Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3260

Norah yanked her gaze away, staring at everything but him as her voice cracked. "Oh, you... you are home."

"Got back yesterday," he said. He had been about to turn back to his bedroom to grab a shirt, but the moment his eyes swept over her, he hesitated.

Her hair was tied back in a loose, low ponytail, and a light blue striped shawl rested casually over a crisp white button-down, showing off the elegant line of her neck. She looked effortlessly beautiful.

Right now, a deep crimson flush was creeping up the tips of her ears. It was brighter and more stunning than the golden afternoon sunlight spilling through the windows, sending a sudden jolt straight to his chest.

It was as if that radiant warmth had pierced straight through the bleak emptiness of his world, stirring up an undeniable tempest within him.

He crossed the room, leaning over to grab his cigarettes off the coffee table. Being inches away, he could practically feel the tension radiating off her rigid body. She kept her eyes glued to Circe, too terrified to blink.

He looked down at her, his voice dropping an octave. "Norah."

"Huh?" She jerked her head up, her vocal cords tight. When she accidentally made eye contact, her focus completely scrambled.

As their eyes locked, a seductive darkness swirled in his depths. "Are you hot?" he murmured smoothly. "Your face is burning up."

If he didn't look so perfectly serious, she would have sworn he was teasing her.

Refusing to let her eyes wander downward, she stared intensely into his eyes and nodded. "Just came in from outside. It's a bit warm."

"I'll turn down the AC," he offered.

"Sure!"

Gonzalez grabbed the remote to adjust the thermostat before turning back. "What do you want for dinner?"

He was standing right in front of her. The clean scent of his body wash mixed with the sharp edge of tobacco completely enveloped her, leaving her feeling dizzy and breathless.

She lowered her eyes, desperate to regain her composure. "Didn't you say you were making me something good? Aren't you prepped?"

"Let me go throw a shirt on, and I'll start cooking," he replied.

Norah turned her attention back to the cat and nodded vigorously.

Once he disappeared into the master bedroom, the heavy blush staining her ears still hadn't faded. She lightly pinched Circe's ear. "You knew he was home. Why didn't you warn me?"

She snapped back to reality. "Yeah?"

"Where did you go just now?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Thinking about boyfriends," she blurted out without missing a beat.

Gonzalez froze.

Norah mentally screamed.

She desperately wished the floor would just swallow her whole and spit her out back at her own apartment.

His brow furrowed instantly, a heavy shadow crossing his features. After a tense silence, he asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

She gave a rapid, panicked shake of her head.

"Then what boyfriend were you thinking about?" he demanded smoothly.