Chased by My Possessive Ex (Dylan) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

DYLAN

I woke to a sharp, throbbing pain pulsing at the back of my skull, the kind that made my temples tighten and my stomach twist. A low groan slipped out before I could stop it. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the darkness might somehow soften the ache, but it did nothing. The pounding only grew heavier, like my heartbeat had migrated straight into my head.

I tried to shift, to bury my face deeper into the pillow, but the smallest movement made my head spin. I frowned, wincing as the tension dragged across my forehead.

Then I felt it.

A warm hand pressed against my skin. Fingers brushed across my brow with slow, careful strokes, smoothing over the tight lines I hadn’t even realized I was making. The touch was so soft it almost startled me, like he was afraid any pressure would hurt me more.

The warmth seeped into my skin, easing the tight pull of my frown, coaxing the pain back from its sharp edge. My breathing slowed without me meaning to, drawn into the quiet comfort of that simple touch.

Even before I opened my eyes, I knew it was him. Hunter.

And for a moment, the memory of everything we did flickered behind my eyelids. I could feel my cheeks heating in quiet humiliation. I had been so furious last night when I saw Hunter with that woman that I ended up drinking far more than I ever should have. I only wanted to numb the anger boiling in my chest, but I never imagined the alcohol would push me into being that bold, that reckless, that forward with him, which led us into one sinful night.

I was contemplating whether I should pretend to be asleep and wait for him to leave or just face him and deal with it. But as

I remember everything that we did last night, I don’t think I’d have the courage to face him.

I was a little bit startled when I heard him chuckle. “I know you’re awake. You can’t hide from me forever, little dove,” he said before placing a gentle kiss on my eyelid.

I pouted my lips as I opened my eyes. I held my breath when I was welcomed by his piercing blue eyes. He was staring at me as if he was trying to reach the depth of my soul.

“It’s already past noon. You should eat,” he said, getting out of bed.

I slowly pushed myself upright, settling against the headboard while watching him cross the room toward the small table near the center.

A moment later, he returned to the bed with a tray of food in his hands, the warm scent drifting toward me as he set it down.

“Eat while it’s still warm,” Hunter said, placing the tray on my lap. “I’ll take a quick shower,” he added before planting a soft kiss on my lips. He then turned away, and I got a chance to truly look at him.

The faint sheen of sweat on his skin caught the light as he moved, drawing my eyes down the strong lines of his back, the curve of his shoulders, and the way every muscle shifted beneath his skin. His hair was still slightly damp at the ends, sticking to his forehead, a clear sign he’d already been awake for quite some time.

He’s probably been up for quite a while, which has allowed me to do some exercise.

My gaze drifted lower, taking in the way his sweatpants clung to his hips, sitting low enough to make my throat tighten. His body looked carved, every muscle defined, every movement effortless. The sight of him sent a warm flush up my neck.

I swallowed, suddenly very aware of the way my pulse fluttered.

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Chapter 49

He glanced over his shoulder, catching me staring before I could even pretend otherwise. His eyes held mine for a beat too long.

“Eat,” he repeated softly. Then his lips lifted, slow and knowing, the kind of smile that curled heat low in my stomach. “Join me later after you finish your food if you’re craving for some of this,” he added, tapping two fingers against his sweat- dampened abdomen before turning away.

My breath caught.

He said it so casually, as if he didn’t know exactly what that did to me.

Hunter walked toward the bathroom with a confidence that made it impossible not to stare. His shoulders rolled with each step. The towel draped around his neck brushed against his chest, teasing my imagination even more than his words did.

He knew I was looking.

He knew, and he didn’t hide a damn thing.

Before entering the bathroom, he paused for a second and glanced back at me. The steam from the shower was already beginning to curl through the open doorway, softening the sharpness of his features and turning his expression into something far too tempting.

His eyes dipped over me once, slow and deliberate, then lifted back to mine.

“Don’t take too long,” he said.

