His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 95

He called out again, his tone a touch more commanding. “Getting more stubborn by the day. Come and sit down.”

But Lumina stood her ground, refusing to budge, her defiance plain as day. She angled her body just enough to show off her graceful profile, lips curving coldly. “Why don’t you explain why she’s here?”

Cedric took a slow sip of coffee, his expression unreadable. “Nancy’s not feeling well. Maybe she caught something. She went home to rest.”

At that, Lumina spun around, concern flickering in her eyes. “Nancy’s not well? I’ll give her a call and check in.”

But before she could move, Cedric reached out from behind, gently but firmly pulling her back down to sit beside him. “If you call now, you’ll only wake her. She’s probably trying to catch up on sleep. None of us got much last night. Let her rest.”

Lumina considered this and nodded. “You’re right.”

She grabbed a chair and sat down, still feeling pleasantly full from the nourishing soup. A wave of drowsiness washed over her, heavy and irresistible.

“Sleepy again?” Cedric watched her fondly, a smile playing at his lips. He shifted over, making space on the narrow hospital bed, and patted the mattress invitingly. “Come here. Take a nap with me.”

“No way!” Lumina’s sleepiness faded in an instant, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Hilton and the others are right outside.”

“They won’t come in.”

“Still, I’m not—” But before she could finish, Cedric had already tugged her gently onto the bed.

For someone supposedly sick, he was surprisingly strong, pulling her up next to him as if she weighed nothing at all. The two of them squeezed together on the cramped hospital bed.

He covered her with the blanket and wrapped his arms around her. When he dipped his head, his nose brushed against the soft, delicate strands of her hair.

Lumina squirmed awkwardly in his embrace, mortified by the thought of anyone walking in and seeing them like this.

“Stay with me and read for a bit, will you?”

Cedric reached over her to grab the suspense novel she’d left on the nightstand. It was a story about a beautiful femme fatale and a bookish young man, laced with eerie, chilling twists.

But it was already too late. Cedric slid under the covers with her, his warmth enveloping her as he pressed close, breath hitching as he tilted her chin up. The faint, bitter trace of medicine clung to his lips as he kissed her.

By the time they finally collapsed, utterly spent, Lumina lay curled in his arms.

Cedric kissed her softly and sighed, “A sick man’s body just can’t keep up.”

Lumina, half-laughing and half-mumbling, teased, “Mr. Royce, maybe it’s time to admit you’re not as young as you used to be.”

His eyes darkened with playful warning as he pinched her nose. “Say that again and see what happens.”

Lumina grinned mischievously, triumphant that he couldn’t stay mad at her.

Cedric pulled her close. “Sleep now.”