Chapter 17
her mand
ung on the bed biskupogadh ?
Her heart pounded like a jackhammer, and themed desperately to keep her composure. After all, men had their needs. It went like it was ille
thung: Totally memnul, nchit
omments, ibid 1 have to barge in THỮN
thought, mvembed.
T—Im sorry,” she stammered her words tumbling out in a rush. This ked but you dada awer Libought–well ihsought wamething happened so L
tively spun un her
her heel, read to thee the write and forget is
Her voice altered, the weight of the situation pressing down on her she stove mötent ever happosed
But his low
That low
[web
kelly voice stepped her cold. “I don’t feel well
nelly tone wasnt just pained—it was thick with something she couldn’t quite put her finger an. Ji niggeil at her, making it impossible ta
Drawing a shaky breath. Moira namned back, her gaze glued to the floor as she walked over. Sening the glass of water and fever medumise on the nightstand, she muttered. “Take this”
Then, without giving him–ot herself—a chance to process the awkwardness any further, she spun around and bolted for the door like her life.. depended on it.
Just as Moura’s fingers brushed the doorknob, a strong, warm hand closed around her wrist and pulled her back. Before she could react, she foupsl. Sherself pressed against the door, her escape cut off as it clicked shut with a soft, hoal thal
Her heart jumped into her throat as Virgià arms wrapped around ber, holding her close. She looked up, her wide eves inecting his His gaze was like fire–intense, smoldering and utterly unreadable
It was the kind of look that sent shivers down her spine, a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface. Virgil what stammer, her voice trembling
But her words were lost as he leaned in. His lips claimed hers in a kis so hence i all she could feel was the searing heat of his touch.
maged to
sked the breath out of her. The world around her disappeared
Her mind raced, caught between shock and something she couldn’t quite natis. Iisstinctively, she tried to push him away, her hands pressing against his chest, but he didn’t budge. His strength dwarted hers, leaving her powerless in his grasp.
When he finally pulled back, Moira was breathless, her cheeks flashed a deep crimsen. A cocktail of emotions swirled within her–embarravanent. confusion, and anger bubbling to the surface
She clenched her fists, ready to let him have it. Whether it was a sharp slap or a string of furious words, she hadn’t decided.
a beat. “Help
But before she could act, he caught her hand and held it firmly. His voice came low and desperate, the kind that made her heart skip a me.” he rasped, the vulnerability in his tone catching her off guard
After finishing, Moira stood in the bathroom, scrubbing her hands under the icy stream of water, but it did little to cool the fire in her cheeks. Her heart was still hammering like a drum, and no amount of time or cold water seemed to steady her nerves.
The minutes seemed to stretch on forever, the ticking of the clock loud in the silence. She knew she couldn’t stay hidden forever. She had onboarding the next morning, and sooner or later, she’d have to face him
Taking a deep breath, Moira finally stepped out of the bathroom.
Virgil was by the floor–to–ceiling window, leaning against the frame with a cigarette between his fingers. The soft glow of the city lights ilbaminated his silhouette, making the sharp angles of his jawline and shoulders even more striking
The moment the door creaked open, he turned his brown eyes meeting hers
Moira’s breath hitched, and she quickly dropped her gaze, feeling the heat rush back to her face. “You should rest, she mambled, her voice barely above a whisper. 1. 111 just—”
“I’m sorry.” Virgil cut in, his voice low but filled with sincerity.
Chapter 17
The apology threw her off guard. All her pent–up frustration, the anger she’d been clinging to, suddenly felt misplaced. He was apologizing For what exactly, she wasn’t sure–but it was enough to make her feel like she might’ve overreacted
They were married, after all. Sure, they hadn’t spent much time together, and barely knew each other, but that piece a wasn’t fake. He had his needs, and as his wife, wasn’t it her role to understand
of paper tying them together
Besides, he hadn’t actually crossed any lines.
Shaking off the last traces of her frustration, Moira decided it wasn’t worth holding a grudge. Before heading to bed, she made her way to the kitchen, warmed up a glass of milk, and quietly brought it to his room.
The next morning, after washing up, Maira lingered in her room, pacing as she debated whether to step out or wait until she was absolutely site Virgil was gone. Her chest felt tight at the thought of another awkward encounter, especially after last night
As the clock edged closer to her start time, she took a deep breath and cracked the door open. Peeking out, she let out a small sigh of reliet–the living room was empty.
Grabbing her bag, she decided to skip breakfast and make a run for it. No reason to drag out the awkwardness. As she slipped on her shoes at the entryway, something caught her eye–Virgil’s shoes weren’t there
“Did he already leave! she wondered. Her thoughts raced as she retraced her steps to the master bedroom. Knocking twice, she waited a beat. No response. She pushed the door open, and sure enough, the bed was empty, and there was no sign of Virgil anywhere
‘Guess he must’ve left early for work, she thought with a small shrug, her nerves easing a bit.
Moira set her bag down and made her way to the kitchen. Since he wasn’t around, she figured she might as well sit down and enjoy a proper breakfast at home.
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