Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

After dinner, she wandered outside for a bit, played with MiloBuddy until he got

tired, then headed upstairs to get ready for bed.

Dylan was actually behaving himself tonight. He sat by the window, reading a

comic book. When he noticed her walk in, he quietly put his comic away and went

off to wash up.

Clara bent down and picked up the comic he'd left on the floor. She flipped

through a few pages, pausing when she spotted handwriting that looked almost

like hers—except it was way too childish.

She frowned, standing there, lost in thought for a moment. When Dylan came out

of the bathroom, she finally went to take her own shower.

Afterwards, wrapped in her robe, she opened her laptop and started working

through a stack of Ferguson Corporation files. She must have been staring at the

screen too long, because suddenly, Dylan's voice was right beside her.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

She startled, turning to answer, but he was so close that her lips brushed his

cheek.

His lashes lowered, eyes dropping to her mouth.

Realizing where this was headed, she quickly turned away, pushing him back a

little.

He just grinned at her.

She had no idea what he found so funny. Clearing her throat, she mumbled, "No, I

was just... zoning out."

Honestly, her mind kept drifting back to that silhouette she'd seen earlier. It left her

uneasy, like it was some kind of warning. And after what the housekeeper said,

her nerves were shot.

Then Dylan leaned in, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Will you come with me to

the Ferguson family tomorrow?"

She blinked in surprise. Her? Go with him?

Walter would probably lose his mind.

But then she thought, why not? Let the old man get mad. He was always trying to

pin everything on Dylan, blaming him for things he didn't do and hoping he'd just

give up. What kind of father did that?

Anger bubbled up again, making it impossible to focus. The words on her screen

blurred together. She took a steadying breath.

"Sleep—" she started to say, but before she could finish, his lips pressed softly

against hers, right at the corner of her mouth.

She froze. Before she could even react, his tongue brushed against hers—she

hadn't realized her lips were parted, and he took full advantage.

A rush of adrenaline hit her. He

wasted no time, deepening the kiss,

his hand sliding up her back and

cradling the back of her head

holding her in place.

"Mmm..." she tried to protest, hernoveldrama

hand wedged between them. Maybe

he sensed her hesitation, because

he let go of her lips and took her

fingers, kissing and nibbling each

one.

By now, Clara was more than just flustered. Heat rose up her neck, spreading all

the way to the tips of her ears.

Her fingers trembled, curling away as if she could hide them. She wanted nothing

more than to disappear under the blankets.

Her mind was spinning as he finally let her go. "Come with me in the morning,

okay?"

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Clara bolted under the covers and wrapped herself

up tight. "Okay."

He stood there for a second, watching her, then broke out in another laugh.

Clara only burrowed deeper, her

heart pounding so hard it actually

hurt. She'd been sleeping just fine

lately, but tonight, there was no way

she could drift off. Her heartbeat just

wouldn't settle, and the warmth in

her cheeks lingered.

She tossed and turned, stealing a glance at the big bed. He was already asleep.

The sight of him resting, after all these nights, made her feel oddly relieved.

Just let it go, she told herself. Don't overthink it.

She tried not to care, but her dreams betrayed her anyway.

She dreamt of a pool filled with white mist, and finally, she saw his face clearly—

every bit of restraint and joy shining in his eyes.

"Do you really know who I am?" he asked.

He didn't dare get too close, his gaze fixed on the flush in her cheeks.

Her eyes were full of confusion, but she reached out, grabbed his chin, and kissed

him.