Chapter 191 Burning Heat
Tonight, Ashley slowly walked to the bedroom by herself without Damian's help. But lying on the bed, she felt immense pressure and shame.
Damian went to take a shower. He would definitely see the dirty clothes inside, and with his casual question, it was certain that no one had sent her clothes. All the information told him 'I'm not wearing anything underneath'.
As a divorced woman, she had experienced everything and seen all kinds of scenes. She shouldn't act shy like a little woman, but the two words "ex-husband" placed there could easily break down her defenses.
Ashley pulled the blanket up, covering herself from head to toe.
Before long, Damian, who had finished washing up, walked in. He dried his hair, the hot air from the bathroom enveloping him, even raising the temperature in the bedroom by several degrees.
Ashley pretended to be asleep, but her toes were already tense, her arches almost straightening.
Last night, she had been too injured to feel anything, and she slept peacefully till dawn. Could she sleep soundly tonight as well?
Damian's footsteps drew closer, the rhythmic sound like a threatening beat on her heart monitor, each step an electric jolt, driving her crazy.
Finally, Damian reached the other side of the bed. He loosened his robe and lifted the thin blanket, causing a corner of the bed to sink. The scent of his shampoo and body wash, mingled with a hint of male pheromones, filled the air.
Ashley gently moved to the edge, pressed against the side of the bed, and she would fall off if she took one more move.
Damian's lips curled up, the exhaustion of the night seemed to shatter in her small movements, replaced by comfort, "Don't be afraid. I don't bite people."
This sentence, however, made her even more uneasy.
Ashley buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled. "It's late, Mr. Hearst. Go to bed early. Good night."
After saying that, she seemed to fall asleep instantly.
Damian saw her unmoving back, his smile growing slightly, completely unaware that this smile was a hundred times more perfect than the ones he had practiced in front of the mirror when his grandfather mocked him before. " No need to pretend. I said nothing will happen, and nothing will. You're safe."
Ashley vividly remembered the crazy things he did on their way back from the camping trip last time. Just thinking about it made her shudder; she couldn't bear it.
"I'm tired. My eyes hurt from a busy day."
"Okay, I'll turn off the light."
The light went out, and the room plunged into darkness and silence. The sound of a man slipping into the sheets by her ear—everything happening in the dark felt so natural yet ambiguous.
Ashley was on edge, mainly due to the smooth sensation on her body. It was too easy to let her mind wander.
Damian kept his word, not making a sound or any movement.
Unconsciously, Ashley let down her guard, sinking into a deep sleep.
Damian, however, was much more uncomfortable. Exhausted from the day, he had hoped to sleep a few hours, but just as he was getting drowsy, a soft, fragrant body rolled over to his side.
Damian's spine tightened. His hand moved, touching smooth skin. His large hand opened, feeling a curved shape, the delicate shoulder of a woman, barely a handful..
Ashley's robe loosened, slipping off her shoulders. Almost her entire upper body was in the man's night vision.
Damian's blood rushed to his head, filling him up.
Perhaps the pain had eased; she wasn't awakened by it in her dreams. She acted boldly, turning over, and even more, her arm clinging to a reliable object, sticking like an octopus.
With her half-open chest against his, Damian's inner defenses, even if they were like a thousand-mile city wall, were in vain.
The woman in his arms breathed long and comfortably, seeming to enjoy this position.
Damian, afraid of waking her, remained still as she held onto him, not tugging at her clothes, gaining a "self-harm" reward from the contact with her skin.
He hadn't paid much attention to Ashley's sleeping habits before, or maybe he hadn't given himself the chance.
In their three years of marriage, they occasionally slept together, but he would usually leave the bedroom for another room afterward, waking up alone to exercise at the gym the next morning.
Just holding him wasn't enough. Ashley's long slender leg wrapped around his, her foot rubbing against his leg,
A crucial nerve in Damian's brain snapped.
Ashley nestled in his arm, taking a comfortable deep breath.
Every inch of skin touched by her breath seemed to burn.
Damian was stiff all over, one arm wrapped around her back to prevent her from slipping, the other hand gently roamed over the woman's smooth spine.
The silky sensation triggered the deepest desires in the man's heart.
Ashley let out a soft sound, burying her head in his chest, seemingly uncomfortable with the external caress.
Damian paused for a moment, seeing she didn't make a sound. His hand covered hers again.
He regretted the self-inflicted suffering, but also savored this tiny bit of sweetness. This night, he might lose ten years of his life.
As the sky revealed a faint fish-belly white, Damian's mind was still clear, the heat lingering, his whole body tingling.
Finally, Ashley changed her position, turning back over.
Damian let out a silent sigh of relief, lifted the blanket, and walked barefoot into the bathroom, setting the shower to the lowest temperature for an indefinite rinse.
By the time Ashley woke up completely, it was already eight a.m., and the bed was empty.
She rubbed her temples, not seeing Damian.
Her waist didn't hurt as much. Ashley tried to move a bit, smiling with relief.
But when she saw the bathrobe barely hanging on, her smile vanished completely.
What had she done last night?
Damian came back from his morning run, sitting on the living room sofa looking at his computer; he looked up at Ashley walking over, nonchalantly taking a sip of coffee. " It looks like you're feeling better."
Ashley's unhealthy thoughts vanished instantly, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Damian nodded towards the sofa. "Pick out an outfit you like. I had housekeeping take away your clothes from yesterday."
There was a whole row of women's clothing on hangers, including both inner and outer wear, long and short, featuring the latest styles from several brands.
Ashley's carefully composed expression crumbled again, "How did you know?"
Damian crossed one leg, flipping through a file without looking up. "I saw it."
Ashley blushed instantly, like almost bleeding. "You..."
" Enough, get dressed and have breakfast. I have a lot to do today, and you won't be idle either."
He said it so seriously that Ashley didn't want to be melodramatic. She chose a business casual outfit, everything in her size and matching her usual preferences.
Trying to stay calm, Ashley asked, "Do you still remember my size?"
Damian's answer almost made her burst out laughing. "I actually forgot, so I measured it."
As he spoke, he extended his hand as if showing a measuring tool.
Ashley felt completely exposed under his gaze, "You..."