The door closed behind him, and the sound of running water filled the room.

I sat there frozen, the tray warm on my lap but my body feeling anything but steady. My fingers tightened around the fork as a flush ran straight up my chest and neck.

I scolded myself for feeling insatiable. I lost count of how many times we did it last night, yet only the sight of him was enough to awaken the desire lingering inside of me. Since when did I start to become such a sex–starved maniac?

I pushed those wicked thoughts out of my mind and drew in a steadying breath before forcing myself to focus on the food. I managed only a few bites before a wave of nausea rolled through me. There was no way I could keep anything down.

Setting the utensils aside, I reached for the medicine placed beside the plate and swallowed it quickly, hoping it would help even a little. After moving the tray away, I crawled back under the blankets.

My head throbbed in a slow, punishing rhythm. I felt drained and heavy, my body begging for rest. All I wanted was to lie down and let sleep pull me under. I promised myself silently, with whatever clarity I had left, that I would never drink like that again.

It didn’t take long before exhaustion wrapped around me, and I drifted off once more.

A soft touch brushed my shoulder, warm and careful, as if he was trying not to startle me. my body felt too heavy to fully wake. The gentle pressure came again, a quiet coaxing.

I stirred, my

lashes fluttering, but

“Sweetheart, you need to get up,” Hunter murmured, his voice low and steady.

I shifted, and that was when his scent reached me. Fresh soap, clean skin, and a deep, masculine hint that was unmistakably him. It wrapped around me, slipping through the fog in my head far more effectively than the medicine I had taken.

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Chapter 49

Without thinking. I moved closer to the source.

56 rocheik

Instead of sitting up like he wanted, I nuzzled toward him and buried my face against his chest. The heat of his body seeped into mine instantly. His skin was still slightly damp from the shower, and the mixture of warmth and scent made my breath catch in a quiet sigh. I inhaled deeply, letting it fill my lungs.

Hunter stilled for a heartbeat, his chest freezing beneath my cheek. Then his breathing shifted, becoming slower and calmer, as if my reaction settled something inside him.

“As much as I want to stay like this forever, we have a wedding to prepare,” he murmured. His hand kept moving through my hair, slow and gentle, as if he couldn’t help touching me.

“Screw the wedding,” I muttered, pressing my face even tighter against his chest. The warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the comforting scent clinging to his skin… I didn’t want to move. Not even an inch.

Hunter let out a low, amused chuckle that rumbled through his chest and into my cheek. “If I have to put a gun to your head just to marry me, I would.”

I lifted my face just enough to glare at him, though it was more a half–awake pout than an actual threat. “You wouldn’t do

that.”

“I would if I had to. So, if you don’t want a shotgun wedding. Then, you better get up,” he said, cupping the back of my head to keep me close. “Because there’s nothing in this lifetime that will stop me from marrying you.”

His thumb brushed against my nape, a soft, lazy stroke that sent warmth spreading down my spine. I could feel him studying me, waiting for me to argue or tease him back. But I didn’t. I just held on tighter and buried my face against his chest once again.

“Five more minutes,” I whispered.

His chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, the kind that wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I felt his hand glide down to the small of my back, steady and sure, as if he already knew I wasn’t planning to move anytime soon. His skin still carried the heat from the shower, and the clean scent of him made my eyes flutter shut all over again. For a moment, it was easy to imagine that nothing existed outside this small cocoon we’d made in his arms.

“We both know,” he said softly, “if I let you have five more minutes, it’s going to turn into ten.”

“Maybe,” I mumbled, my lips grazing his chest. “Why? Are you complaining?”

His breath hitched just enough for me to feel it. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He shifted slightly, sliding his fingers through my hair, massaging the back of my head in slow circles that made me melt against him. I could feel the steady beat of his heart under my cheek, calm and certain, as if he belonged here and nowhere else.

“Alright,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. “Five more minutes. But I’m counting them.”

Chapter 50