Chapter 192 Cuddle?

Chapter 192: Chapter 192 Cuddle?

"Daisy, you need to rest," Alessio said firmly, pointing toward the bed. "Sleep. I’ll explain everything to Grandpa."

Daisy looked at him for a few seconds before obediently nodding her head.

She climbed onto the bed and settled beneath the covers but instead of closing her eyes, she turned her face toward him and simply stared. Her dark eyes were soft, slightly unfocused from the drug and there was a dreamy quality to her expression that made her look almost ethereal.

Alessio’s expression softened despite himself.

God.

She was being far too obedient.

Her flushed cheeks, slightly messy hair and those wide, innocent eyes made her look completely different from the woman who usually gave him an unimpressed look whenever he called her "little hamster." Right now, she looked so harmless and obedient that an absurd thought crossed his mind.

He wanted to kiss her badly. F*ck!!!!

Alessio immediately stiffened.

What the f*ck am I thinking?

He quickly turned his face away, rubbing a hand over his jaw as he tried to regain control of his thoughts.

His mind, however, had already started wandering somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t.

For one dangerous second, he imagined what it would be like if Daisy were his...

The thought became darker before he could stop it, his imagination briefly turning toward thoughts of getting rid of anyone who stood between them, especially the man who had hurt her heart so many times.

His jaw tightened.

Get a grip, Alessio.

He forced himself to take a slow breath.

She’s your friend.

He repeated it inside his head like a warning.

Just your friend.

What he didn’t realize was that the supposedly obedient Daisy was watching him from the bed.

Her eyes were no longer innocent.

There was a tiny, mischievous sparkle hiding inside them.

She had been observing his entire struggle with an almost amused expression, her lips curving slightly as she watched him wrestle with himself.

Then, before Alessio could realize what she was planning, Daisy suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Daisy—"

She tugged.

Alessio lost his balance.

"What the—"

He was pulled forward and landed on the mattress beside her.

For a moment, he simply froze.

His body immediately went tense as he realized how close they were. He could feel the warmth of her body beside him, could smell the faint floral scent of her hair, could see the soft rise and fall of her chest.

Fu*k.

He had lowered his guard around her.

That was his mistake.

He had assumed she would simply lie down and sleep, but apparently the drug had turned the normally gentle Daisy into a surprisingly mischievous little troublemaker.

Alessio quickly pushed himself upright, keeping his hands away from her.

"What are you doing, Daisy?"

His voice was controlled, but barely. There was a tightness in his throat that he couldn’t quite hide.

Daisy simply looked at him.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and the corners of her lips lifted into a tiny, playful smile. She looked utterly unrepentant.

Alessio stared at her.

She stared back.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Daisy lightly tugged his sleeve again.

Alessio’s eyes widened.

"Don’t."

His voice softened despite himself.

"You have absolutely no idea what you’re doing right now."

Daisy only blinked at him innocently, as though she had no idea what he was talking about.

Alessio closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled slowly.

This woman was going to be the death of him.

Daisy’s other hand slowly lifted toward him.

Before Alessio could understand what she was doing, her fingers slipped gently into his hair.

She began caressing it absentmindedly, almost as though she found the simple act comforting. A small, contented smile appeared on her flushed face as she looked at him, completely relaxed.

Alessio went still.

His eyes widened slightly.

"Daisy..."

She didn’t seem to hear him.

Her fingers continued moving through his hair, brushing it back from his forehead before slowly drifting downward. Her fingertips traced along the side of his face and eventually reached his neck, soft and warm against his skin.

Alessio’s entire body tensed.

His breath caught.

God.

Every instinct in him was screaming at him to stop her.

He wanted to catch her hand immediately but he forced himself to move carefully. She wasn’t thinking clearly. Whatever had been slipped into her drink had left her confused and uninhibited, and taking advantage of that was something he would never forgive himself for.

"Daisy," he said again, quieter this time.

Her fingers rested against his neck.

She looked at him with a strangely happy expression, as though there was nothing wrong with what she was doing. Her eyes were soft, trusting, completely unguarded.

Alessio swallowed and gently caught her wrist.

"That’s enough."

He carefully lowered her hand onto the mattress.

Daisy frowned slightly, almost offended by his refusal. A tiny crease appeared between her brows.

Alessio stared at her for a moment before sighing.

"You’re not yourself right now."

She blinked at him.

He softened his voice.

"I know you don’t understand what you’re doing but I’m not going to let you do something you’ll regret tomorrow."

He pulled the blanket higher around her shoulders and moved slightly farther away, putting a careful distance between them.

Daisy continued staring at him, her eyes still soft and unfocused.

Alessio rubbed his forehead, trying desperately to regain his composure.

"You really are dangerous when you’re like this, little hamster."

Her lips curved into another tiny smile.

Alessio looked away.

"Don’t smile at me."

She smiled wider.

He sighed.

"I’m serious."

Daisy’s expression suddenly changed.

Her playful smile disappeared, replaced by a small pout as she looked at Alessio with almost childish disappointment. She shifted closer across the mattress and lifted both arms toward him.

Alessio blinked.

"Daisy?"

She made a few sleepy, unclear gestures with her hands but whatever she was trying to communicate made absolutely no sense to him. Her movements were clumsy, unfocused.

He frowned slightly.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

Daisy pointed toward him, then toward herself, and finally wrapped her arms loosely around her own body.

Alessio stared at her hands.

He still didn’t understand a single thing.

"Use words."

The moment he said it, he remembered.

She couldn’t.

"Right..." He sighed softly. "Sorry."

Daisy gave him another pout, her lower lip jutting out.

Then, instead of trying to explain, she simply leaned toward him and opened her arms again.

This time, Alessio understood.

She wanted to cuddle.

He stared at her for several seconds.

"You want me to...?"

Daisy nodded eagerly, her hair bouncing with the motion.

"Cuddle?"

Another enthusiastic nod.

Alessio rubbed his face, his jaw tight.

"Daisy, you’re making this very difficult for me."

She continued holding her arms open, looking at him with those wide, pleading eyes. There was something so innocent about the gesture that it made his chest ache.

He looked away.

"Don’t look at me like that."

Daisy’s pout deepened.