Even in his wheelchair, his presence commanded attention as he approached her. A faint trace of amusement flickered in Collin’s eyes at her reaction. He raised an eyebrow and spoke in an unhurried tone. “You told me to take better care of my health. I figured you had a point, so I decided to come out for breakfast. Why? Do you have a problem with that?”
Linsey felt the heat rise to her cheeks again as memories of what had happened in the study rushed back. Noticing her hesitation, the butler smiled and spoke up first. He looked at Collin apologetically and said, “Mr. Riley, I misspoke earlier. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Collin wasn’t particularly concerned about the butler’s words. What unsettled him was the thought of Linsey hearing too much about his past. He had no intention of letting that happen, so he cut the conversation short. “It’s fine,” he said coolly.
The moment Linsey met Collin’s gaze, her mind flashed back to what had happened earlier in the study. She pressed her lips together and quickly said, “I’ll go make something for you to eat.” Since he had actually listened to her advice and come out for breakfast, she felt obligated to keep her word and cook for him.
But as soon as she turned to leave, Collin caught her wrist firmly.
“Let the staff handle breakfast,” he said.
She froze for a second before replying, “But I promised to make it for you. It won’t take long.”
Before she could say anything more, he pulled her forward with unexpected force, and the next thing she knew, she was sitting on his lap.
His presence overwhelmed her senses, his warmth and strength pulling her in. Startled, she instinctively tried to stand.
But Collin’s grip on her waist tightened, keeping her locked in place. The realization that the butler was still in the room made a fresh wave of embarrassment crash over her. She pressed her palms against Collin’s chest, pushing lightly in an attempt to free herself.
Sitting on his lap in broad daylight-what would people think?
Not that it would be any more acceptable at night.
Her face burned hotter at the thought. Were they even close enough for this? Being in a man’s lap like this was completely unfamiliar territory. Her body tensed, unsure of how to react.
“Sit still,” Collin commanded, his voice calm but firm, making it clear he wasn’t letting go. He could feel her hesitation, her resistance, but he had no intention of relenting.
She bit her lip, lowering her gaze, debating whether she should say something. Collin’s hand pressed lightly against her back as he leaned in closer. His deep, velvety voice brushed against her ear. “Be good.”
Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it. His words sent a fresh wave of heat through her, leaving her even more flustered. The butler, watching their obvious closeness, felt a quiet satisfaction. With a knowing smile, he quickly came up with an excuse to leave. “Oh dear, the breakfast on the table has gone cold. I’ll have them warm it up.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away briskly, giving them the privacy he assumed they wanted. Seeing how affectionate they were, he figured it wouldn’t be long before they started preparing for a baby.
With the butler gone, the room fell silent, leaving only Linsey and Collin. The absence of others meant they wouldn’t be disturbed anytime soon. Collin held Linsey close, acutely aware of how soft she was in his arms. She felt so delicate that he worried for a moment-if he held her any tighter, would she break?
His gaze drifted downward, landing on her lips, slightly swollen from where she had bitten them.
“You hit my chin earlier. Does it still hurt?” he murmured.
Her eyes flickered away, and she answered in a barely audible voice, “I’m fine…”
Collin caught her reaction, her obvious shyness, and found it oddly intriguing. She had been in a relationship for five years with her ex-surely she had shared moments more intimate than this?
“Why are you so nervous?” His gaze locked onto hers, his tone slow and deliberate. “Don’t tell me you’ve never kissed another man before.”
Linsey’s already uneasy expression froze, her body stiffening even more. The memory of their closeness in the study resurfaced instantly, and a fresh wave of embarrassment swept through her. She hesitated, then blurted out stubbornly, “W-what? Of course, I’ve kissed others before.”
Collin studied her flushed, delicate face, his sharp gaze catching the way she faltered. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips. She was lying, and not very well.
After a brief pause, his voice took on a meaningful lilt. “I’ve never been in a relationship before. That was my first time kissing a woman, and now my first kiss is gone-just like that. What a tragedy.” His sigh was deliberate, his tone almost teasing. “So tell me, how do you plan to make it up to me?”
Linsey’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly as she scrambled for words. She knew Collin had never been with anyone before-never dated, never kissed. But they hadn’t even kissed due to his subordinate’s interruption. And what did he mean by making it up to him? If they had kissed, then it would be her first kiss, too!
