Novel Palace
43
Her whole body felt stiff, and she stretched before pulling the duvet over her body. This was nothing a good sleep wouldn’t fix. She was about to close her eyes when someone knocked at the door. Elena almost groaned. Who could it be? Probably Emily or Beth wanting to check up on her. The person knocked again and she threw off the covers and headed for the door to unlock it.
She threw it open, her hand rubbing her forehead, she began, “Look, I’m really tired and I….” She froze, and her other hand tightened on her robe. “Oh….”
Chandler stood in front of her, wearing a white shirt and black shorts, he looked handsome as usual, and she stood there, in her short silk robe with nothing underneath, and suddenly she felt… Exposed.
“Hi,” he said, “I’m sorry if I bothered you… I urmmm….. I checked the kitchen and you weren’t there… And I ermm…. We have barely seen each other since…. We…. Since the day before yesterday, I mean… And I just wanted to check up on you. Make sure you are okay,”
Elena couldn’t find her tongue for a second, so she nodded instead and dropped her hand from her forehead. Chandler stood there, satisfied to just stare at her. Her hair was still a bit wet, so he assumed she had just showered. He wasn’t sure if it was her soap or shampoo, but she smelled like roses and he loved it. His gaze drifted down her body and he didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was checking her out. Her silk robe stopped right above her knees, showing off smooth, beautiful legs. Her bare feet rubbed against each other, and he noticed the black nail polish on her toes. Sexy, he thought. He’d never known that he’d ever find nail polish sexy… Until now. His gaze moved upward, and he didn’t want to stare, but her nipples looked hardened and were strained against her robe. He wanted to touch them. He wanted to rub his thumb against them over and over again until they were harder and then he wanted to replace his thumb with tongue until she begged him to stop.
When he forced himself to look away and meet her eyes again, he knew that she’d seen the stark hunger in his eyes and he didn’t mind at all. He wanted her to know how much he wanted her. He wasn’t hiding it, and judging by look in her eyes, she wanted him too.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.
“That was very nice of you,” she said finally, her voice was almost in a whisper and he leaned closer without even realizing that he was doing it. “I was just retiring for bed. It’s been a very busy day and I feel stiff all over.”
Chandler nodded, but he made no effort to go away, and Elena didn’t want him to.
“Would you like to come in?” she asked before she’d lose her nerve and added quickly when his brow lifted, “I mean… For a while… I could use the company… If you want to, of course,”
How could he say no? He’d be the biggest fool on the planet if he said no, Chandler thought, so he nodded, “Yeah…. Yeah I’d love to come in,” he replied.
He stepped into the room that smelled like her, and he tried not to sniff loudly. Now that he was inside, he had no idea what to do, so he stood in the middle of the room and looked around, “I see you’ve made yourself at home,” he said,
Elena chuckled, and sat on the edge of the bed, “I guess. I’m trying not to get attached since we’ll be leaving the day after the wedding. I’m not going to lie, I kinda like it here,”
“Really?” Chandler asked with a smile, then he joined her at the edge of the bed, “Tell me what you like about being here?”
They weren’t touching at all, but she could still feel his body heat, Elena thought, and the room seemed to be smaller now with him in it. She liked his scent too. A manly scent mixed with tequila, so she guessed he must have been drinking. She could use a drink at the moment. He was still waiting for her reply so she said, “First of all. Your house is beautiful,”
“Point of correction. My dads house but continue,”
Elena fought the smile threatening to break out on her face and failed, “It’s very comfortable and big too. I love the garden, and the pool. It’s nice to be in the place where you grew up.” She paused for a while, then dared to add, “Your dad too… He’s pretty nice,”
Chandler said nothing, but he nodded.
“Have you had time to…. Talk to him?”
“Yeah. We spent some time alone today. Did some… bonding… I guess… It was nice,” He turned to look at Elena, and noticed her smile, “What?”
“Nothing,” she replied, “I’m just happy for you. I’m happy that you got to spend some time with him. You know Chandler, I think it’s time you both fixed your relationship. I think your dad wants that too, but he has some pride and doesn’t know how to tell you that he knows he messed up. Your opening up to him is good,”
He laughed, “Wow. I see you already got everyone in the family figured out, huh?”
Elena looked quite proud of herself, “Yeah. You wanna know what I think about you?”
“This is going to be fun. Do tell, Oh mighty, observant one,” he teased,
Elena ignored him, “I think you want everyone to see you as a villain. They treated you that way for a while so you kinda just…. Accepted it, but you’re not. I think you’re gentle and sweet. I think you should open up and let people in because you deserve to be loved, and I think…. You’ll make a good father someday,”
Chandler was quiet. He just stared…. In complete awe of this woman who he’d met unexpectedly not too long ago and now he never wanted her out of his life. She understood him. She saw through him and she heard him even when he said nothing. She knew the right things to say and he was in love with her. Elijah was right… She really had done a number on him and he was glad that she had.
“You really think I’ll be a good father?” he asked, as if seeking her assurance, because at the moment it mattered so much to him.