Chapter 184
Alexander Kensington had raced back to Crestview Heights in the dead of night after receiving Evelyn Carter's message. Yet when he arrived, his wife barely glanced at him before burrowing into his chest. The conflicting emotions swirling within him left him torn between delight and frustration.
Delight because she sought comfort in his arms. Frustration because she did so without hesitation. What if it hadn't been him lying there?
"Evelyn. Evelyn..." He whispered her name against her ear, his breath warm against her skin.
"Quiet! You're so loud!" She swatted at the air, her face scrunched in annoyance.
Alexander exhaled sharply. 'She complains about the noise yet clings to me tighter, pressing her face deeper into my shoulder as if that would block out sound.'
He considered voicing his thoughts but ultimately swallowed them. 'She's my queen. This conversation can wait until morning.'
Soon, his muscles relaxed beneath her weight, and he drifted off with Evelyn using him as her personal body pillow.
Morning light filtered through the curtains when Evelyn stirred. Refreshed from deep sleep, she attempted to stretch but found herself pinned. Blinking awake, she met the smoldering gaze of her husband.
"Alex?" Her voice held genuine surprise. "When did you get back?"
Alexander's dark eyes locked onto hers, finally allowing him to voice last night's concerns. "You cuddled up to me without even verifying my identity. What kind of self-preservation instincts are those?" His reprimand came with a gentle tap to her forehead - just enough to make his point without causing pain.
Evelyn rubbed the spot with a pout. "Who else would be in our bed besides you?"
"A burglar, perhaps?"
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "The security at Crestview Heights isn't just for show. And even if someone breached the gates, this house has a Veridian-grade protection system installed." Her tone dripped with amusement at what she deemed a ridiculous hypothetical.
His eyebrows shot up. "How did you know about the security system?"
Evelyn nearly facepalmed. After months living here, she'd recognized the subtle signs - while not as sophisticated as the Hawthorne estate's defenses, the Kensington home's security far exceeded standard residential protections.
"I guessed!" She recovered quickly, flashing an impish smile. "Haven't you seen those billionaire dramas? People of your status always have fortress-level security. It's practically a trope." She punctuated her explanation with a self-satisfied eyebrow wiggle.
"Should I take this to mean you feel safest with me?" Noticing her attempt to rise, Alexander caught her wrist and reeled her back against his chest.
"Alex, stop playing around. Phoenix Labs needs me today." She squirmed in his grasp, her mind already racing with research parameters. Until those formulas stabilized, she wouldn't rest easy.
"You've been married to that lab more than to me lately." His murmur vibrated against her neck as he nuzzled the sensitive skin there. "Maybe I should revoke your lab access privileges."
Evelyn's eyes widened in mock horror. 'Note to self: never let personal disputes bleed into professional consequences with this man.'