Page 37 of My Ruthless Husband

I laugh nervously. “Oh! I’m perfectly fine. Everything’s fine. My limbs were a bit sore from the outing so I was just… you know, stretching a little.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Stretching? On the bed? By dancing?”

I wring my fingers in my lap. “Yeah, I mean, I read somewhere that dancing is a great way to relieve stress and increase flexibility.”

He crosses his arms. “Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“What about the giggling?”

I hesitate for a bit then remember I was indeed giggling. “I-I was just thinking of the rom com I read earlier.”

His eyes soften. “Well, as long as you’re okay and having fun. Just be careful not to hurt yourself, all right?”

It feels as though Dad isn’t just referring to my impromptu dance routine. But I’m so high on feelings that I don’t pay it much attention and simply nod. “Thanks for checking up on me.”

He smiles and stands. “No problem, sweet pea. Just remember. You can always talk to me if something’s bothering you or if you want to share something exciting.”

I walk him to the main door. “I know, Dad. Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“All right then, carry on with your… stretching.”

We both laugh.

“Will do, Dad. Will do.” I flash a big smile as I close the door and rush to grab my phone to text Damian back.

Chapter Eleven

Present

Istir on the plush bed and mumble something before settling in a comfortable position. After the argument with Hal, I returned to the guestroom.

Bearing the weight of both physical exhaustion and emotional fatigue, I felt utterly drained. So I let the comfort of the plush bed lull me to sleep.

Through slumber, I escaped into a place where time faded away. A place where I relived the time of my life when I was so young and naïve and in love.

A soft warmth grazes my cheek, and a quiet sigh escapes me. Still caught in the haze of sleep, I keep my eyes closed, savoring the gentle touch for just a little longer. A lazy smile tugs at my lips before reality settles in, pulling me fully awake.

In an instant, my eyes fly open, revealing Damian’s face. And his eyes, like pools of night, hold an untamed intensity that draws me in and traps me immediately.

I stay motionless as his fingers trace a feather-light path across my cheek, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

My heart races as I meet his gaze that holds a smoldering fire I was all too familiar with.

“Do you have a secret desire to be swept off your feet?” He drawls, his voice sends shivers down my spine.

I push his hand away, forcing a façade of indifference despite the tingling sensation I feel where his fingers had been. “What do you mean?”

His features remain impassive, revealing nothing as he withdraws his touch. “Well, it seems like you’ve got a thing for being carried around. Deliberately disobeying my instructions by sleeping here just so I’d have to haul you back to our bedroom.”

I gasp in part surprise and outrage, sitting up. “You’re unbelievably full of yourself, and completely wrong!”

He doesn’t move an inch, making no effort to give me any space. So, we end up sitting incredibly close, just a few inches separating us.

When he remains silent, I shake my head. “What are you even doing here?”

I check the clock on the wall and confirm that I barely slept for twenty minutes. Hal said Damian was in a meeting so I assumed he would be gone for at least a couple of hours.

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