Chapter 49\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
I woke to a sharp, throbbing pain pulsing at the back of my skull, the kind that made my temples tighten and my stomach twist. A low groan slipped out before I could stop it. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the darkness might somehow soften the ache, but it did nothing. The pounding only grew heavier, like my heartbeat had migrated straight into my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to shift, to bury my face deeper into the pillow, but the smallest movement made my head spin. I frowned, wincing as the tension dragged across my forehead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I felt it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A warm hand pressed against my skin. Fingers brushed across my brow with slow, careful strokes, smoothing over the tight lines I hadn\u2019t even realized I was making. The touch was so soft it almost startled me, like he was afraid any pressure would hurt me more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The warmth seeped into my skin, easing the tight pull of my frown, coaxing the pain back from its sharp edge. My breathing slowed without me meaning to, drawn into the quiet comfort of that simple touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even before I opened my eyes, I knew it was him. Hunter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And for a moment, the memory of everything we did flickered behind my eyelids. I could feel my cheeks heating in quiet humiliation. I had been so furious last night when I saw Hunter with that woman that I ended up drinking far more than I ever should have. I only wanted to numb the anger boiling in my chest, but I never imagined the alcohol would push me into being that bold, that reckless, that forward with him, which led us into one sinful night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was contemplating whether I should pretend to be asleep and wait for him to leave or just face him and deal with it. But as\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remember everything that we did last night, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d have the courage to face him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was a little bit startled when I heard him chuckle. \u201cI know you\u2019re awake. You can\u2019t hide from me forever, little dove,\u201d he said before placing a gentle kiss on my eyelid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pouted my lips as I opened my eyes. I held my breath when I was welcomed by his piercing blue eyes. He was staring at me as if he was trying to reach the depth of my soul.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s already past noon. You should eat,\u201d he said, getting out of bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slowly pushed myself upright, settling against the headboard while watching him cross the room toward the small table near the center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A moment later, he returned to the bed with a tray of food in his hands, the warm scent drifting toward me as he set it down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEat while it\u2019s still warm,\u201d Hunter said, placing the tray on my lap. \u201cI\u2019ll take a quick shower,\u201d he added before planting a soft kiss on my lips. He then turned away, and I got a chance to truly look at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The faint sheen of sweat on his skin caught the light as he moved, drawing my eyes down the strong lines of his back, the curve of his shoulders, and the way every muscle shifted beneath his skin. His hair was still slightly damp at the ends, sticking to his forehead, a clear sign he\u2019d already been awake for quite some time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s probably been up for quite a while, which has allowed me to do some exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze drifted lower, taking in the way his sweatpants clung to his hips, sitting low enough to make my throat tighten. His body looked carved, every muscle defined, every movement effortless. The sight of him sent a warm flush up my neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed, suddenly very aware of the way my pulse fluttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Dec 30 MJ\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced over his shoulder, catching me staring before I could even pretend otherwise. His eyes held mine for a beat too long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEat,\u201d he repeated softly. Then his lips lifted, slow and knowing, the kind of smile that curled heat low in my stomach. \u201cJoin me later after you finish your food if you\u2019re craving for some of this,\u201d he added, tapping two fingers against his sweat- dampened abdomen before turning away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath caught.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said it so casually, as if he didn\u2019t know exactly what that did to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter walked toward the bathroom with a confidence that made it impossible not to stare. His shoulders rolled with each step. The towel draped around his neck brushed against his chest, teasing my imagination even more than his words did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He knew I was looking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He knew, and he didn\u2019t hide a damn thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before entering the bathroom, he paused for a second and glanced back at me. The steam from the shower was already beginning to curl through the open doorway, softening the sharpness of his features and turning his expression into something far too tempting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes dipped over me once, slow and deliberate, then lifted back to mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t take too long,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door closed behind him, and the sound of running water filled the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat there frozen, the tray warm on my lap but my body feeling anything but steady. My fingers tightened around the fork as a flush ran straight up my chest and neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scolded myself for feeling insatiable. I lost count of how many times we did it last night, yet only the sight of him was enough to awaken the desire lingering inside of me. Since when did I start to become such a sex\u2013starved maniac?