Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3460

Her eyes flew open, meeting his deep, ocean-like gaze. Sparks seemed to flash in those dark depths, swirling with a storm that completely swallowed her reflection.

He cupped her face, cradling her as delicately as if she were made of glass. His kiss was masterful, leaving her with absolutely no chance to struggle.

A tingling, electric sensation coursed through her veins. Marina melted against him, unconsciously fluttering her eyes shut.

The hazy midnight lights, the faint scent of sandalwood clinging to him, and the burning heat of his mouth created a dizzying illusion. She felt like an exhausted traveler trekking through a scorching desert who suddenly slipped into a warm bath. The water washed away all the dirt and fatigue, making every nerve in her body sing with relief. She couldn't help but keep her eyes closed, greedily sinking deeper into the warmth.

Suddenly, he pulled away. Marina instinctively grabbed his shirt, keeping her eyes shut as she mumbled, "Don't stop, I can tip you extra!"

The moment the words left her mouth, the metaphorical bathwater instantly turned freezing cold, chilling her to the bone.

She opened her eyes and was met with Carson's scrutinizing glare.

"Baby, where exactly have you been the last two days?"

Alarm bells shrieked in Marina's head. She shoved him hard, spun around, and sprinted for her bedroom.

Carson reached out to grab her but only managed to catch a handful of her soft sweater. She twisted deftly, slipping out of his grasp like a fish.

Darting into her room, she slammed the door shut and quickly locked it. Leaning against the wood, she stood there panting heavily.

Thinking back to what she had just said, she tilted her head back against the door and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

*

A short while later, the doorbell rang. Carson opened it to find a delivery driver. "Breakfast ordered by Ms. Evert!"

Carson's lips twitched into a smirk as he reached out to take the bags.

Later that morning, Marina went to the hospital. Jude was already awake, and he reached out to her when he saw her walk in.

Marina took his hand, her eyes rimmed red. "You're okay now. The doctor said the bleeding wasn't severe and didn't hit any major functional areas. You can make a full recovery."

Marina shot him a playful glare with her bright eyes. "Who's avoiding you?"

He let out a low chuckle. "I thought you were trying to bail on your tab."

Knowing he was teasing her about her sleepy mumbles about giving him a tip, she couldn't help but laugh. "I was just worried a certain someone was going to rip me off."

"I'll give you a clear price list next time," Carson said smoothly.

She raised an eyebrow. "So how much was last night?"

Carson offered a faint smile. "The cost of one breakfast."

Thinking about the delivery she had ordered for him that morning, Marina burst out laughing again.

"Pretty good value, isn't it?" The man's eyes gleamed as he stared right at her, dropping his voice into a seductive whisper. "The combo package is an even better deal."