Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash ` 284
She was wearing soft loungewear, her hair was a bit messy, and
there were faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t
slept well either.
“Charlotte.”
Bradley’s throat was terribly dry, the words felt like they’d been
scraped with sandpaper, stuck in his throat.
He looked at her, the swirling emotions in his startlingly bright
eyes almost threatening to drown a person.
In the end, he just asked in a low voice, his tone one of extreme
exhaustion, even a hint of weakness:
“Aren’t you going to invite me in to sit down?
Or… get me a glass of water.”
He really looked like he was about to collapse. His face was
pale, and his lips were a bit dry.
It was as if all his strength had been drained, and he was
running on willpower alone.
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Charlotte was struck by this unprecedentedly vulnerable side of
him.
All her questions and the slight hurt from being ignored by him
earlier were instantly replaced by worry.
She quickly stepped aside to clear the doorway. “Come in.”
Bradley followed her into the apartment, his steps unsteady.
The room wasn’t large, a standard studio apartment layout. It
was neat but felt a bit cold, as if the owner didn’t plan on
staying long.
Charlotte closed the door and turned to get him some water,
but she didn’t expect Bradley to be right behind her, extremely
close.
The moment she turned, she almost bumped right into his
chest.
“You…” Charlotte looked up, wanting to ask him why he had
suddenly shown up here, and in such a state.
But before the words could leave her mouth, it was as if Bradley
had finally used up his last ounce of strength.
!
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His body swayed, he stumbled, and his whole body sagged
forward, his forehead resting heavily on her shoulder.
Bradley’s weight pressed down on her unexpectedly, carrying
the dampness of sweat and a burning heat.
The weight made Charlotte stagger back a step, and she
instinctively reached out to steady his waist.
She felt his lean muscles, now completely relaxed, under his
tight, sweat–dampened shirt.
“Bradley?
Charlotte jumped, her voice changing pitch, “What’s wrong with
you?
Don’t scare me!”
The man leaning on her shoulder let out a very soft, very tired
whimper, with an almost imperceptible hint of grievance.
“Charlotte… my heart feels a little weird.”
“Your heart?
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I’m calling an ambulance right now.”
Bradley reached out and hugged her, his arms tightening a little.
“Don’t.”
His voice was muffled in the crook of her neck, the heat of his
breath warming her skin. “I just didn’t sleep all night, then
climbed twelve floors, and did a round of CPR…”
He paused, as if gathering his strength, then complained in a
weak tone that was both whiny and self–righteously indignant:
“My heart’s beating so fast, it’s uncomfortable, and I’m dead
tired.”
“Pulling an all–nighter, plus intense exercise and emotional
stress… Charlotte, it feels like an easy way to just drop dead.”
He said that last part almost against her ear, his voice a faint,
breathy whisper, full of a touching vulnerability.
Charlotte’s body instantly went rigid.
His hot breath was on the side of her neck, the strength of his
arm trapping her waist.
The man was leaning almost his entire body against her,
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radiating heat and the faint smell of sweat.
It wasn’t unpleasant. It mixed with his unique scent, something
like antiseptic and crisp cedar, creating an aggressive,
masculine aura that completely enveloped her.
“You…”
Charlotte’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat at his mention of “sudden death,” her hands feeling the heat from his firm waist.
She was torn between pushing him away and not.
“Get up first. Go sit on the sofa, I’ll get you some water.”
Charlotte tried to turn her head to avoid his scorching breath,
using a bit of strength to push him away.
Bradley didn’t let go. He pushed his luck, burying his head even deeper, the tips of his hair brushing against the sensitive skin of
her neck, sending a faint shiver through her.
He let out a muffled, dissatisfied mumble, full of grievance and
exhaustion.
“I have no energy… I can’t move.”
Bradley’s voice was muffled and hoarse, “Charlotte, just let me
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lean on you for a bit, just a little while…”
Hearing him say her name in that low, raspy voice made
Charlotte’s heart tremble, and the hand that was, about to push
him away suddenly lost its strength.
She had never seen Bradley like this before.
He seemed so vulnerable, and even a little… shameless.
But his earlier comment about “sudden death” still had her on
edge, and she didn’t have the heart to really push him away.
He really did look completely exhausted.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.