My Secret Husband Is My Cold Boss novel Chapter 53

He had made it clear that afternoon that this wasn't a marriage of convenience.

That naturally meant physical intimacy was a crucial factor to address.

She had avoided bringing it up because the mere thought made her profoundly embarrassed.

She never expected him to lay it out so casually.

"Relax, Dr. Gates. I don't make a habit of forcing myself on anyone."

"When I said no separate bedrooms earlier, I was merely reminding you that this is a real marriage."

"Right now, it feels like you're just enduring a contractual obligation, rather than participating in an actual relationship."

This wasn't some cold, calculated business merger.

From day one, he had seen her as someone perfectly compatible with him.

He refused to let them drift along in this awkward, defensive state.

It was agonizing for both of them, completely unnecessary, and better dealt with out in the open.

"I'm in no rush to force feelings," he said smoothly. "But I do need to see you trying."

Her lack of security made it impossible to just hand over her heart. But his blunt honesty was a blazing neon sign declaring exactly how seriously he took their vows.

Because he was committed, he demanded the same commitment in return.

"I will," she promised. He had given her the reassurance she desperately needed, and she wasn't about to be difficult just for the sake of it.

It boiled down to a simple truth: if he treated her well, she would absolutely reciprocate.

Having reached a mutually satisfying agreement, the tension dissolved.

They finished their meal in comfortable harmony, much like their late-night dinners in the hospital breakroom.

With a dishwasher handling the mess, cleanup was practically nonexistent.

After clearing the table, they retreated to their respective rooms.

It had been so long since she had slept in a real bed on a day off that her phone alarm was still set to her brutal hospital schedule.

The next morning, the jarring blare of the alarm and the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling slammed her awake in an instant.

She was going to be late!

She scrambled out of bed, hurriedly pulling on her clothes.

She threw her door open and—

Slammed face-first into a very solid wall of muscle.

Right. The commute from this apartment was drastically shorter than the drive from her old place.

Flustered beyond belief, she hastily stumbled back out of his personal space.

She darted back into her bedroom.

Staring at her reflection—her face glowing brighter than a severe sunburn—she zoned out entirely.

As a doctor, she had seen countless bodies in every state imaginable.

She knew scientifically that muscle structure was heavily dictated by genetics.

No amount of grueling gym hours could completely overhaul a person's natural aesthetic.

And yet, not only was he devastatingly handsome, but his physique looked like it had been carved straight out of an anatomy textbook.

After that catastrophic little accident...

It took her ten full minutes longer than usual to finish getting ready.

Now she really was going to be late!

She pulled up a rideshare app on her phone as she frantically shoved her door open.

Sampson was already dressed in a sharp suit, leaning casually against the arm of the sofa, scrolling through his phone.