So why did he make it sound like his first kiss was more precious than hers? Her thoughts spiraled, but before she could untangle them, Collin suddenly leaned in, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. His voice dropped to a near whisper.
“That wasn’t much of a kiss, just the lightest touch. It hardly counts. So tell me…” His breath fanned against her skin. “Should we try again?”
Her pulse spiked, and she instinctively glanced around. “But… what if someone sees us? You should let me up.”
A faint, knowing smile played at the corners of Collin’s lips as he murmured, “Relax. The butler already saw you sitting on my lap. He’ll make sure the staff stays away.” Then his gaze dropped to her parted lips, his expression darkening slightly, though his tone carried the weight of feigned disappointment. His voice was softer now, almost challenging. “Do you find me repulsive? Is that why you don’t want to get close to me?”
She spoke up quickly, her voice filled with urgency. “That’s not true! I don’t find you repulsive at all. Don’t think that way.”
Collin slowly lifted his head, his usually unreadable eyes now betraying a flicker of uncertainty. As their gazes met, a strange ache settled in her chest.
She could tell-he was feeling insecure again.
A quiet sigh seemed to escape him as he loosened his hold on her and turned away. “You should go. I was too abrupt.”
Panic surged through her. She didn’t find him repulsive-far from it. She didn’t even mind being this close to him. If anything… she might even like it.
She was just nervous. Collin had no experience with dating; he didn’t realize that her hesitation wasn’t rejection-it was just shyness.
“I told you already. I don’t find you repulsive,” she insisted, her voice firm.
But his expression remained unchanged, his doubt lingering. She hesitated for a brief moment. Then, deciding that words weren’t enough, she grabbed his collar and kissed him.
The second their lips met, a jolt of surprise shot through her. It was nothing like she had imagined. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt while her free arm curled around his neck. Without thinking, she bit his lip lightly-only to realize just how soft and sweet his lips were, like jelly. But what made her heart pound even harder was the heat radiating from them.
Her breath hitched. She instinctively licked the spot where she had bitten, but now that she had done it, she wasn’t sure what to do next.
A nervous gulp slid down her throat as she pressed her lips together. That tiny movement shifted something in him. His eyes, already dark, grew even heavier, as if something had awakened in them.
She pulled away just slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t find you repulsive. Do you believe me now?”
Collin paused, his gaze locking with Linsey’s for a lingering moment before he gently cradled the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair. With a low, intense whisper, he murmured, “This isn’t enough for me.”
Without waiting for her response, he dipped his head and captured her lips once more in a kiss that was both deeper and more desperate than before.
In contrast to Linsey’s relative inexperience, Collin moved with an ease and confidence that belied a natural finesse. The raw passion of his kiss obliterated her senses, leaving her dazed and adrift in a sea of fervor.
It was as if every thought she had was whipped into a frenzied storm by his insistent desire, sending electric shivers racing down her spine and tingling through her entire being.
The scent of him enveloped her, intoxicating and rich, heightening the already intense sensations overwhelming her.
His breaths, ragged and low, seemed to echo in the warm air between them, mingling with her own quickened breaths in a sultry dance. A wave of tingling electricity coursed through Linsey, igniting her nerves and leaving a trail of numbness in its wake.
Their heartbeats thundered loudly, discordantly, yet strangely harmonious, as if each pulse wove their hearts closer together. As Collin’s kiss deepened, his hands tightened around her waist, drawing her even closer into his embrace.
Linsey’s body grew limp, surrendering to the intensity of the moment. Tears welled up in her eyes as she peered up at his focused expression, her breath caught in her throat from the sheer intensity of his passion. For a fleeting second, she thought he might never stop.
A soft, almost kittenish whimper broke from her lips, piercing the haze of passion. Collin’s senses snapped back into focus. He felt her subtle resistance as Linsey lightly pounded against his chest, a silent plea for release. He hesitated, then reluctantly, he loosened his embrace, allowing her to breathe freely again.
The oppressive humidity enveloped her, fogging her vision until the world seemed wrapped in a steamy haze.
The thrill of the moment coursed through her, unexpectedly exhilarating, leaving her breathless and a little bewildered.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.