Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1582

Emmy listened closely to the commotion outside. It definitely didn't sound like a firefight. The rhythmic pops and cracks were clearly fireworks. Her taut nerves finally relaxed. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes and continued to kiss him back with everything she had. Yet even with her taking the initiative, the man pressing her into the mattress maintained an agonizingly restrained gentleness. His lips simply brushed against hers without a trace of his usual consuming urgency. That forced Emmy to tentatively trace the shape of his mouth with her tongue, parting his lips to deepen the kiss. It didn't take long for her to notice his obvious physical reaction. The scorching heat radiating through their clothing was too potent to ignore.

James's breathing had already grown ragged. His mouth slowly moved from her lips, trailing along her jawline until he was kissing the delicate skin behind her ear. His heavy, burning exhales fanned against her ear, making Emmy shiver as a tingling sensation spread down half her body. Her heart ached knowing how long he had been pushing himself, so she reached up and gently patted his back. "Do you want to sleep?" she asked. She meant it quite literally. She just wanted him to get some shut-eye and regain his strength.

To her surprise, the man buried in her neck suddenly stopped. James lifted his head. His deep, dark eyes were swirling with intense, repressed desire, and his voice was startlingly hoarse when he let out a low chuckle right next to her ear. "You just had a scare with the baby. Even if you want it, I don't dare oblige. No matter how much I'm dying for you, it will have to wait until you're completely recovered."

Emmy froze for a second before realizing where his dirty mind had gone. Her face uncontrollably flushed red, the heat spreading all the way to the tips of her ears. "James! I meant for you to get under the covers and actually sleep!"

Seeing her glare at him with wide, embarrassed eyes made James think she was the most adorable thing in the world. He lowered his head and pressed a deeply cherishing kiss to the side of her neck. "I know." Reluctantly, he released his grip on her waist and sat up on the edge of the bed. "I still have some things to wrap up after we leave international waters, so I can't stay in bed with you right now. Get some good rest. When I'm done, I'll come back and cuddle with you."

Seeing the heavy dark circles under his eyes made Emmy's heart twist, and she pulled her brows together in distress. She propped herself up on her elbows and tugged at the hem of his shirt. "Have you gone days without closing your eyes?"

James turned his head, his large hand gently ruffling her hair as he offered her a reassuring look. "I'm fine. This is nothing. I'm nowhere near my limit." He bent down to lace up his combat boots. "Rest for a bit longer. Nina should be here to check on you shortly. If you really can't sleep, have the girl keep you company." With that, James's tall, commanding figure strode out of the cabin.

Emmy slowly leaned back against her soft pillows, unable to stop a long sigh from escaping her lips. She really couldn't fall asleep now. Her mind involuntarily began to race. Why had James suddenly asked her about parallel universes earlier? And his reaction when he asked that question had been completely off. Also, even though James had always been incredibly tender and doting since they fell in love, he had never been quite like this. His gentleness today carried a strange, almost fragile vulnerability. The man holding her just moments ago hadn't felt like a hardened elite soldier at all. Instead, he seemed like a child lost in the dark, clinging to her with an almost obsessive dependence and fear. Emmy lowered her eyes, her fingers absently tracing the curve of her stomach. Just as her thoughts began to drift further away, the cabin door was shoved open.