Chapter 237.

Christian was silent. Then he said, "You were warm."

She stared at him. "That’s your explanation?"

He looked at her, his eyes bright with amusement. Then he shrugged slightly. "I didn’t want you to go."

Kylie went quiet.

Christian’s expression changed when he noticed. "I didn’t mean—"

"I know what you meant."

He stopped.

Kylie brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead. "You could have just asked me to stay."

His eyes searched hers. "Would you have?"

She considered lying.

It would have been easy. She could have teased him, rolled her eyes, told him he was being dramatic.

But the morning was too soft for pretending.

"I can’t tell yet," she said.

Christian’s face changed. "Then I’ll remember that," he said.

Kylie smiled. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

His eyes closed briefly.

When he opened them, he looked at her with an expression that made her want to kiss him again.

So she did.

She gave him a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then another to his cheek.

Christian turned his face toward hers. "Are you trying to distract me?"

"Is it working?"

"Unfortunately."

"Excellent." She kissed his nose.

He stared at her.

Kylie burst out laughing. "Your face!"

"What about my face?"

"You look so offended."

"I wasn’t prepared."

"For a nose kiss?"

"I was under the impression that I was dealing with a mature woman."

She gasped, and blinked. "Mature?"

"Yes."

"Have you met me?"

"Several times."

"And yet you continue to make these mistakes."

"I have a weakness for difficult women."

Kylie tilted her head. "Only difficult women?"

Christian’s gaze settled on her face. "One in particular."

Her smile softened. She leaned forward again, but this time she didn’t stop at his cheek.

She kissed him properly.

It was gentle at first, almost a question. Her hand rested against his jaw, and his fingers curled lightly around hers.

When she drew back, Christian’s eyes remained closed for a moment.

She smiled. "Good morning."

His eyes opened. "Good morning, Blue."

She kissed him once more.

Because she could, and she wanted to.

She was finally allowing herself to admit that wanting something did not make her foolish, and cease giving herself the power to hurt herself.

When she pulled away, Christian’s forehead rested against hers.

The quiet was comfortable.

Kylie had never been particularly good at quiet. She filled silence with jokes, commentary, complaints, and occasionally unnecessary singing.

She had once been told that she could talk through an entire film without noticing that the people around her had stopped listening.

She considered that an exaggeration.

A slight exaggeration.

But with Christian, she was beginning to learn that silence didn’t always mean someone was waiting for her to become more interesting.

Sometimes it meant someone was happy simply being there.

She liked that.

She liked it a lot. Unfortunately, she was still Kylie. And she had important matters to address.

"Christian?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you hungry?"

He blinked. Then he laughed. "That was unexpected."

"Answer the question."

"Yes."

"I am starving."

"You have spent the last five minutes kissing me and have only now remembered that breakfast exists."

"Priorities, Sinclair."

"I’m no Sinclair."

Her eyes softened. She dropped the Sinclair name. "Also, you are not allowed to judge me when you are the one clinging to me like a koala."

Christian’s brows rose.

She started to rise, gathering the sheet around herself.

Christian caught the edge of the fabric before she could move away. She looked down at his hand.

"Sir."

He released it immediately. "Sorry."

She paused.

He had simply let go.

Kylie felt the difference. She sat back down.

Christian looked at her questioningly. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

He studied her. "Blue."

She reached for his hand. "Nothing’s wrong. I just..." She looked down at their fingers. "I noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"That you let go."

Understanding moved across his face.

He glanced at their joined hands. "I said I would listen. I’m trying to mean it."

Kylie looked at him.

The words settled between them.

She wanted to tell him that those small things mattered.

She squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

Christian looked at her for a long second. Then he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"You’re welcome."

Kylie smiled. Then she pointed toward the kitchen. "Now, if you don’t feed me, this beautiful morning is going to end in tragedy."

Christian’s expression became serious. "Should I call someone?"

"You should make breakfast."

He looked toward the kitchen. "Do we have a dress code?"

Kylie stared at him, with her jaw on the floor. "Christian!"

He laughed so hard he had to lower his head.

She hit his shoulder. "You’re disgusting."

"I’m asking a practical question."

"You’re asking a question you already know the answer to."

"Which is?"

"Put on some clothes!"

He looked down at himself beneath the sheet. "I believe that was already the plan."

"Then execute it, sir."

"Yes, ma’am."

He began to rise.

Kylie immediately looked away.

She was perfectly capable of handling the sight of a beautiful male body without losing the ability to form a coherent thought, but it was different with Christain.

Christian stood, gathered his clothes from beside the sofa, and glanced at her.

She was staring very intently at a spot on the wall.

His mouth curved. "Something interesting over there?"

"No."

"An impressive wall then."

"Christian."

He laughed.

Kylie snatched the cushion and threw it at him.

He caught it against his chest. "Violence again."

"Put on your clothes!"

"Working on it."

She heard the rustle of fabric.

"Blue?"

"What?"

"Where are my trousers?"

She closed her eyes. "How should I know?"

"They appear to be missing."

"Have you checked the floor?"

"Yes."

"The sofa?"

"Yes."

"Under the coffee table?"

There was a short pause.

"Yes."

Kylie turned her head.

Christian stood beside the sofa, wearing his trousers but holding one sock.

"You annoying idiot." She cursed, heading to the kitchen.

Christian smiled. "An annoying idiot who you are about to let into your kitchen."