Chapter 325: Sneaking into Her Bed Again
The biting chill emanating from Adrian Lancaster lingered. His hand, still clutching his phone, remained clenched, his knuckles turning white.
After a long moment, he slowly unfurled his fist, evened out his breathing, and reined in his sharp, intimidating aura before walking out of the study.
The closer he got to the bedroom, the more Adrian’s hostility dissipated. He didn’t want to frighten Wren Sutton.
He gently pushed open the bedroom door and immediately saw Wren lying on her side on the bed. Her eyes were closed, sleeping peacefully.
In the cribs beside the large bed, Owen and Nina were also sound asleep for their afternoon nap, looking utterly adorable and cherubic.
The serene and beautiful scene before him instantly soothed all the anxiety in Adrian’s heart.
He stood before the bed, his deep, dark eyes fixed on Wren’s face. The coldness in them completely vanished, replaced by a boundless tenderness and deep affection, along with a guilt hidden in their depths.
She was sleeping soundly. Her long eyelashes, like two tiny fans, rested gently on her cheeks, which held a faint pink hue.
Adrian watched Wren intently as memories of his past neglect and the hurt he had caused her flashed through his mind, making his heart ache once more.
’How lucky am I,’ he thought, ’to have someone as wonderful as her, to have this happy and complete family now.’
Adrian slowly leaned down, his movements incredibly light, and placed a gentle kiss on Wren’s smooth forehead.
It was as if he were touching a priceless treasure, afraid that the slightest bit of pressure would wake her.
The next moment, Adrian carefully lay down beside Wren.
He longed to pull her tightly into his arms, to feel her warmth and make up for all the tenderness he had denied her over the years.
But Adrian was afraid his movements would disturb his sleeping wife. She was clearly exhausted, and he couldn’t bear to interrupt her rest.
So, he could only lie stiffly at the edge of the bed, his hands at his sides, not daring to make a single move. He even consciously slowed his breathing.
In the quiet bedroom, a faint, fresh fragrance filled the air.
Adrian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He savored the familiar scent, unable to resist turning his head to look at the sleeping woman beside him. His gaze grew increasingly tender.
Just as he was desperately suppressing his body’s desires, the sleeping Wren suddenly stirred.
In her drowsiness, as if sensing a familiar presence, she subconsciously leaned closer, nuzzling her head against Adrian’s arm as if searching for a comfortable spot.
Finally, she snuggled into Adrian’s embrace, her arm naturally wrapping around his waist as she fell back asleep.
"..."
This sudden closeness made Adrian freeze instantly. His eyes flew open, and his heart felt as if it were being cradled by a gentle hand before it began to pound wildly.
Joy, excitement, profound emotion—a torrent of feelings surged through him, nearly overwhelming him.
He couldn’t even believe what was happening. He was stunned for several seconds before it registered, feeling as ecstatic as a child who’d just been given candy.
Wren had given Adrian courage.
Her subconscious actions in her sleep showed that not only did her body not reject him, but it actually liked and relied on his presence.
With this newfound confidence, Adrian no longer held back. He cautiously raised his arm, his movements as slow as if he were afraid of startling a butterfly, and gently wrapped it around Wren’s waist, pulling her into his arms.
Feeling the warmth of the woman in his arms and her steady breathing, the man’s tense heart finally, completely relaxed.
All his hostility and unhappiness vanished in that moment, leaving only a profound sense of peace and bliss.
Adrian lowered his head and kissed Wren’s forehead again, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination.
"My love, I love you."
...
The sun began to set, its gentle rays filtering through the sheer curtains, casting a hazy, beautiful, and faint halo of light across the large bed.
A fragrance floated in the air, the mingling of their scents creating a quiet yet alluring atmosphere.
Wren woke up first.
The moment she opened her eyes, she froze.
The first thing she felt wasn’t the soft mattress, but the strong, firm arm around her waist, the man’s warm chest, and his steady, powerful heartbeat...
Wren held her breath, but her heart was racing, and her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.
The only man who would be sleeping in this bed was Adrian Lancaster.
’How did he sneak into my bed again!’
Wren didn’t know whether to be more angry or more embarrassed; her thoughts were in such a turmoil that she couldn’t describe how she felt.
She clenched her fists, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her as she looked up at Adrian’s face, so close to her own.
"..."
Wren had to admit it: the man’s face, his features, were flawlessly perfect. Every part of him was sinfully handsome.
All of his sharp coldness had vanished. His brow was relaxed, his long lashes cast downward, stripping away some of his unapproachable distance and adding a great deal of gentleness.
His heartbeat, THUMP, THUMP, echoed through the thin fabric of their clothes, vibrating against her own heart like a drum.
The unique, crisp scent of cedarwood from his body, mixed with the warmth of the sun, filled her senses, dominating her every breath.
It seemed Wren didn’t dislike this closeness; she even found herself occasionally craving this sense of security and warmth. But the string of reason in her mind was pulled taut.
She was afraid. Afraid that this was just a moment of tenderness born from passion, and that once they crossed a line, things would spiral out of control.
Especially in bed. This intimate, seamless distance made it all too easy to ignite desire.
Just as Wren was about to pull away from Adrian’s embrace, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"..."
Adrian’s first reaction upon waking was to tighten his arms, holding Wren securely in his embrace with a gentleness that was tinged with possessiveness.
"When did you wake up?" he asked softly.
Wren parted her tightly pressed lips. "Just now."
A doting smile played on Adrian’s lips. "Did you sleep well?"
The person in his arms was soft and fragrant, pressed against his chest, her breath warm.
Adrian could clearly feel the faint tremor in Wren’s back and the soft gasp she suppressed in her throat.
A warmth spread through his chest as love surged like a tidal wave, followed by a deep sense of restraint and conflict.
He desperately wanted to kiss Wren, to merge her into his very bones, to possess every part of her. But the reason deep in his eyes held him back.
Adrian was afraid his eagerness would frighten Wren, afraid of pressuring her, and even more afraid that she would retreat from his overly intense love.
He could only be careful, testing the waters bit by bit.
"It’s been so, so long since I’ve held you while we slept."
Adrian gently tightened his arms, holding Wren more securely in his embrace, feeling the softness of her waist and the warmth of her back.
Then, he took her hand.
His palm was scorching hot as the pads of his fingers delicately caressed the soft back of her hand. He slowly uncurled her fingers and interlaced them with his own.
His grip was restrained yet firm, holding on tightly, unwilling to loosen even a fraction.
"Wren..." Adrian’s voice was deep and husky, his breath hot and growing heavy.
Wren’s heart trembled. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t.
"Adrian, you—"
Hearing her say his name, Adrian happily turned his face, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
Seeing the red tip of her ear, his Adam’s apple bobbed violently, the desire in his eyes practically overflowing.
He couldn’t help but lower his head and kiss her ear.
"Honey," Adrian’s voice grew even huskier, laced with an irrepressible craving and a deadly allure. "I want..."
His words broke off, swallowed by his scorching breath.
Wren’s entire body went rigid. The ear Adrian had kissed felt like it was on fire, the heat spreading to her cheeks and then seeping deep into her heart.
She could clearly feel the searing heat of his chest and his heavy, yet deliberately slow, breaths, each one ghosting across her neck and making her heart tremble.
She wanted to escape, but she was surrounded by Adrian’s scorching presence, which enveloped her like a suffocating net.
Wren’s voice trembled. "Don’t..."
Her voice was soft and helpless, like a kitten scratching at his heart, only making Adrian burn hotter.