Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 444

Chapter 444

Marcus’ POV

I woke up before Madeline, which had become a habit over the past few days. The mountain morning was utterly silent, broken only by distant birds and the low crackle of dying embers in the fireplace. She was curled against my chest, one hand resting on my skin, breathing with the calm steadiness of someone who had slept deeply.

I stayed there for a few minutes, just watching her sleep, replaying everything that had happened the night before. There was something different between us now, something in the air. An intimacy that went beyond the physical, although that part had been… intense. It felt like an invisible barrier had finally fallen.

Carefully, so I wouldn’t wake her, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. The hot shower was invigorating after the long night, and I dressed quietly, already knowing I wanted to do something special for her.

I stepped outside into the crisp morning air and headed to the main dining hall. The staff was already preparing breakfast, and I managed to convince one of them to let me put together a special tray. Strong coffee, fresh fruit, still-warm bread, homemade jams, and a few local specialties I knew she loved.

When I returned to the cabin, Madeline was still asleep in the same position, her dark hair spread across the pillow, her face relaxed and peaceful. I carefully set the tray on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, gently touching her shoulder.

“Good morning,” I murmured as she started to stir.

Madeline stretched, her eyes still heavy with sleep but sparkling in a way that made my heart speed up.

“Good morning,” she replied, her voice rough with sleep. “You’re already dressed?”

“I went to get breakfast,” I said, gesturing toward the tray. “I figured you might want to eat here, without rushing.”

She sat up, adjusting the pillows behind her back, and I noticed how the sheet slipped just enough to reveal the delicate curve of her shoulder. It was hard not to get distracted by those small glimpses of her skin.

“You went all the way to the dining hall?” she asked, picking up a cup of coffee and breathing in the aroma with satisfaction. “Shouldn’t we be eating with everyone else?”

“You have privileges for being pregnant,” I replied casually, pouring myself some coffee too.

Madeline laughed, a genuine, relaxed sound that made me smile.

“I don’t want privileges,” she protested. “I can do the same things as everyone else. Except the really extreme ones, obviously.”

“Too late,” I said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to spoil you, and you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

“Marcus…” she started, but I cut her off with a longer kiss on the lips, savoring the faint taste of coffee on her mouth.

“No arguments,” I murmured against her lips. “This is one of the few areas where I don’t bend.”

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She laughed again, but this time there was a hint of shyness in her expression. We ate in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, and I watched the subtle emotions cross her face. Pleasure at the food. Contentment in the intimacy of the moment. And something else, more thoughtful.

“Can I ask you something?” she said at last, nervously fiddling with a piece of bread.

“Of course.”

“Do you feel like… something changed after last night?” she asked, her cheeks flushing pink in a way that made her even more beautiful.

“What do you mean?” I asked, genuinely curious about where she was going with it.

She hesitated, clearly embarrassed, but went on anyway.

“I mean… up until now, we hadn’t really consummated the marriage. And now…”

I understood immediately what she was trying to say. I let out a quiet laugh, more out of tenderness than amusement, and leaned in to kiss her softly.

“Nothing’s changed,” I said when we pulled apart. “My feelings are the same. And yours?” I asked, watching her expression carefully.

“It feels like things finally lined up,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s official now, right?”

I nodded, pulling her closer to me. But I couldn’t ignore what she hadn’t said. She talked about alignment. About it being official. She hadn’t mentioned love. Or even whether she was happy about this new dynamic between us.

And deep down, I realized I didn’t fully understand my own feelings either.

Of course I was attracted to her. That part was undeniable. I felt protective of her, affectionate, genuinely concerned about her well-being. I liked her company, her intelligence, the way she’d stood up to Vivian yesterday. I admired her strength and determination.

But was it love? Or were we simply being pulled together by circumstance, creating an intimacy born from necessity and proximity?

When I asked her to marry me, it had been a protective impulse. A reaction to her vulnerability and my own promise not to let a chance slip by when it appeared. But had that turned into something deeper? Or were we still just playing the roles the situation demanded?

“What are you thinking about?” Madeline asked softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I looked at her, noticing how the firelight brought out golden flecks in her honey-colored eyes, how her lips were still slightly swollen from last night’s kisses.

“How brave you were yesterday,” I replied, steering away from the heavier thoughts. “Smashing that bottle in front of everyone. That was impressive.”

“I still can’t believe I did that,” she laughed quietly, snuggling closer to me. “I must’ve looked completely unhinged. Brave is just another word for crazy.”

“You looked like a Kensington defending her family,” I corrected, pressing a gentle kiss into her hair.

2/3

She went quiet for a moment, and I could feel there was more she wanted to say but didn’t. Maybe that was for the best. Some things didn’t need to be dissected or defined. They could simply exist.

“We should probably start getting ready for the next activity,” I murmured, even though the last thing I wanted was to leave that bed.

“Probably,” she agreed, but moved even closer. “Just a few more minutes?”

And in that moment, I realized we didn’t need grand declarations. What we were building spoke for itself.

“Just a few more minutes,” I agreed.

日

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