Chapter 98: I Know You Need More Cuddle
The following morning.
Evelyn woke up to an unfamiliar warmth pressing against her body.
Not the kind of warmth that came with a fever, but the sort that stirred her nerves and made her skin feel alive.
Blinking her eyes open, she froze.
Her gaze landed on a firm chest right in front of her, rising and falling steadily.
And just above her head, she felt the weight of Axel’s chin resting comfortably.
His arm was draped securely around her waist, pulling her close as if he had no intention of letting her go.
Her mind feels slow to think.
’How the hell did this happen?’
She didn’t remember crawling into his embrace.
Did she roll over in her sleep?
Or... did he roll over and grab her?
Whatever the reason, she wasn’t moving.
Not now.
The comfort of his heat sinking into her body was too dangerous and too tempting to give up.
But her luck had only lasted for a few minutes.
His body shifted slightly.
He was awake.
Evelyn shut her eyes tight, debating whether she should "accidentally" keep pretending to be asleep or try to slip out of his arms before things grew more awkward.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance to make a decision.
Because at the same time, her morning alarm shrilled loudly from her phone, betraying her.
She grumbled under her breath and reached out to silence it, but Axel’s voice, rough and husky with sleep, rumbled against the top of her head.
"Sleep more, Eve..." he murmured lazily. "I’ll turn it off."
Before she could react, he stretched his arm out and grabbed her phone with ease.
Evelyn’s eyes snapped open.
’Wait... how did he reach that so easily? That’s my bedside table, not his.’
Her heart began to beat faster.
’Oh my god! Did he roll onto my side of the bed? And hug me all night?’
She dared to tilt her head and glance up at him, but his eyes were still shut.
He appeared completely at ease, as if holding her was the most natural thing he had ever done. His hand rested gently on her waist.
"Axel, we need to wake up," she whispered, trying to push him away.
His lips curved faintly, though his eyes stayed closed.
"No. No need to rush today. My only meeting is in Grayenfall. We can sleep a little bit more. I know you need more cuddles... and maybe some intimacy. Right?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
’Excuse me, sir? Who needs more cuddles?’
She wanted to argue, but the way his voice dropped on the word ’intimacy’ made her throat go dry and her shyness rise.
If she asked him to clarify, she knew he’d twist her words and turn them into something far more scandalous.
So she said, for the safest excuse, "I’m a mother. I need to feed my son breakfast..."
But her words trailed off when she finally met his half-lidded eyes. Sleepy, yet devastatingly handsome. The kind of look that could make her brain sluggish before she even had her morning coffee.
’Damn it, why does he look this good first thing in the morning?’
She silently cursed, fighting the urge to bury her face in his chest and never leave.
"I’m sorry," he murmured, softer this time. "But I really want to just lie here with you."
Her heart nearly flipped.
She didn’t know how to respond, and before she could even think, she felt it...something hard, hot, pressing against her inner thigh.
Her entire body went stiff. Her eyes widened in shock when the thought crossed her mind.
’No. No, no, no. That’s not what I think it is...His... His...’
She shook her head lightly, trying to dismiss the wild imagination in her mind.
"Axel..." she swallowed, "It’s almost seven. Oliver will come to our room any second if I don’t—"
"Mommy... Daddy... are you awake?"
Her son’s small voice echoed from the other side of the door.
Evelyn pushes him away.
Axel loosened his hold with an annoyed groan and flopped onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
He didn’t say a word, but the low growl under his breath said enough.
Evelyn pretended not to notice, though her cheeks burned hot. She hurriedly got out of bed, checked her pajamas, and rushed to the door.
However, before she could open it, she glanced back once.
Axel was already striding toward the bathroom, his broad back tense.
She bit her lip, fighting the laugh threatening to spill out.
’Oh boy. He looks like he desperately needs a cold shower...’
By the time Evelyn opened the door, she had a bright smile flash across her face.
Oliver stood there in his pajamas, hair sticking up in every direction, looking adorable.
"Good morning, sweetheart," she greeted, bending down to hug him. "Sorry, Mommy and Daddy woke up late. Are you hungry already?"
"Yes," Oliver pouted dramatically. "I’m starving. I thought you and Dad left me."
Her chest tightened as she crouched down to meet his eyes properly.
"Why would you think that, hm?"
"I dreamed... You and Dad were gone."
Evelyn hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss into his messy hair.
"We’re right here, sweetheart, always. Daddy’s just in the shower. Why don’t you freshen up first, and then we can have breakfast together? Mommy is making scrambled eggs and hash browns, your favorite."
Oliver’s pout faded into a grin. "Okay!" He nodded eagerly and ran back to his room.
Evelyn exhaled a long breath, her heart swelling with gratitude. This simple morning with Axel and Oliver was everything she wanted.
Shaking off the last of her flustered thoughts, she rushed to the guest bathroom to freshen up, then slipped into her soft home clothes.
When Evelyn entered the kitchen, she was already humming, ready to cook.
Didn’t take long, the smell of her cooking filled the air, mixing with the faint aroma of coffee she had just brewed.
Just as she plated the scrambled eggs, she heard the main bedroom door open.
Axel appeared, looking sharp in a sleek black shirt; he looked neat, as if he were ready to head to his next meeting.