He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 198

"You literally proposed to me, and now you're backing out?"

His tone was dangerously light, almost carrying a trace of mock affection.

Even though she knew he was severely injured and couldn't physically overpower her, she instinctively took a step back, putting distance between them.

"That wasn't a proposal."

"Then what was it?"

"It was—" she started, but he ruthlessly cut her off.

"Earlier, I told you that if I died, you should forget me. The second half of that sentence is: if I live, you're mine for the rest of your life."

It wasn't a threat. It was an absolute declaration of fact.

She smiled faintly, leaning over to pull the blanket up over his chest.

She was so close their lips were mere inches apart.

"Don't regret this later," she whispered softly.

He shifted slightly, and his lips brushed against hers.

Just as she tried to pull back, his hand shot out, tangling in her hair and locking her in place. The kiss deepened instantly.

It was as if he were trying to consume her very soul. He invaded her mouth with unapologetic, domineering force.

"Mmph!"

He stripped the oxygen from her lungs until her mind spun.

Bent over without any leverage, she lost her balance entirely, practically falling against his chest.

*Click.* The door handle turned.

Yorath instantly yanked the blanket up, throwing it over her head to shield her from view. He shot a lethal glare at the door and growled two words.

"Get out."

Jevon and Elian stood frozen in the doorway, having caught an eyeful of exactly what they shouldn't have.

Jevon smirked, immediately reaching to pull the door shut.

"Your ribs are broken," Elian reminded him dryly. "Don't do anything too strenuous."

*Click.* The door sealed them in privacy once more.

Snapping back to reality, she pushed herself up from his chest, her luminous skin flushed bright red from the lack of air.

Since their upper bodies had been pressed tightly together, her clumsy scramble to stand accidentally brushed against his lower half.

His body went rigid.

She could feel the tightly coiled, explosive strength in the muscles of the arm wrapped around her.

"Yorath."

Planting her hands on either side of his hips, she tried to push herself away, but his grip tightened like a vice.

"Don't move."

She stood awkwardly by the bed, staring at it for a moment.

Right. Broken ribs. Strict bed rest. He couldn't sit up to drink.

She dropped the straw into the glass. Just as she leaned in to feed him the water, a knock echoed at the door.

Nyssa's voice filtered through the wood. "I came to see you."

She hadn't entered yet.

Ottilie straightened her posture and called out, "Come in."

Nyssa pushed the door open, immediately spotting Ottilie hovering over the bed with a glass and a straw.

She carried a stack of expensive insulated containers, setting them down on the nightstand with a picture-perfect smile.

"My mother personally made this broth. It's an old home remedy specifically for bone healing and recovery. It'll do wonders for you."

Her eyes flicked to the ice water in Ottilie's hand.

"Is it really a good idea to give a recovering patient ice water? Why don't you let me take over from here?"

Without a second thought, Ottilie shoved the glass right into Nyssa's hands. "I'm horribly clumsy and terrible at taking care of people. You're much more attentive. Now that you're here, I'll excuse myself."

Considering how much money he'd paid her for the termination, taking care of him for a few days in the hospital was the least Nyssa could do to earn her keep.

She gave Yorath a polite nod. "I'm heading home to sleep. I'll check on you tomorrow."

He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the severe bloodshot redness in her gaze.