Chapter 47
Chapter 47:
“Thanks,” I mutter, taking the kit and clothes from him. Our fingers brush, and I feel electricity zap through my veins.
As if feeling the same, Asher quickly withdraws his hands and hides them in his pockets.
“Goodnight, Isla,” he says, his perfect emerald eyes piercing into mine.
“Goodnight, Asher,” I reply, tension making my stuffed hands clutch the clothes and kit even tighter.
He lingers briefly, one hand slipping out of his pocket to brush back my hair and cradle my neck. His face draws closer to mine, and I shut my eyes as his lips press against mine in a gentle kiss. It is soft, but I can feel his need, his desire, pulling me in. I crave him too. I crave all of him.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips before pulling away. He stares at me for a few more seconds before turning back to his room. The door closes behind him.
Great, Isla. So much for agreeing to spend the night with him.
I step back into my room and shut the door. After changing out of my clothes, I fold them neatly and place them on the drawer. My instincts nudge me to open it, and inside I find a white body towel. I grab it and head into the bathroom.
After showering, I dry myself and my hair with the towel. I walk over to the table where the skincare kit sits, applying the body cream over my skin and the vitamin C serum on my face. Then I pick up the clothes Asher handed me—his black sweatpants and a gray oversized t-shirt. I slip them on and tie my hair into a messy bun.
A glance at the clock reads 9:35 p. m. My mouth opens in a wide yawn, and my eyelids grow heavy from the food and the soothing shower. I turn off the lights, leaving only the dim bedside lamp on. To be honest, I can’t sleep in total darkness—I love the faint comfort of a soft glow.
I slip under the covers, lying on my side. My thoughts wander to Asher. Is he sleeping? Working on his laptop?
Sleep pulls at me, but still, restlessness lingers.
A soft knock sounds at my door, making me jump out of bed. I hurry over and pull it open, only to find Asher standing there in plain black pajamas. A flicker of curiosity runs through me—why give me his sweatpants and t-shirt while he wears actual nightwear?
Still, his intoxicating scent clinging to the shirt I’m wearing makes me forget that thought almost immediately.
“Isla,” he murmurs, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Uhm, can I sleep here with you p>
I want to ask him why, but I know better than to make things awkward. I love him, he loves me, and deep down I desperately want to spend the night in his arms.
I nod and step aside, letting him into the room. Once he’s fully inside, I close the door behind him.
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“So you still love sleeping with dim lights?” he asks, gesturing toward the bedside lamp.
I shrug. “Habits die hard p>
I move to the bed and lie down. He joins me, settling on the left side while I take the right. We face each other in silence, simply staring, memorizing each other’s features. The soft orange glow from the lamp highlights Asher’s emerald eyes, his thick brows, his strong nose, and those lips I can never get enough of.
Because I love him. And I am completely helpless about it.
“You’re, Isla,” he whispers, brushing a lock of my hair aside. His fingertips trail from the back of my ear down my neck, then along my chin, and finally over my lips.
God.
I close my eyes, my heartbeat quickening as his touch traces the contours of my face. It feels perfect. We feel perfect, despite our flaws. We have each other, and that is enough.
Sleep begins to weigh heavy on my eyelids. I take his hand from my face and lace our fingers together, holding tight. Then, on a second thought, I snuggle closer, resting my head on his chest and placing my palm over the steady rise and fall of his body. The rhythm of his heart is like a soft melody, soothing me.
I lift my head enough to kiss his lips. “Goodnight, Asher,” I whisper before laying my head back on his chest.
He kisses the top of my head and wraps his arms securely around me. “Goodnight, Isla p>
I smile, inhaling the scent of his shower soap, a mix of rosewood and patchouli oil. His chest rises and falls with each breath. We melt into each other, fitting together like two perfect pieces of a puzzle, because we are perfect. Perfect for each other.
A cool, calm breeze drifts into the room, wrapping over us like soft dew, and at last, I surrender to the sweet lure of sleep.