Chapter 319
As he spoke, his hand slipped under her nightgown.
Diana shivered but didn't resist. While stirring the pot, she feigned calm and asked, "Do I not look good at other times?"
Douglas shook his head, showering her face, ear, and neck with gentle kisses, "Sis, you're beautiful all the time, but you're the most stunning in bed."
The sweet nothings were something she hadn't heard before.
"Mmm," Diana let out a soft moan as Douglas's wandering hand became a bit too bold. She quickly grabbed it, giving him a reproachful look. "Are you going to keep calling me 'sis'?"
"If you don't like it, what about 'baby' from now on?" Douglas proposed immediately.
— Baby.
Another shiver ran through Diana, her skin tingling at the thought. She quickly dismissed it, "Not a fan."
"How about 'sweetie'?" he continued, kissing her, clearly amused.
"That's not any better." No one had ever used such an intimate nickname for her.
"Then 'honey' it is."
"Wait, are you planning to marry me now?" Diana turned to him, asking seriously.
Douglas smiled, holding her hand with equal seriousness, "If you don't mind that I'm not established yet, we could go get our license as soon as dawn breaks."
"And your family would be okay with that?" Diana inquired further.
Marriage was about uniting two families, not just two people. She recalled how Yvonne had disliked Teresa, ultimately making Teresa an unattainable dream for Liam.
"Our marriage is our own business. My parents will have to accept it even if they don't want to," Douglas said naïvely.
Diana smiled, not responding, just returning her attention to the pasta.
"Baby, did I say something wrong?" Douglas buried his face in her neck, his voice tinged with a playful whine as he noticed Diana's silence.
— Baby.
Feeling a tremor run through her, she shot him a glance, "Just call me by my name."
"Did I say something wrong? Did I upset you?" Douglas pressed on.
Shaking her head, Diana replied, "No, you didn't say anything wrong. The pasta is almost ready. Go ahead and heat the oil."
Douglas nodded and got to work obediently.
Perhaps it was because they were both starving, but even a simple bowl of pasta seemed incredibly delicious.
After finishing his meal, Douglas's eyes gleamed with a wolfish green light as he stared at Diana, who wore only a thin strap nightgown and seemed eager for more.
Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Diana reached up to cover his eyes, saying, "Don't get any ideas. I've got work early tomorrow."
Douglas took her hand, kissed it gently, and reassured her, "All right, let's get some sleep then."
With a playful glare, Diana extracted her hand from his grasp and proceeded to collect the dishes to wash them in the kitchen.
"I can wash up. You should go to bed," Douglas offered, taking the dishes from her hands with a sense of duty.
"You know how?" Diana asked skeptically.
With a smile, Douglas responded, "You've got to give me a chance. Otherwise, I'll never learn."
Fair enough!
Agreeing wholeheartedly, Diana nodded, "Well, then you're on dish duty from now on."
"You got it!" Douglas agreed cheerfully, planting a kiss on her forehead and saying, "Baby, get some sleep, or you'll have dark circles in the morning."
To Diana, his words meant they were officially a couple, ready to start a future together.
Yes!
Diana felt a warmth inside as she looked at him but kept a neutral expression. She raised an eyebrow, nodded, and headed straight for the bedroom.
Once in bed, however, sleep eluded her.
Her mind raced with the day's events—Lauren's tragic fall, the aftermath, and the unexpected intimacy with Douglas in the evening.
It was all so sudden, so surprising, and she was still struggling to take it in.
Yet, the comforting sounds of Douglas cleaning up in the kitchen brought her a sense of solace.
The long winter night stretched ahead, and at last, she had someone to bring warmth into her life. It was nice.
In the kitchen, despite never having been one for household chores, Douglas moved with unexpected efficiency.
When he finally returned to the bedroom with freshly washed hands, Diana was curled up under the covers, wide awake, eyes glistening as she watched him silently.
Douglas just smiled, quickly undressing, and slipped into bed beside her. Wrapping his arms around Diana, he kissed her deeply and said with a grin, "What, waiting for me?"
"Mmm, waiting for you," Diana answered him with unexpected honesty.
Douglas grinned, thrilled beyond words. He reached over to switch off the bedside lamp, pulled her close, and planted a firm kiss on her forehead. "Let's get some sleep, sweetheart."
"Mmm," Diana murmured in agreement, settling into a comfortable position in his arms before swiftly drifting off into a deep sleep.
