Chapter 157
Eliana’s breathing was uneven, her eyes slightly red–rimmed as she looked at Nathan.
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After the motion sensor light went out, the stairwell was completely dark. Eliana could only vaguely make out his silhouette, but his eyes shone so brightly in the darkness that she could instantly read his emotions.
Realizing he was serious, Eliana’s heart went soft in an instant.
She took a deep breath, but when she spoke, her voice was still clearly tinged with emotion.
“Nathan, why would you think that?” Eliana asked softly, her voice tinged with surprise.
She thought, ‘I honestly never expected someone so remarkable like him to have such vulnerable feelings.
Turns out, he was terrified.’
Although Eliana was surprised, her heart felt bittersweet and numb the moment he said it.
This feeling of being cherished by someone was just irresistible, making her heart race uncontrollably in that instant.
She took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, “Someone as confident as you can possibly know how incredible you are, right?”
Nathan had been on edge, but when Eliana said that, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
His low laughter echoed in her ears, drawing her in with its almost enchanting pull.
As Eliana listened to his laughter, her heart felt like a calm lake, each sound sending gentle ripples across its surface, as if ouched by melting snow.
Nathan chuckled, leaning in a little closer. He said, “So, you really think I’m that impressive, huh?”
Eliana nodded, her tone sincere. “Of course. You’re amazing. Unless someone’s blind, they’d see it.”
Nathan laughed softly, locking eyes with her. “Oh yeah? Then maybe you’re the one who’s blind.”
He added, “If you weren’t, you wouldn’t leave me hanging and run off to those matchmaking dates, would you?”
still simmering with frustration, Nathan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled Eliana possessively into his embrace.
Eliana didn’t resist, her eyes sparkling with a playful smile.
Seeing him like this, Eliana’s thoughts flashed back to ten years ago.
She thought, ‘Back then, he was just as jealous.
I’d only said a guy looked cool playing basketball and chatted with him a little, but Nathan called him out for a match, chasing the poor guy around the court until he wiped out in front of her and made a total fool of himself
Eliana hadn’t even caught on at first, but after the game, Nathan came right over, cupped her cheek, and asked, “Still think
ae’s so cool?”
She thought, ‘Who would’ve thought, ten years later, he’s still just as jealous!
Thinking back on it all, Eliana couldn’t help but smile even wider.
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Chapter 157
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Nathan noticed Eliana was lost in her own thoughts, quietly laughing to herself. Annoyed, he suddenly leaned down and bit down hard on her lip.
Eliana winced, shooting him a glare as she rubbed her sore lip. “Are you part dog or what?”
Nathan sneered. “Seriously, your taste sucks. You were actually crushing on some guy who skipped out on a thirty–dollar tab? Eliana, is that really the best you can do?”
Realizing he’d totally gotten the wrong idea, Eliana blinked and blurted out, “Of course not! I’m not blind, so stop making it weird.”
“Oh, now you say that? Then who was it just now, clinging to his arm and asking him to support you?” Nathan snapped, his frustration boiling over as he leaned in again.
Her lip still stinging, Eliana quickly covered his mouth with her hand. “Seriously, are you part dog or something? Can’t you talk like a normal person? Why do you always have to bite me?”
With her hand covering his mouth, her scent lingered in the air, and the tension in Nathan melted away.
Instead of letting go, he grabbed her hand even tighter, inhaling deeply as if trying to memorize her fragrance.
Eliana’s face flushed hot, and she hurriedly tried to pull her hand back.
But Nathan held on tight, and she couldn’t get her hand free no matter how hard she tried.
After struggling a few times and failing, Eliana finally gave in and just answered his question.
“Nathan, seriously, couldn’t you tell? I was trying to get under his skin,” Eliana said.
She continued, “I was only there with Irene for her matchmaking date. That guy was someone her parents back home set up, and he’s a total stingy, chauvinistic jerk.
“He must’ve thought I was Irene, so he came on all controlling and patronizing, bragging like crazy as if I’d ever fall for that. After knowing you, Nathan, my standards are way too high for his lame tricks.
“Honestly, I just figured if he was going to be gross, better he annoy me than Irene. One of us suffering through his nonsense is more than enough.”
As Eliana was talking, she suddenly remembered Irene and was about to rush out.
But Nathan’s arm was still locked tight around her waist, keeping her from escaping. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Nathan gave her a look, his eyes dark and intense. “So, you’ve met Mr. Turner, huh?”
Eliana nodded earnestly. “That’s you. After meeting someone like you, no one else even stands a chance.”
She said it with such straight–faced sincerity that, even in the darkness, Nathan couldn’t help but let a slight smile tug at his lips.
He held back his smile for a while, pretending to be all proper before saying, “Eliana, when are you being a smooth talker?”
“Smooth talker? Were you tasting the smoothness when you bit me just now?” Eliana teased, glancing up at him.
Eliana was trying to mess with him, but as soon as she said it, she felt Nathan’s mood shift, and her heart skipped a beat.
That quiet sound of him swallowing was so loud in the dark that it was impossible to miss.
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Chapter 157
The possessiveness in his gaze was practically suffocating, leaving Eliana nowhere to escape.
“Nathan, let’s get out of here,” Eliana said quickly, urgency in her voice. “Irene…”
But before she could finish, Nathan grabbed her and crashed his lips onto hers, silencing her in a fierce kiss.
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His kisses were relentless, leaving no space for air. All Eliana could do was tilt her head back, surrendering to him completely.
The dizzy rush from lack of oxygen made her lose all sense of place, and almost without thinking, her hand instinctively found his neck, fingers curling around him.
That tiny gesture set him off. Nathan’s grip around her waist tightened possessively, holding her so close it felt like he wanted to fuse her right into his bones.
With their foreheads pressed together, Nathan’s restraint was hanging by a thread, his voice low and rough. “Eliana, right now, I just want to throw you over my shoulder and take you home.”
Those simple words made Eliana’s cheeks burn and her heart race.
She instinctively tried to escape, but Nathan caught her and pulled her right back into his arms.
His voice dropped, husky and magnetic. “Why do you keep running from me?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
