The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 238

His footsteps stopped.

Her dress lay crumpled in a heap on the floor, carelessly tossed aside.

Along with her bra and panties...

He hung up the dress and picked up her delicate intimates.

He carried them into the bathroom, rolled up his sleeves, turned on the faucet, and poured in some of her specialty detergent from the shelf.

An entire wall of the bathroom was lined with her bottles and jars—sweet, fragrant scents that mingled together. It was slightly different from the natural scent of her skin, yet intoxicating enough to become addictive.

The fabric turned nearly transparent under the running water, the sheer black lace bunching into a tiny ball inside his large palm.

He eased his grip, afraid his rough hands might tear the fragile material.

How could something be this small, when she certainly possessed stunning curves in all the right places.

He massaged the soap in inch by inch, scrubbing meticulously.

His gaze turned somber, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously.

Finally, he rinsed them twice in clean water and hung them up. Just washing two tiny pieces of clothing had somehow left a thin layer of sweat slicked across his back.

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He hadn't planned on coming back at all, intending to stay at a hotel near the hospital for a while.

But as he drove home from work, he couldn't fight off his worry. After driving aimlessly, he had inevitably ended up back at Grandview Heights.

Now that he had cleaned up, it was time to leave before she woke up and sparked another argument. They needed time to cool off.

Miles switched off the light. In the darkness, he stood by the bed, staring down at her.

She lay on her side. After spending all day at the hospital with her nerves pulled taut, she was completely drained. Now she was finally relaxed, sleeping deeply.

Miles leaned down slightly, gently lifted her hand, and pressed a kiss right over her bare ring finger.

Her heart was harder than stone, but her body was intoxicatingly soft.

He kissed her forehead, stealing a moment of intimacy while she slept.

He trailed down, capturing her lips. She murmured a sleepy protest, shifted her position, and continued to sleep as the blanket slipped off her shoulders.

Miles reached to pull it back up, but the sight before him shattered his restraint. His Adam's apple bobbed heavily as a sudden, suffocating wave of desire overtook him.

That bastard had completely corrupted her mind.

Claire slapped her cheeks lightly, shaking away the chaotic images flooding her head.

She looked at her right hand. The palm was slightly red. Did she sleep on it wrong?

She grabbed her nightgown, threw it on, and headed straight into the bathroom to wash up.

Claire swept up her messy hair, tying it into a loose knot, exposing her slender neck.

In the mirror, small, dark red marks dotted her neck and chest.

She rubbed at them, feeling confused. How were the marks Miles left a few days ago still there? Was she under so much stress that her metabolism had completely slowed down?

Brushing it off, Claire grabbed her toothbrush and reached for the toothpaste mounted on the wall.

She froze when she saw her panties hanging neatly on the drying rack.

What in the world?!

Did she do laundry last night? Why didn't she have a single memory of it!