Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3069

Seeing Xavier glance in her direction, she quickly retrieved a complimentary eye mask from the nightstand, signaling that she would cover her eyes.

"I already showered," Xavier replied flatly. He turned his head toward her. "Are we turning the lights out?"

The only illumination left in the spacious room came from the warm glow of his bedside lamp.

Lying on his side, Xavier looked directly at Norah. She was looking right back at him. Their gazes locked, and the air in the room suddenly grew unbearably heavy.

They stared at each other in total silence for five full seconds.

Norah's eyes were like deep, pristine lakes, shimmering with unseen ripples in the low light.

The oversized neckline of her sleepwear had slipped, exposing a delicate shoulder and an expanse of luminous skin.

In the next second, the room plunged into absolute darkness.

All the lingering tension and suffocating intimacy vanished into the void.

Under the cover of darkness, Norah bit her lip. She looked past his bed toward the glass doors, where the outdoor lights reflected off the pool, the rippling water perfectly mimicking her erratic heartbeat.

But moments later, the automated blackout curtains smoothly slid shut, blocking out the pool entirely and sealing the room in pitch black.

Knowing he had done it on purpose, Norah let out a soft huff of frustration. She laid flat on her back, crossed her hands over her stomach, and forced her eyes shut.

Xavier closed his eyes as well. The air was thick with the fresh, floral scent of her body wash—faint, yet so intoxicating that it seemed to burn itself into his lungs with every breath.

When Xavier opened his eyes the next morning, a sudden spike of heat jolted through him, instantly erasing any lingering sleep from his brain.

Norah had looked perfectly angelic when she fell asleep, but clearly, all bets were off once she was unconscious.

She had violently kicked the covers off during the night. Half-sprawled on her stomach, her top had bunched all the way up past her ribs, entirely exposing her slender waist and long, incredibly toned legs.

In that fleeting glance, Xavier even caught sight of a tiny, dark mole high up on her thigh.

For the very first time in his life, he cursed his exceptional eyesight.

*

She quickly got dressed, washed up, and practically skipped over to the hotel restaurant to find him.

The dining area was sprawling, but Norah spotted him instantly by the window. He had changed clothes as well, but remained fiercely loyal to his usual aesthetic: a sleek black T-shirt and dark pants. Even so, his imposing, athletic build commanded attention from everyone in the room.

She grabbed a sandwich and a carton of milk, taking a seat across from him with a radiant smile. "The clothes fit perfectly. Thank you!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she remembered that the lingerie fit perfectly too. A flush crept up her neck, and she quickly ducked her head, sipping her milk to play it cool.

Xavier gave a curt nod. "Good."

Norah pulled out her phone. "They must have been expensive. Let me transfer you the money."

Without looking up from his coffee, he replied evenly, "I'll deduct it from your paycheck."

Norah's smile widened. "Deal!"

"Eat up. Once we're done, we have someone to meet," Xavier instructed.