The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 32-1

Locke

I know she’s utterly exhausted now. I can feel it in the way she’s curled against me beneath the bubble-less bathwater, boneless and heavy in my arms, her breathing slow and uneven as she drifts somewhere between contentment and sleep.

The storm beyond the window in the other room has softened to a steady rain, and the bathroom feels suspended outside the rest of the world. The water laps quietly against porcelain. Zara remains tucked against my chest as though she’s forgotten there’s anywhere else she could possibly be. I know that I’m going to have get things moving now, or we’ll both fall asleep, here in this cooling water.

“Zara.”

She makes a soft humming sound. Not quite a response, it’s more an acknowledgment that she’s heard me and has absolutely no intention of exerting any further effort.

I glance down, and see that her beautiful dark eyes are closed. I’ve never seen anyone look more comfortable, and part of me hates to disturb her. But it has to be done.

“We need to get out now,” I say, giving her a small shake. “Get that pert little ass up and moving.”

One eye opens. The look she gives me is deeply unimpressed, and I bite back a smile at her sass.

“I don’t want to.”

“Zara -”

“No.”

I sigh in mock irritation, and she snuggles deeper against me, behaving like the little menace that I’ve come to suspect she actually is.

“I’m not negotiating this with you, baby.”

“That’s unfortunate,” she murmurs. “Because I’m very committed to my current position.”

I stare at the top of her head, then I laugh. Actually laugh. The sound surprises both of us, and she tilts her chin upward, looking absurdly pleased with herself.

I immediately rearrange my face to look stern, not about to lose a battle of wills to someone half my size and weight. “Get up.”

She groans dramatically, and I wait. Five seconds pass. Ten. Nothing happens.

“Zara.”

“I’m gathering my strength.”

“You’re stalling.”

“OK, yes. I’m absolutely stalling. I like it here.”

11/2

Chapter 124-

The honesty earns another reluctant smile. God help me, she’s fucking adorable.

Deciding to take command now, I stand up. Water streams down my body as I step out of the tub and reach for a towel. I wrap it loosely around my waist and hold out my hand.

“Come here.”

She looks at my hand, then at me, then sighs with theatrical resignation.

“Fine.”

Charm

I should know immediately that something is very wrong: the second she tries to stand in the tub, her knees buckle. A startled sound escapes her, and I move fast, before she can fall. My hands find her slim shoulders instantly, steadying her against me as she sways.

For a moment she simply blinks, Then she looks down at her legs as though they’ve personally betrayed her. “Oh. Huh. I didn’t see that coming. They seem to have stopped working.”

I can’t help it: I laugh again. The sound echoes softly through the room.

“Yes,” I say dryly. “I noticed.”

She points accusingly. “This is your fault.”

Her grip tightens on my arm as another wobble runs through her. Immediately my amusement fades. “Your all right?”

The teasing vanishes from her expression. “Just weirdly shaky.”

I nod once. “Then stop trying to prove you’re capable of walking unassisted.”

“I’m perfectly capable.”

As if to contradict her, her legs threaten mutiny again. I raise an eyebrows and she scowls.

“Urgh. I hate it when you’re right.”

“No, you don’t.”

Before she can argue for one more goddamn second, I lift her out of the tub, cradling her like the most delicate piece of porcelain on earth. A small squeak escapes her, and her arms immediately slide around my neck.

My hands move with purpose, grabbing a thick towel from the rack and wrapping it around her shoulders first, but I can’t resist lingering.

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