Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3538

Carson's eyes crinkled in a smile, a boyish look of triumph crossing his handsome face. "I knew it."

He turned and walked straight toward the en-suite bathroom in her room. "I'll just shower in here, then."

Marina rushed after him. "No way!"

Carson looked back over his shoulder. "Why not?"

Looking into eyes that seemed surprisingly clear despite the alcohol, Marina stammered, "There are no towels for you here, and you don't have pajamas."

Carson brushed off the concern. "I'll use yours."

With that, he pushed the bathroom door open. Seeing Marina following him, he turned back and asked, "Are you going to help me wash?"

Marina was ready to pull her hair out. Help you? In your dreams!

The bathroom door clicked shut, and soon the sound of the running shower filled the room. The frosted glass outlined his tall, athletic frame, his long legs distinctly visible. Marina's face burned, and she quickly turned her back.

A short while later, the man stepped out of the bathroom with only a long towel wrapped low around his waist. His broad shoulders and toned chest were on full display. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Marina's mind went completely blank for a second.

Carson casually tossed the towel he'd used to dry his hair onto the table, then pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. He wrapped his long arms around Marina's waist, resting his head on her stomach.

It was a dependent, almost boyish posture. The fact that his skin carried the scent of her own body wash sent Marina's heart racing.

"Marina," Carson murmured softly.

Marina leaned back against the headboard, her voice tight. "Yeah?"

He shifted upward, resting his head directly over her heart. In the quiet of the night, his deep, magnetic voice hummed. "Your heart is beating so fast."

Marina instinctively held her breath.

A ripple of emotion broke through Marina's frozen stare, like a gust of wind unsettling a calm lake, scattering the moonlight across the surface. Beneath that fragile composure, a turbulent storm was already brewing.

His eyes were pitch-black, consumed by a need he couldn't hide. His voice was completely ragged. "Please don't tell me to stop right now."

But Marina just hugged him tight, shaking her head against his chest.

Carson could acutely feel her hesitation and lingering anxiety. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breathing heavy with restraint. "Don't be scared. I'm not going to force you. I'm going to make sure that when this happens... you'll want me completely."

They stayed wrapped in each other's arms as their breathing slowly leveled out. Carson pulled the blanket up, tucking her securely against him. "Let's get some sleep."

Sensing that he might have sobered up a bit, Marina asked in a muffled voice, "Don't you need to... go to the bathroom?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she heard a low chuckle rumble through his chest.

Her face flooded with heat, utterly mortified.

His thumb gently stroked her cheek. The tenderness in his touch gave Marina an unexpected sense of comfort and absolute security. Closing her eyes, she quickly drifted off to sleep.