Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3236

Even as they sat down to eat, a faint flush lingered on the tips of Norah's ears.

Gonzalez had prepared a steamed wild bass. Earlier, he had only stepped out of the kitchen to ask if she preferred it braised or steamed.

Norah took a bite. The meat was tender and incredibly flavorful, without a hint of fishiness. She nodded eagerly. "This is delicious!"

Gonzalez lifted his gaze. "Better than the cat's fish jerky?"

Norah's eyes widened. She glared at him, puffing her cheeks out. "The jerky is way better!" she declared stubbornly.

His expression remained perfectly calm. "Next time I buy treats for Circe, I'll be sure to get double."

Even though Norah prided herself on having a thick skin lately, she couldn't hold it in. She burst out laughing.

Gonzalez looked up, meeting the girl's bright, mirth-filled eyes, and the corners of his lips quirked upward into a faint, irresistible smile.

After dinner, Norah volunteered to help him clear the table.

Once the leftover ingredients were tucked away in the fridge, she leaned against the kitchen counter, holding Circe and playing with the cat.

Glancing over her shoulder, she watched Gonzalez washing the dishes. His gray dress shirt was rolled up to his elbows, revealing the sleek, muscular lines of his forearms. He moved at a relaxed, unhurried pace, exuding an effortlessly untamed aura.

He wore tailored slacks that fit him perfectly, accentuating his long legs and creating a striking contrast with his broad, athletic upper body.

She remembered asking Sara why she was so drawn to Gonzalez. Sara had gotten a dreamy look in her eyes, claiming she was obsessed with the wild, slightly dangerous masculinity radiating from him.

At the time, Norah had laughed it off, teasing that it wasn't some magnetic pheromone—he just had a great body.

Sara had only smiled and told her she didn't understand.

Now, letting her gaze sweep over the man's broad shoulders one more time, Norah raised an eyebrow slightly. Holding Circe, she slipped out of the kitchen.

A few moments later, Gonzalez walked into the living room and set a bottle of juice on the table in front of her.

They both froze. Mortified, Norah immediately yanked a tissue from the box and began frantically wiping his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" she babbled, completely flustered. She kept wiping until her hand brushed against the hard column of his throat, stopping abruptly when her fingers grazed his Adam's apple.

She realized what she was doing and froze.

The young woman was leaning over him, completely at a loss, her warm breath fluttering softly against his skin. Gonzalez's jaw tightened. He fought every instinct screaming at him to reach up, cup her cheek, and pull her close.

Instead, he forced himself to stay perfectly still. His body was coiled tight with desire, but he knew any sudden movement would terrify her.

Finally, Norah pulled her hand back, retreating in a panic.

"It's fine," he said, his voice raspy and low. He shifted, pulling one knee up slightly to conceal his physical reaction. Looking at her flushed face, he asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm just a little cold," Norah mumbled, looking down like a child caught causing trouble. "Let's stop the lesson here for tonight. I need to go to bed. You should... go take a shower!"