexander disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up and change.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0230
