When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 893

Stella was paralyzed by the suddenness of it.

This man rarely ever cracked a smile, and his dark, brooding intensity right now was genuinely intimidating.

Scooped effortlessly into his arms, she could feel the hard muscle of his chest and the strong, rhythmic thumping of his heart, which immediately sent her own pulse racing.

Blushing deeply, she murmured weakly, "Put me down."

"You just hiked up your skirt to show me. Am I not allowed to touch now?"

Caleb's low, gravelly voice brushed right against her ear, making her shrink back.

Just then, the sharp click-clack of heels echoed down the hallway.

Stella panicked. "Someone's coming!"

Only then did Caleb set her back on her feet. She didn't even dare to look at him, sprinting away as fast as she could.

He watched her retreating figure until she safely disappeared into their dining room, then turned and strode into the restroom.

He splashed freezing water over his face, his striking, chiseled features set in hard lines.

He had tried to forget her, but his body remembered everything—and it only wanted her.

After taking a moment to collect himself, he finally headed back.

Inside the private room.

Lemira was getting a lecture from Orion.

He placed some food on her plate. "You seem awfully curious about Caleb."

"Well, yeah. The whole mercenary thing just feels so mysterious."

Thaddeus chimed in. "It's also incredibly dangerous. If he hadn't needed the money so badly back then, he never would have gone to those war zones."

"Couldn't he have gone into business with you guys?"

After all, Orion and Thaddeus had thrown this welcome-home dinner for him, which meant the three of them were tight.

She hadn't ever seen these two introduce any of their other buddies to her before.

The bodyguard was the first.

Thaddeus sighed helplessly. "Caleb has a lot of pride. He's blunt and doesn't do well with corporate politics. He prefers to rely on his own strength."

Lemira understood now. It seemed the bodyguard's character was solid.

Just then, Stella hurried back to the table, her face flushed scarlet.

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