Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ellie\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was close. Too close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could feel Nolan breath against my skin before I even dared to meet his gaze. His face hovered inches from mine, his eyes narrowed, sharp and unreadable. My back was against the cool stone wall of the alley between the caf\u00e9 and the bookstore, and his arm was braced above me, caging me in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was tension in the way he leaned in, like he was studying me. Or worse, smelling me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because he was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His nose brushed the edge of my jaw, and I shivered, caught somewhere between discomfort and a rush of heat that pulse through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gritted my teeth. \u201cNolan\u2026\u201d I muttered low, annoyed at how hot my body was getting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He studied me, silent. His gaze dropped briefly to my lips, then back up. His lashes were ridiculously long up close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I suddenly remembered Rae was still there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you trying to kiss me?\u201d I demanded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he snapped. \u201cWhy would I-?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck my scent? Because if you\u2019re trying to do either, I\u2019m gonna throw my coffee at you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stiffened. Rae actually laughed, but with one glare from Nolan, her hand slapped back over her mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this part of the contract?\u201d I deadpanned. \u201cBecause I\u2019m pretty sure invading personal space wasn\u2019t in the fine print. Or sexual harrassment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He ignored me, taking one last breath behind my ear, sending a silver down my spine. His lips tightened, and for a second, he looked almost\u2026 disappointed. Like he was expecting something and didn\u2019t find it. Then he pulled back just enough to meet my eyes directly, the chill returning to his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo home, Ellie.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I crossed my arms, forcing some space between us. \u201cAh, excuse me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re my Luna. Hanging around on a crowded street like that, letting strange men grab your arm? If someone got a photo of that, it would be on the gossip boards in under five minutes. I have enough rumors to deal with.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWow,\u201d I said, voice syrupy sweet. \u201cYou really know how to make a girl feel special. Public image this, public perception that,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou agreed to the contract,\u201d he snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snorted and pushed past him. \u201cRight. And I also agreed to the paycheck. So don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll play the part. Perfect Luna. Submissive wife. No more coffee dates for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, Rae was waiting, eyeing Nolan like he was a rabid wolf barely held back by a leash. But sehe seemed to have enough. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away, giving Nolan a forced smile. \u201cSorry, sir. We\u2019ll be just a second. Forgive the intrusion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We stopped few step away, huddling together as she hissed. \u201cHello?! What was any of that?! Are you seriously going back with him? I thought he was going to kiss you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes, \u201cNo! He was just trying to get a whiff for my pregnacy. But he didn\u2019t find anything, I could tell.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paused for a moment. \u201cThought, he has a point,\u201d I muttered, trying not to sound too annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rae blinked rapidly, \u201cWhat? About sniffing you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I chuckled. \u201cReputation and all that. We did agree to a deal were I make him look good. Maybe it\u2019s time I head back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She tipped the last of her coffee to her lip. \u201cFine, we did have a banger of a day. But if he tries sniffing you again like a creep, I\u2019m kicking him in the teeth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed, genuinely this time as I turned to leave. \u201cDeal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stifferened as her hand caught my sleeve, pulling me back. She softened a little, but her eyes were still worried. \u201cBefore you go, are you feeling okay? Morning sickness yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt comes and goes,\u201d I lied. I wasn\u2019t about to confess in the middle of a public street that I\u2019d nearly thrown up twice just walking past a seafood stall. I was trying ot make this day as perfect a I could.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sighed and launched into a dramatic list of things to avoid, waving her empty coffee cup like a tiny dagger. No caffeine. No raw fish. No lifting heavy things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was too busy laughing, \u201cYes, nurse Rae,\u201d to notice Nolan had circled back until his voice cut through the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFeeling unwell?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both Rae and I jumped near to the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We answered in unison. \u201cJust tired.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes lingered on me longer than I liked. For a moment, I wondered if he could see past it, if he could smell what he was so desperate to prove before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then he just nodded once. \u201cYou two finish you\u2019re shopping. I\u2019ll be waiting in the car by the north side of the shops when you\u2019re done.\u201d He rubbed the back of his nack awkwardly. \u201cGo\u2026 have fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. Rae blinked. Somewhere, a pig probably flew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d I said, completely lost. \u201cThat\u2019s okay, really. We were finishing up\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d he said, straightening his jacket. \u201cAre you sure? I heard outtings like this help with\u2026 depression or\u2026 whatever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We blinked again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since when did he care about my mental health?\u00a0<\/p>\n
((<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a few beats of imcreditbly awkward silence, I waved a hand. \u201cReally\u2026 we\u2019re good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded stiffly and motion to the black car not far from us. \u201cThen shall we go home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could have sworn I was in a twilight zone. Despite my confusion, I nodded, following him to the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He even opened to door for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I climbed in and waved goodbye, mouthing another silent thank you to Rae. She mouthed back, Call me if he breathes too close again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the villa, Nolan barely looked at me as we entered, tossing his jacket to the hook. \u201cI appreciate you corraperation in coming back here, but I have urgent work to do. Don\u2019t disturb me unless it\u2019s important.\u201d 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
And\u2026 the jerk was back to his old self. He must have been real annoyed not to find any scent of my pregnacy, I was careful to show no signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, believe me,\u201d I said, breezing past him, \u201cyou are the last person I\u2019d want to disturb for company.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I headed upstairs, changed into workout clothes, and cranked up music in the guest room. Then I did yoga. Stretched. Hummed along with a playlist. Whistled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was the easiest this house had ever felt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But just when I thought I was in the clear, my stomach lurched. Hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his suspicious look, My body twisted with warning, and I rushed for the bathroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I barely made it to the toilet before I was throwing up everything I\u2019d eaten that day with Rae.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I flushed, wiped my mouth, and sank back against the cool tiles, breathing in through my nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damn the morning sickness\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Cold Marriage That Turned Warm 20 Chapter 20\u00a0 Ellie\u2019s POV\u00a0 He was close. Too close.\u00a0 I could feel Nolan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-unremembered-mate-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23589\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}