With a mischievous smile, she tried to pour herself another glass.
After a moment’s pause, Collin gently took the bottle from her unsteady grip, his tone calm and composed.
“That’s enough. If you don’t enjoy drinking, you don’t need to force yourself.”
Linsey blinked, stunned by his rare display of concern, then quickly shook her head.
“I’m not forcing myself. I’m just so happy today, I wanted to celebrate with a drink.”
Collin glanced at her briefly, his gaze softening. For a moment, he was entranced.
Her face was radiant, flushed with the warmth of the wine, and her eyes shimmered with the haze of intoxication.
Her lips, full and inviting, reminded him of ripe strawberries, their softness promising the sweetness of a thousand unspoken desires. He couldn’t shake the thought that they would burst with juicy sweetness at the slightest press.
His throat tightened, and he involuntarily licked his suddenly dry lips, his voice dropping to a low, almost hoarse tone.
“There are plenty of ways to celebrate. You don’t have to drink.”
His words came from a place of concern, but more than that, there was a gut instinct telling him that if she drank any more, the night could take a turn he wasn’t sure he was ready for.
Linsey, however, shook her head stubbornly, her laughter soft but firm.
“No way. This wine cost a fortune! We can’t just waste it.”
She pouted slightly, her lips forming an adorable frown, ready to argue more, but then her eyes widened in a drunken haze.
She raised a slender finger and pointed at Collin, swaying slightly.
“Hey, why are there two of you?”
Collin, resisting the urge to correct her, merely reached to take her glass away.
“My glass! Give it back!” Linsey protested loudly, standing up and trying to snatch it from his hands.
But the moment she tried to stand, her legs betrayed her, and she stumbled straight into Collin’s arms with a surprised gasp.
Instinctively, he tightened his hold on her to steady her, his hands firmly gripping her waist.
Before he could say anything, he felt the soft pressure of her hand against his thigh.
“Collin, what’s in your pants?” Her voice was a dazed whisper, her eyes hazy as she tried to look down.
Collin’s heart skipped a beat, and a wave of discomfort rippled through him, his face hardening. What the hell was happening?
“Don’t touch me,” Collin warned, his voice low and tense. He grabbed Linsey by the collar and yanked her back into another chair.
In the process, her arm knocked against the wine glass in front of him. The glass tipped over, and dark red wine spilled across his pristine white shirt, the stain spreading like ink on paper.
Linsey sat back, blinking at him, still dazed.
Collin inhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as he fought to maintain his composure-and suppress the heat stirring inside him. Turning to the side stiffly, he added,
“Stay seated. Don’t come any closer.”
The cold liquid seeped through his shirt, chilling his skin, though it did little to cool the fire burning within him.
Linsey suddenly pouted, her tone turning sharp.
“What do you mean? You won’t even let me near you? Is that really how you treat your wife?”
Her righteous indignation left him momentarily speechless.
“We’re married. Why should I stay away from you?” she continued, her eyelids growing heavier.
“Your shirt is soaked in wine. You can’t clean it yourself. Let me bathe you.”
Ignoring the fact that they were still in the dining room, she reached out, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his shirt as she attempted to remove it.
“Don’t move!” he snapped, catching her wrist in a firm grip.
He was ready to scold her when he noticed the slight crease in her brow, her expression shifting with discomfort.
“Collin… you’re hurting me,” she murmured softly.
At her words, his grip instinctively loosened. The moment he let go, she twisted free and, without hesitation, grabbed his collar with unexpected force.
“Linsey!” Collin gritted his teeth, his voice sharp with frustration. Unable to tolerate it any longer, he struck the back of her neck with a swift, controlled blow.
Already intoxicated, she had no resistance against his strength. The next moment, her body slackened, and she began to collapse toward the floor.
With a cold, unreadable expression, Collin pushed himself up from his wheelchair, catching her effortlessly before she could hit the floor. Without hesitation, he carried her to her bedroom, his steps steady and sure.
She had been staying in this room for almost a month, and the moment he stepped inside, a soft, lingering fragrance wrapped around him.
He paused, glancing down at the woman in his arms. Linsey was deep in sleep, her breaths even and slow.
She was drunk, her clothes slightly askew, her flushed cheeks tinted with a delicate shade of pink.
Collin exhaled quietly, then gently laid her down on the bed.
As he withdrew his hands from beneath her, she suddenly murmured in her sleep and reached out, wrapping her arms around him sluggishly.
He froze. The warmth of her body pressed against him, her soft curves unmistakable beneath the thin fabric of her shirt.
Linsey, completely unaware of what she was doing, nuzzled her heated face against his chest, the coolness of his shirt offering her relief.
The material of his shirt was luxurious, tailored to perfection, yet at this moment, he realized even the finest fabric couldn’t compare to the softness of her skin.
Collin remained still, forced to sit stiffly at the edge of the bed. His gaze drifted to her face, and despite himself, he found his focus lingering.
He had to admit-she was breathtaking. Her features were delicate and lively, effortlessly beautiful, even without a trace of makeup.
Linsey continued clinging to him, her lips slightly parted, the tip of her tongue barely visible.
As she shifted in her sleep, the distance between them disappeared, and he caught the faint, intoxicating scent of her breath-a mix of sweetness and wine.
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.