Corrine gave a small shake of her head, a polite but firm refusal.
“Your concern is noted, Mr. Hopkins, but it’s unnecessary.”
Nate’s gaze rose to meet hers, his dark eyes locking onto her like a predator sizing up its prey. And then, as though the tension weren’t enough, a faint smirk tugged at his lips, his voice dipping into something dangerously smooth.
“You’re afraid of me.”
Corrine’s grip tightened around the cup, but her expression remained stoic, her eyes meeting his with a calm resolve.
“Afraid? That’s an interesting assumption.”
His dark eyes were bottomless pools of inscrutability, radiating an invisible pressure that threatened to consume her. He was far more complex than she had initially presumed. While she couldn’t risk provoking him, she was equally determined to maintain her distance.
Nate studied her, his expression unreadable, though a faint glimmer danced in his gaze, like starlight on a restless sea.
“I won’t twist your arm or demand anything from you,” he said softly, though his words carried an edge sharp enough to cut.
“But your outright rejection? That stings a bit, doesn’t it?”
It was impossible to deny Nate’s allure-his face alone was a masterpiece, sculpted to enchant and disarm. Beauty like his had a gravitational pull, and Corrine wasn’t immune. Yet her heart, fractured by Bruce’s betrayal, was a fortress with walls too high to climb, too cold to breach. Not even Nate’s charm could thaw its icy battlements.
“Confidence looks good on you, Mr. Hopkins,” she said with a faint, sardonic smile, her words steeped in irony.
Nate leaned back, his movements unhurried, and traced the rim of his coffee cup with long, elegant fingers
“It’s not just confidence,” he replied with an almost casual air.
“It’s certainty. There’s no one else in this world who deserves you more than I do.”
His voice was calm, but his words rang with an unshakable conviction that left no room for argument.
Corrine regarded him in silence for a moment, her lips curling into a slow smile-bright, but edged with frost. She placed the cup down with a quiet thud, her tone sharp enough to slice through his composure.
“So, you’re telling me I can only choose you, Mr. Hopkins?”
“No.” Nate’s gaze softened, but his smile deepened, a wolfish glint in his eyes as he leaned forward slightly. His voice dropped, deliberate and hypnotic.
“I’m saying I’m fated to keep you for life.”
The words hit her like a thunderclap, reverberating in her chest, leaving an unsettling ache in their wake. Her breath caught, her lashes fluttering as she fought to steady herself. Her fingers curled into fists under the table as she tore her gaze away from him.
The faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air, wrapping around her like a net, suffocating and inescapable. The tension was unbearable. She abruptly rose to her feet.
“It’s late. I should get some rest.”
But as she turned to leave, his hand shot out, his fingers curling gently but firmly around her wrist.
The warmth of Nate’s palm seemed to brand Corrine’s skin. She instinctively tried to pull away, but Nate only tightened his grip, anchoring her in place.
“Once bitten, twice shy,” he murmured, sensing her tension gradually dissolving. His fingers tentatively lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“It’s a lesson learned, not a reason to become timid. You can reject me with all your defenses, but I won’t give up on embracing you.”
Silence filled the room, punctuated by the urgent rhythm of rain against the tiles. Each droplet seemed to mirror the chaotic beating of Corrine’s heart. Her eyelashes fluttered before she closed her eyes, a whispered confession escaping her lips.
“I can’t risk losing myself to love without limits again.” The tremor in her voice betrayed the deep wounds of her past.
During those three years with Bruce, she had defied her family, believing he was her entire future. She had molded herself to his dreams, her love absolute and unconditional. But his betrayal had been merciless-a sudden, sharp blade piercing her heart. She could endure the pain silently, maintaining a facade of strength. Yet beneath her composed exterior, a raw, terrifying wound continued to bleed. And Nate? She had barely known him. How could she possibly surrender her heart so easily? She couldn’t do it.
“You don’t need to give love,” Nate said, his voice softening.
“Only to receive it. My love doesn’t need a reason.”
Reaching out, his cool fingertips brushed away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. The touch was electric, a jolt that rippled through her body, leaving her breathless.
Her eyes snapped open, locking onto his. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loud she wondered if he could hear it
The faintest of smiles played on his lips, and his deep, piercing gaze held a tenderness so profound it nearly unraveled her. With just a glance, he seemed to read her every thought, every hesitation, every fear.
Corrine stood frozen, her throat dry, her composure slipping away. She had prepared herself for his anger after her rejection.
But instead, he remained steadfast, patient, and persistent-a hunter who had set his sights on his prey and wasn’t in any rush to claim it. Corrine felt utterly unable to resist the allure of such a man.
Her voice, unsteady but defiant, broke the silence.
“Mr. Hopkins, do you make a habit of being this direct with women?”
His fingers trailed from her chin to her temple, his touch featherlight as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His voice dropped to a whisper, warm and unhurried, grazing her senses like silk.
“You’re the first woman I’ve pursued,” he admitted.
“The only one. And, incidentally, the first to turn me down.”
The honesty in his words sent heat rushing to her cheeks. She cleared her throat, trying to regain some semblance of control.
“Then I suppose that makes me… ungrateful.”
A flicker of amusement lit his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by something deeper, more resolute.
“Ungrateful, yes,” he murmured, his voice low and laced with irony.
“But still, the only one who’s ever mattered.”
Her chest tightened, mixed feelings blooming beneath her ribs. After a long silence, she forced herself to take a deep breath, steadying her voice.
“Thank you for the coffee, but I really need to rest now.”
“I’ll walk you back.” His response was simple, almost dismissive of the idea that she could refuse.
As they stepped into the rain-soaked night, Nate pulled off his coat without a word and offered it to her.
She hesitated, but before she could protest, he unfolded it and draped it over her shoulders, the fabric heavy with his warmth and the faint scent of sandalwood.
“You don’t want to catch a cold,” he said softly, his tone gentle but firm.
They walked side by side through the quiet halls, their footsteps gradually falling into sync. Whether it was her adjusting to him or him to her, she couldn’t quite tell.
When they reached the door to her guest room, Corrine turned the doorknob, ready to step inside and escape the tangled emotions swirling around her. But Nate’s hand suddenly covered hers, stopping her in place.
The warmth of his touch spread through her like wildfire, igniting something she couldn’t quite name. Her pulse quickened, her voice faltering.
“What… what do you want to do?”
“Corrine.” Nate’s deep, smooth voice felt like a whispered secret, stirring her heart with emotion.
Corrine’s lips pressed tightly together as she locked eyes with Nate, whose gaze was unfathomably deep. With a slight, significant smile playing on his lips, Nate looked into her eyes with an intensity she found inexplicable
“Do you want to join me in my room tonight?”
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.