Chapter 66\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped out of the bathroom slowly, the plush bathrobe wrapped tightly around me as if it were armor. The cool air kissed my damp skin, making me acutely aware of how little I was wearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was already there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood near the window, now dressed in nothing but gray sweatpants, his upper body bare, relaxed yet impossibly alert. Water still clung to his hair, darkening the strands, and the faint glow from the lights traced the hard lines of his shoulders. and chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My steps faltered despite myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His gaze lifted the moment he sensed me, slow and deliberate, skimming over me in a way that made my grip on the robe tighten. He didn\u2019t smile. He didn\u2019t smirk. That somehow made it worse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour clothes are in the top drawer,\u201d he said calmly, as if we weren\u2019t standing on the edge of something dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cO\u2013Okay,\u201d I replied, my voice softer than I intended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment before turning toward the dresser, his words echoing in my head. Top drawer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did that sound like a warning instead of a simple instruction?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slid the drawer open slowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath caught.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside wasn\u2019t the cotton sleepwear I\u2019d expected. No oversized shirts. No modest pajamas. Just soft fabric folded neatly in dark, sinful shades. Silk. Lace. Thin straps that looked like they were meant to barely cling to skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers hovered over the edge of the drawer, unsure whether to laugh or close it in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has to be a mistake,\u201d I muttered under my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, I felt him before I heard him. His presence shifted the air in the room, heavy and unavoidable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not,\u201d he said evenly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
30\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced over my shoulder. He hadn\u2019t moved closer, but his eyes were on the drawer, on me. Calm. Unapologetic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou expect me to wear this?\u201d I asked, lifting one piece between my fingers, lace slipping like water through my grip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tilted his head slightly. \u201cI expect you to sleep comfortably.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scoffed. \u201cIn that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His gaze met mine, slow and assessing, but still restrained. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to wear anything you don\u2019t want to,\u201d he said. \u201cI prefer you wear nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That sent an unwanted shiver down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shut the drawer a little too hard. \u201cIn your dreams.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he replied quietly, \u201ca man can dream.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 66\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in this lifetime. I shot back. I yanked open the rest of the dresser, determined to find anything that wasn\u2019t lace and temptation. My resolve faltered when I realized every drawer held the same thing, neatly arranged like some twisted joke I glanced at him, irritation burning in my eyes, but he only answered with that infuriating, knowing grin\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes hard enough it almost hurt and turned back to the dresser, searching again just in case I\u2019d missed something. That\u2019s when I noticed another drawer, Inside were nothing but plain white shirts and identical sweatpants, all folded with military precision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t hesitate this time. I grabbed one of the shirts and a pair of his boxers. Crude or not, they were far better than wearing something that barely counted as clothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t bother looking at him as I gathered the clothes against my chest and marched toward the bathroom again, my chin lifted in defiance. If he thought he could corner me into\u00a0<\/p>\n
into wearing lace and whispers, he was dead wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, I heard a low chuckle. Not loud. Not mocking. Just amused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re stealing my clothes now?\u201d he asked calmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re more decent than whatever that was,\u201d I shot back, kicking the bathroom door shut behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I slipped into the oversized shirt first. It swallowed me whole, the hem brushing mid\u2013thigh, his scent clinging to the fabric like it had been waiting for me. Clean. Masculine. Too familiar for comfort. I hesitated with the boxers, then tugged them on anyway, tying the waistband tight like it could somehow armor me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I stepped back out, he was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, posture relaxed. Far too relaxed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes lifted to me, and for a split second, something flickered there. Not hunger. Not triumph. Something quieter. Something dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cClever,\u201d he paused, choosing his words carefully, \u201cand rather unexpected.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I folded my arms. \u201cDisappointed?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He straightened slowly, pushing off the wall. \u201cNo,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cWhat you failed to understand is what you\u2019re wearing right now was more tempting than that lingerie. That\u2019s my boxer you\u2019re wearing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt heat creep up my neck. \u201cDon\u2019t start.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d he replied, his gaze lingering just long enough to make my pulse jump. \u201cYou did. You walked out wearing my clothes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you left me no choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the bed. \u201cThen sleep. You look like you could use the rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cThen where are you planning on spending the night?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my bed, of course,\u201d he replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re joking, right?\u201d I said, squinting my eyes at him like a warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I look like I\u2019m joking to you?\u201d he asked, raising his eyebrow with a challenging look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, incredulous. \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He arched a brow, clearly amused. \u201cYou\u2019re the one standing in my room, wearing my clothes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re the one who dragged me here against my will,\u201d I shot back. \u201cThe least you can do is give up the bed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:54 Mon, Jan 12 D\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0<\/p>\n
He crossed his arm. leaning against the dresser, completely unbothered. I don\u2019t recall agreeing to that\u00a0<\/p>\n
(huffed. Tine. Then you take the couch\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is no couch,\u201d he replied smoothly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1 looked around, then glared at him again. \u201cYou planned this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlanned what?\u201d he asked innocently. \u201cAre you sleeping comfortably?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scoffed. You\u2019re unbelievable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I?\u201d He said, stepping closer, his voice lowering just enough to make my pulse jump. \u201cYou\u2019re the one who makes things complicated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1 pointed a finger at the bed. \u201cI\u2019m taking that side. You stay on yours. No touching. No funny business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled under his breath. \u201cYou make a lot of rules for someone with no leverage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTry breaking them and see what happens,\u201d I warned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips twitched, like he was enjoying this far too much. \u201cRelax. I don\u2019t bite, unless you want me to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDream on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I do,\u201d he said lightly, turning toward the bed. \u201cEvery night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I muttered something under my breath and climbed onto the far edge of the mattress, pulling the blanket around myself like armor. He lay down on the opposite side, stretching out as if this were the most natural thing in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The space between us felt small. Charged. Loud in its silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight,\u201d he said calmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then replied, \u201cDon\u2019t get any ideas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A pause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, softly, \u201cToo late.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shifted on the mattress, the awareness of him beside me far too sharp to ignore. The space between us felt thinner now, like the air itself had tightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nope. Absolutely not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached for one of the pillows and shoved it between us, then grabbed another for good measure and stacked it on top, building a flimsy little wall like it was a serious line of defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere,\u201d I muttered, satisfied. \u201cBoundary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned his head slightly, watching me with open amusement, \u201cYou think that\u2019s going to stop me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said firmly, even as I adjusted the pillows again, pressing them closer to his side. \u201cPsychologically.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A low chuckle vibrated from his chest. \u201cYou\u2019re adorable when you\u2019re defensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not adorable,\u201d I snapped. \u201cI\u2019m cautious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSame thing,\u201d he replied easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:54 Mon, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 66\u00a0<\/p>\n
no matter how\u00a0<\/p>\n
blurred\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tugged the blanket higher, turning my back to him, clinging to the edge of the bed like it was neutral territory. The pillows\u00a0<\/p>\n
ridiculous. felt\u00a0<\/p>\n
and 1 knew it. But they something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
were\u00a0<\/p>\n
A reminder that there was still a line. everything else felt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, the mattress dipped slightly as he settled in more comfortably,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know,\u201d he said quietly, his voice suddenly closer than I liked, \u201cpillows move when people sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stiffened. \u201cThen don\u2019t move.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another soft laugh. \u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
24\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u30df\u30e3\u00a0<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes, heart thudding, listening to his steady breathing, painfully aware of how awake I still was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The pillows stayed between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
in t\u00a0<\/p>\n
For\u00a0<\/p>\n
now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
**\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 66 Chapter 66\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 I stepped out of the bathroom slowly, […]<\/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-24417","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\/24417","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=24417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}