Page 45 of Heart of The Night

9 | eat your eggs

CARA

The faint sound of familiar footsteps roused me from sleep the next morning. As I opened my eyes, still ensconced in the remnants of a dream, it took me a moment to remember I wasn’t in my own room, but William’s. His distinctive scent was everywhere, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket that filled me with delight.

He moved around the room, the subtle rustling of fabric barely audible, and gently eased himself onto the bed beside me, his warm touch on my cheek stirring me further awake.

‘Sweetheart,’ he whispered, ‘it’s time to wake.’

I furrowed my brows, flipping on the wall-mounted night lamp beside the bed. The damn thing was blinding, but I managed to keep my tired eyes open. Squinting at William, I discovered him gleaming with sweat, his workout gear clinging to his muscular form.

Puzzled, I mustered a groggy, ‘What happened?’ The soft tendrils of sleep still clouded my thoughts.

‘Went to the gym,’ he said, wiping his damp forehead with his arm.

‘Oh, right.’ It clicked. ‘With Jason?’

‘Yeah.’

Memories of their preferred gym surfaced in my mind, a place of luxury. I had accompanied Jason there a few times as his guest, and each visit left me feeling out of place amidst the grandeur. It was a gym designed for the affluent, catering to the rich and famous, and I always felt my presence was a jarring intrusion, a reminder of the world beyond the polished façade. Frankly, the whole experience was like wandering into a different realm, one that certainly wasn’t mine.

William rose from the bed and circled it, making his way toward the en-suite. As he moved, I caught a glimpse of the alarm clock – half past six. A sigh slipped from my lips, my mind already gearing up for the challenges the day would no doubt bring at the office.

‘Up and at ‘em,’ William said, peeling off his black T-shirt. ‘I know it’s tough but—’

‘Just ten more minutes.’ I turned my back toward him. ‘I need to gather my strength.’ With my eyes closed, I burrowed deeper into the duvet, succumbing to its dangerously inviting cosiness. It was strange how drained I felt, given that we had called it a night at a sensible time – half past nine.

William’s chuckle resonated through the room. ‘That’s wishful thinking. You’ll doze off again.’

‘No. Ten minutes, and I’ll be up.’

‘Sceptical,’ he replied, his disbelief palpable.

Choosing to ignore his comment, I maintained my silence, hoping he would take the hint.

‘Cara, come on. How about a shower? That should wash off the sleepiness.’

‘I said no.’

In an unexpected move, he gripped the duvet and yanked it off me.

‘William!’ I spun around, snatched up his pillow and hurled it at him.

With impressive reflexes, he threw up an arm to deflect the pillow, a peal of infectious laughter bubbling up from him. The pillow landed on the floor and, without missing a beat, he delivered a swift kick, sending it soaring right back at me, hitting my face. His uncanny precision revealed his past as a skilled football striker. Despite my surprise, laughter shook me. Only William would think to boot a pillow in the face of the woman he was pursuing. He might give me flowers and take me on amazing dates, but he never missed a chance for such playful banter, and I found myself appreciating him all the more for it. It was this ability to balance romance with levity that made our relationship so wonderful.

‘Shower,’ he purred, reaching out a hand for me.

I crossed my arms. ‘No. You’re just going to try and seduce me in there.’

‘Definitely.’ Sauntering over to the threshold of the en-suite, he came to a stop. Turning to face me, his eyes brimmed with invitation as he extended his hand once more, beckoning me to join him.

Honestly, this man.

‘I’m too sore after last night, Will. I’ll have a shower when you’re done. In the meantime, I’ll get breakfast going.’

The corners of his mouth dipped down. ‘I was hoping for an extra steamy shower.’

I sniggered at his insatiable libido. ‘You’re hopeless. Can’t get enough, can you?’

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