Chapter 29
At 11:00 pm, Jessica finally finished sorting through her rough sketches.
She glanced at Zachary, thinking that she had better go to sleep quickly. It wouldn’t be great if they ended up going to sleep together. So, she said, “I’m going to bed first.”
To her surprise, Zachary shut off his computer. “I’m done, too.”
She’d never seen him rest so early before.
As Jessica went into the bathroom, her mind spun in circles. Was tonight the night it would start? But she wasn’t ready yet.
As she had expected, the two of them lay in bed together. Then, the lights went out with a click.
Darkness enveloped them, and fear enveloped Jessica.
She lay right on the edge of the bed, while Zachary was naturally sleeping in the middle. She couldn’t get herself to fall asleep as she broke out in nervous sweat. She wanted to kick off the blanket, but she didn’t dare to move.
And then, suddenly, she felt a warmth around her belly. She was instantly pulled back into a warm embrace.
She didn’t dare move, afraid that he would do something. But she didn’t dare speak either. At this distance, they were so close that something was bound to happen.
However, he didn’t make a move. He was worried that he would lose control, yet he couldn’t resist pulling her closer.
“You…” Jessica’s voice was soft and tense.
Just that one word revealed all her fear and helplessness.
Zachary traced his finger along her arm until he found her fist that was clenched tightly and stiffly. He rubbed it gently, easing it open. “Don’t worry. I won’t touch you.”
His tone was incredibly gentlemanly. But then again, he had always been so polite.
Soon, Jessica lowered her guard.
After all, they had only known each other for a short month.
They would occasionally discuss a few things and share brief moments of contact, but they had mostly kept the distance of strangers. Sometimes, they would even pass each other without exchanging a single word.
That night’s sleep was unusually restful. Without the alarm, Jessica didn’t wake until after 10: 00 am. She opened her eyes, half-asleep, only to find herself hugging a human furnace.
Normally, when she slept alone, she would hold a pillow or a plush toy. But this time, the one she held was Zachary.
Her hand rested on his chest, rising and falling with the sound of his breathing, and her face was nestled against his arm.
Jessica was stunned by her current predicament. Her eyes snapped open, but she didn’t realize that her lashes lightly brushed against the sensitive skin of Zachary’s arm.
Her slightly quickened breath fanned warmly across his chest.
“Are you awake?” Zachary’s low, husky voice shattered the awkwardness.
Jessica was taken aback, wondering if he had been awake all along.
“Yes.” A wave of panic swept through her.
After a long silence, Zachary finally said something, and what he said was something she never could have expected.
“Do you want to?”
Zachary’s arm, which was beneath her head, suddenly bent, his hand wrapping around her and resting firmly on her waist.
She was wearing the silk loungewear Zachary had gotten for her. It was so smooth that it felt almost bare to the touch.
When his palm pressed against her waist, she inwardly jolted. It felt as if a current had coursed through her, utterly undoing her composure.
Want to? What did he mean by that?
“No, I don’t…” Jessica muttered. It was early in the morning, and his sudden words had set her whole body ablaze.
Jessica tensed up completely, and she debated whether to scramble off him right then and there.
“Then…” Zachary swallowed audibly. It was so loud that Jessica could hear it faintly herself.
“Shouldn’t you move your leg away?” he asked.
Jessica’s eyes widened, and she instantly rolled over, burying her face deep under the covers.
