Chapter 51 His Gentleness (Part One)
Rachel lifted her head, her glistening eyes filled with unshed tears, and gazed at Brian with a tender, vulnerable expression. “I’m cold,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she clutched tightly at the front of his shirt, her fingers trembling slightly.
Brian’s response was a soft chuckle, resonating in the quiet darkness. His laughter was captivating, a rare glimpse of lightness that seemed to cut through the tension between
them.
“What’s so amusing?” Rachel asked, her voice muffled and tinged with a hint of nasal congestion as though she were fighting back tears.
Brian’s gaze softened, the corners of his lips curving into a tender smile. “If you need me to hold you, all you have to do is ask. I promise I won’t tease you about it,” he said, his voice low and soothing, the warmth making her heart race.
“I didn’t say that!” Rachel retorted quickly, trying to hide the fluttering in her chest. “You’re the one assuming things.”
Brian leaned in, his eyes dancing with affection and a hint of mischief. “Alright, alright,” he conceded, his tone light yet filled with a deep, comforting care. “Let’s say I’m the one insisting on holding you. I’ll take full responsibility. How’s that?”
He swept her effortlessly into his arms without waiting for her to respond, lifting her with a natural, possessive grace.
Swathed in the folds of Brian’s oversized coat, Rachel’s slender figure was almost entirely hidden, save for her eyes, which glimmered faintly from within the fabric’s. embrace. His body heat radiated toward her, dispelling the icy numbness that had taken hold of her. Gradually, a soothing warmth began to seep back into her limbs, thawing the cold that had clung to her.
As the elevator descended, a question surfaced in her mind, breaking the quiet between them. “How did you find me?” she asked, her voice muffled by the coat.
“I saw your latest post,” Brian answered simply, his tone calm and direct.
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Chapter 51 His Gentleness (Part One)
Rachel blinked, realizing she had shared her location without thinking. But another thought nagged at her. “When I called you earlier, you were still in Amberfield. How did you get here so fast?”
Brian shifted slightly, his cheek grazing hers in a fleeting touch. He paused, his gaze steady and intense, as if weighing his words. “What do you think?” he murmured, his voice carrying a quiet intensity.
Rachel’s breath caught. She hesitated, her heart pounding as she summoned the courage to voice her thoughts. “Did you… come because of me?”
“Yes,” he replied, the simplicity of the word wrapping around Rachel like a promise. There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice.
A wave of gratitude washed over Rachel. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Without hesitation, she leaned into him, her head resting against his chest. The rhythmic thud of his heartbeat filled her ears, a steady, reassuring cadence that
anchored her in the moment.
By the time they arrived home, it was already late.
After a soothing shower, Rachel lay on the bed, but sleep stubbornly eluded her. Her mind raced through a thousand thoughts, none of which seemed to bring her peace.
Ten minutes later, the door creaked open, and Brian, dressed in a simple white bathrobe, entered the room. Without a word, he moved toward the bed, his presence commanding and steady.
In a fluid motion, he pulled her gently into his arms, settling her against him. Rachel, still awake and slightly restless, didn’t resist. Instead, she let herself relax, her body leaning into the warmth of his chest, the rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing offering a quiet comfort.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, his arms tightening slightly around her as if anchoring her to him. It was as if he feared she might slip away if he loosened his grip even a little.
“Can’t sleep?” Brian’s voice, low and rich in the silence of the room was the kind of sound that wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, calm yet undeniably
magnetic.
Rachel shook her head, her heart thumping in a soft rhythm against Brian’s chest.
Brian’s lips brushed against Rachel’s shoulder as he nuzzled her, his warmth mingling
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Chapter 51 His Gentleness (Part One)
with hers. His breath was warm against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “If you’re not tired,” he murmured softly, “how about we do something fun together?”
For a moment, Rachel stiffened, her mind racing to grasp his implication. Though their relationship had grown closer in recent days, the memory of that night still lingered like a shadow, stirring a faint unease within her.
Her shoulders quivered slightly as she looked away, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry… I just… I’m not really in the mood.”
Before her words could fully linger in the air, a sudden burst of sound erupted outside, followed by another and another.
She turned toward the window, and her eyes widened in awe. The night sky erupted into a dazzling display of fireworks, painting the dark canvas with bursts of vibrant color. Each explosion seemed like a blooming flower, unfurling in brilliant hues that filled the sky with wonder.
The spectacle before her was far more breathtaking than any fireworks she’d seen. Her breath caught as a blue firework shot into the night, bursting into an ethereal glow.
She gasped, her hands instinctively covering her mouth. “Blue? There’s actually a blue
firework! That’s incredible!”
Brian, watching her with an amused yet tender expression, asked softly, “Do you like it?”
Rachel nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I love it! It’s amazing!”
“You do?” Brian asked, his voice carrying a note of quiet curiosity.
“Yes,” Rachel replied, her gaze still fixed on the sky, catching every burst of light with the same childlike wonder.
The sky continued to shimmer and sparkle for thirty minutes, each burst of color more
mesmerizing than the last. Rachel leaned into Brian, her gaze locked on the spectacle above, unwilling to miss even a moment. In the background, a soft melody played, its gentle notes weaving through the room, adding a layer of serenity to the magical scene.
Bathed in the fireworks‘ ethereal glow, the two seemed to embody the very essence of a perfect pair. Brian’s eyes lingered on Rachel’s radiant smile, and he felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest for the first time. It was a sensation he couldn’t quite name, something entirely new and inexplicable.
At that moment, all his thoughts were consumed by her. The way she shimmered beneath the fireworks, how her joy illuminated everything around her. All he wanted
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was to hold her, to keep her close, and never let go.
