Marc and Terry sat up straight, lost in their own thoughts. After nestling into Connor’s arms, Marissa turned her head, adopted a cozy position, and closed her eyes. Connor naturally held her tight to keep her from slipping
Looking down at her, Connor noticed a subtle fragrance in the air. Her slight figure rose and fell gently with each breath, and she nestled against him as softly as a kitten. He suddenly felt that it wouldn’t be so bad if moments like this lasted forever
When they reached the Palace Hotel, Marissa was already deeply asleep. Connor carefully lifted her from the car, took the VIP elevator up to his private presidential suite on the top floor, and softly laid her on the bed
It was the same room and the same bed, but his feelings were completely different. Last time, he wasn’t sure if Riss was the village girl, so he had been somewhat cautious. This time, knowing exactly who was in his arms, he found himself not wanting to let her go. Clearly, she hadn’t planned to sleep next to him tonight. She had just sat beside him and suddenly felt sleepy. Her change of plans was spontaneous, so she was unprepared. She hadn’t put on a face mask or worn any protection
When he picked her up, he noticed how soft her body was, which led him to daydream. No man could remain unaffected while holding the woman he cared for. Connor was no exception. Marissa was his wife. He didn’t see it as breaking any moral or legal boundaries to be intimate with her. His body grew hotter and hotter as these thoughts ran uncontrollably through his mind. Eventually, he couldn’t resist anymore and deeply kissed her lips, his hand gently slipping under the hem of her clothing
Marissa’s lips were shaped like petals and tasted as sweet and tender as peaches. When Connor kissed her, he felt as if he was bathed in the gentle light of spring. Intoxicated, he closed his eyes and encircled her waist with his arms. Her skin was as smooth as jade, pulling him in with a mysterious force that made him long to explore further
Previously, in Arabella’s presence, his kiss with Marissa had been brief, yet the memory lingered, unforgettable. Now, he kissed her with abandon, sinking into a whirlwind of emotions, as if plummeting into a fiery abyss, ready to disintegrate into ash. Abruptly, a loud noise jolted him back to reality
Connor flinched and regained his senses. He opened his eyes and realized the girl in his arms had slapped him across the face. Nervous and flustered, he feared her anger. But she merely shifted her position and continued to sleep, her eyes closed. It seemed her discomfort had caused a reflexive reaction. She did not realize he had overstepped
Seeing the girl fall asleep again, Connor breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly removed his hand from her body, regaining his sensibility. The thought of his recent actions filled him with guilt, his face burning with shame. He should have been intimate with her when she was in love with him. How could he take advantage of her in her vulnerable state?
If she ever found out what he had done, it could lead to a terrible conflict. Worried he might slip up again, Connor stood up and rushed into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, letting the cold water wash over him
After calming down, he changed into pajamas and walked out, ready to work on his computer. However, as he reentered the bedroom and saw the girl on the bed, his thoughts wandered again. He had no choice but to return to the bathroom for another cold shower
After several attempts, he felt helpless about his lack of self-control. Last time they shared a room, the same thing happened. He had been restless while she slept peacefully. He mocked himself for his inability to control his desires around Marissa. She would never know that the richest man had yet another sleepless night while she slept soundly until dawn
Waking up and looking around the room, Marissa suddenly remembered something and sat up quickly. She nervously checked her clothes. Finding everything in place, she exhaled deeply. She had been so tired the previous night that she hadn’t been as cautious around Connor as she should have been. Now, her trust in Connor was shaken. He had previously attempted to remove her chastity armor. Clearly, he was no gentleman. Fortunately, she was safe that night. He was fortunate he hadn’t crossed a line, or she would have broken his bones
Connor sat on the sofa, observing her actions as she woke up. When he noticed her sigh of relief, he mocked, “Miss Nash, don’t be too confident. I’m not interested in sleeping with you.”
Stunned and embarrassed, Marissa turned to look at the man on the sofa. She was shocked by his presence. Like before, he looked cold and downcast. She teased him, “I only borrowed your scent for hypnosis. I didn’t absorb your vital essence. Why do you look so weak?”
Connor was already irritable from a restless night, and Marissa’s teasing only worsened his mood. He felt on the verge of losing his temper. But deep down, he knew he had no real reason to be upset with her. It was his choice to be near her while she slept, and she hadn’t done anything wrong. It was his own lack of self-control that was to blame, not her
After a brief silence, he muttered, “You little fox.” Indeed, she hadn’t actively tried to drain his vitality, but her allure made him willingly give it up. Each time they were together, she seemed radiant while he appeared worn. If not a fox, then what?
