Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

Chapter 0608

As my thoughts ran wild, I somehow drifted off to sleep in Tabitha's room. When I opened my eyes again, the sky was dark.

I sat up in a panic, fumbling with the door lock before finally getting it open. The moment stepped out, the door to the room next to mine opened as well.

Nicholas stood there, his timing impeccable. I couldn't tell if he had calculated the exact moment I'd wake up or if he had been listening to my movements all along.

His gaze softened. His tone was unbelievably gentle as if our earlier conversation had never taken place.

"Awake?" he asked.

Still dazed, I nodded and asked, "Where's Tabitha?"

He lifted his wrist to glance at his watch. "She's asleep in the room. Want to check on her?" "She's already asleep? What time is it?"

"10:30 p.m."

I closed my eyes briefly, nodding before shaking my head. The strength I had been clinging to suddenly left me, and I slumped against the doorframe, exhaling sharply.

Nicholas reached out to steady me, his hand supporting my waist. 'Don't lean against the door. It's cold."

Before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms. His low voice resonated with a calm reassurance.

"Tabitha isn't just your child. You don't have to stay tense every second. I'm here too. You can rest."

His words eased the tightness in my chest. I responded faintly. "Alright."

The next moment, my feet left the ground. Startled, I clung awkwardly to his neck. His smile deepened as he teased, "Scared to death, huh?"

"Put me down! I can walk!" I protested.

His method of carrying me was hardly proper-his arm locked around my waist, deliberately making me cling to him. And he even dared to comment on my fear.

I glared at him, my frustration rising as I caught the mischievous glint in his eyes and the slight movement of his Adam's apple. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to bite him.

"Hold on."

Maybe the way I was hanging onto his neck, putting all my weight on it, made him

uncomfortable. He shifted his hand to support me from below, giving my hip a light pat-just like he had done so many times before.

Before I could react, I had instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. I stiffened in shock, a shiver running through me as my ears burned like fire. I immediately started to struggle.

Nicholas dark eyes glinted with a faint red tint. He sucked in a sharp breath, his voice husky. "Don't move. I'll carry you downstairs to eat. You're not wearing shoes.

"I don't mind the cold," I snapped.

I deliberately kept my tone icy, hoping he wouldn't notice the redness creeping up my ears. The last thing I needed was for him to misread my reaction and assume I had feelings for him.

Before I could finish, his palm landed lightly on my hip with a smack.

The warmth of his palm against the thin fabric of my clothes was almost indistinguishable from skin contact. It didn't hurt, but the intimate sound was loud.

I buried my face in his shoulder, keeping silent. He deliberately avoided the elevator and chose the stairs instead. If I said anything now, who knew what he might do next?

At that moment, I despised how leisurely his steps were. They were graceful to a fault.

The short trip down a few flights of stairs felt like an eternity. By the time he set me down in the dining chair, my face was flushed a deep crimson beneath the curtain of my hair.

The crystals on the chandelier overhead cast shimmering, multicolored reflections around the dining room.

At that moment, Nicholas couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat when he saw the shy, almost girlish expression on my face.

How long had it been since he had seen this side of me?

He hurried into the kitchen, bringing out the dishes he'd kept warm as if they were precious treasures. One by one, he placed them carefully on the table.

Watching his attentive movements, I found myself noticing something unfamiliar in his usually unreadable eyes-a flicker of emotion I couldn't quite describe.