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pushed those wicked thoughts out of my mind and drew in a steadying breath before forcing myself to focus on the food. I managed only a few bites before a wave of nausea rolled through me. There was no way I could keep anything down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Setting the utensils aside, I reached for the medicine placed beside the plate and swallowed it quickly, hoping it would help even a little. After moving the tray away, I crawled back under the blankets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head throbbed in a slow, punishing rhythm. I felt drained and heavy, my body begging for rest. All I wanted was to lie down and let sleep pull me under. I promised myself silently, with whatever clarity I had left, that I would never drink like that again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long before exhaustion wrapped around me, and I drifted off once more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A soft touch brushed my shoulder, warm and careful, as if he was trying not to startle me. my body felt too heavy to fully wake. The gentle pressure came again, a quiet coaxing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stirred, my\u00a0<\/p>\n
lashes fluttering, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, you need to get up,\u201d Hunter murmured, his voice low and steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shifted, and that was when his scent reached me. Fresh soap, clean skin, and a deep, masculine hint that was unmistakably him. It wrapped around me, slipping through the fog in my head far more effectively than the medicine I had taken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Dec 30 MP\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without thinking. I moved closer to the source.\u00a0<\/p>\n
56 rocheik\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of sitting up like he wanted, I nuzzled toward him and buried my face against his chest. The heat of his body seeped into mine instantly. His skin was still slightly damp from the shower, and the mixture of warmth and scent made my breath catch in a quiet sigh. I inhaled deeply, letting it fill my lungs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter stilled for a heartbeat, his chest freezing beneath my cheek. Then his breathing shifted, becoming slower and calmer, as if my reaction settled something inside him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as I want to stay like this forever, we have a wedding to prepare,\u201d he murmured. His hand kept moving through my hair, slow and gentle, as if he couldn\u2019t help touching me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScrew the wedding,\u201d I muttered, pressing my face even tighter against his chest. The warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the comforting scent clinging to his skin\u2026 I didn\u2019t want to move. Not even an inch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter let out a low, amused chuckle that rumbled through his chest and into my cheek. \u201cIf I have to put a gun to your head just to marry me, I would.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my face just enough to glare at him, though it was more a half\u2013awake pout than an actual threat. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t do\u00a0<\/p>\n
that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would if I had to. So, if you don\u2019t want a shotgun wedding. Then, you better get up,\u201d he said, cupping the back of my head to keep me close. \u201cBecause there\u2019s nothing in this lifetime that will stop me from marrying you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His thumb brushed against my nape, a soft, lazy stroke that sent warmth spreading down my spine. I could feel him studying me, waiting for me to argue or tease him back. But I didn\u2019t. I just held on tighter and buried my face against his chest once again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFive more minutes,\u201d I whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, the kind that wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I felt his hand glide down to the small of my back, steady and sure, as if he already knew I wasn\u2019t planning to move anytime soon. His skin still carried the heat from the shower, and the clean scent of him made my eyes flutter shut all over again. For a moment, it was easy to imagine that nothing existed outside this small cocoon we\u2019d made in his arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both know,\u201d he said softly, \u201cif I let you have five more minutes, it\u2019s going to turn into ten.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d I mumbled, my lips grazing his chest. \u201cWhy? Are you complaining?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His breath hitched just enough for me to feel it. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dare.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shifted slightly, sliding his fingers through my hair, massaging the back of my head in slow circles that made me melt against him. I could feel the steady beat of his heart under my cheek, calm and certain, as if he belonged here and nowhere else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d he whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. \u201cFive more minutes. But I\u2019m counting them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 50\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby\u2019s writing style is bold and irresistible\u2014perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 49 Chapter 49\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 I woke to a sharp, throbbing pain […]<\/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":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24400","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=24400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24400\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}