Clearly, Marissa had misunderstood him. Before he could say anything else, she raised her hand and said, “I understand. I get it. Mr. Daniels, you’re about to tell me to leave again, right? I’ll go now. You don’t need to say it.” Marissa had noticed Connor’s mood swings every time she slept next to him. She was used to it by now, so she planned to avoid him. With that thought, Marissa got out of bed and started to leave
Meanwhile, she pondered what could have troubled him while she slept. She had only asked him to sleep beside her, not to guard her. He looked so worn out that anyone would think he had been battling ghosts all night
Yet, things were unfolding differently this time. Marissa hadn’t finished putting on her shoes when she heard his voice from behind, saying, “I didn’t tell you to leave.” After a brief pause, Marissa finished putting on her shoes, then turned around and asked, “By the way, didn’t you mention you had something important to tell me yesterday? Tell me now.”
Connor made an effort to stabilize his emotions and replied in a steady voice, “I’m planning to go on a trip on the Sunrise in a few days. You should stay in Biebert. I’ll leave Domenic here. If you need anything, he can assist you.”
Marissa, puzzled, asked, “Amiri has put a bounty on your head. Why are you still going out? It’s safer for you to stay in Biebert right now.” Connor responded, “It’s precisely because of Amiri’s provocation that I need to go. Hiding isn’t my style. I’ve heard that Amiri will be on the Sunrise soon. I want to confront him directly.”
Marissa nodded to acknowledge she understood. The head of the Daniels Group was a prominent figure on the international stage. The whole world was watching the conflict between Connor and Amiri unfold. If Connor showed any cowardice, he would become a laughingstock. Initially, Amiri had sought a truce. But because of Connor’s firm stance and his intention to eliminate Amiri, the situation had escalated to desperate measures
Connor was a decisive leader. His decision to confront Amiri meant he likely had a strategy and all necessary preparations in place. Still, Marissa was deeply concerned for Connor’s safety. She felt she needed to keep an eye on him for her own peace of mind
After a brief silence, she requested, “I want to come with you.” She had plans to be on the Sunrise anyway. It would be better for her to attend openly as the wife of Biebert’s wealthiest man rather than sneak aboard in disguise. Plus, it would be less expensive
But Connor looked puzzled. “Why do you want to go there?”
“I want to broaden my experiences. I’ve heard the service on the Sunrise is top-notch. I’ve never had the chance to enjoy it.”
“If it’s about having fun, I can take you another time. I have serious business this time. It wouldn’t be convenient to have you with me.”
“Just focus on your business. I can entertain myself. You won’t need to worry about me.”
“I’m concerned for your safety. I’m dealing with Amiri on this trip. I might not be able to look after you properly.”
“I’ve heard that nobody dares to break the rules set by Paul, so as long as you bring me aboard the Sunrise, I’ll be perfectly safe.”
Seeing Connor still hesitant, Marissa continued, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to take me. I can go on my own. We can even act like we don’t know each other on the cruise ship.”
Seeing her determination, Connor said helplessly, “I can bring you, but you must promise to stay put and not wander off.”
“Understood,” Marissa responded with a grin
After a moment of thought, she added, “I have one more condition that you need to agree to.”
Connor looked at her and said, “Tell me.”
“I’ll be performing surgery for my mother in a few days. To help me stay in top condition, you’ll need to sleep with me over the next few nights,” Marissa explained. Connor understood that she meant only sleeping, yet his heart fluttered at her words. Sleeping beside her was always a torment for him, stirring a mix of emotions that left him unsettled. He even wondered if he was beginning to find some strange comfort in the pain. Despite the whirlwind of thoughts, he managed a light response. “Sure.”
His voice cracked slightly as he spoke, betraying his inner turmoil, which left him feeling embarrassed. Marissa, however, didn’t overthink his reaction. She had made the request to stay close to him for his protection, indifferent to what he might assume
After a moment of silence, a new concern crossed her mind. She then asked, “Mr. Daniels, the 30-day cooling-off period before our divorce has ended. Should we proceed with the divorce?”
She had anticipated this would be a simple matter, but unexpectedly, Connor’s face clouded over, filling the air with a cold, ironic tension. Without responding right away, he rose to his feet, approached her, and leaned in so close that his breath brushed against her cheek in uneven bursts. Marissa instinctively tried to move away, but he quickly pinched her chin, holding her in place
Her expression turned to one of confusion as he sneered. “Miss Nash, do you enjoy sleeping with a man who isn’t your husband?” Marissa stared at him, dumbfounded. His words had thrown her off
“What are you talking about? Didn’t we agree to finalize the divorce after 30 days?”
“That’s correct. But you didn’t ask to sleep with me back then,” Connor retorted
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.
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