Chapter 1214:
It tickled.
That familiar warmth wrapped around her—Dylan’s scent. Comforting. Safe. Just… him.
Without even opening her eyes, she mumbled, “Mmm… cut it out…”
“You little sleepyhead. Time to get up,” Dylan said, his voice soft and playful. He ran his fingers gently through her hair and kissed her forehead, light as a feather.
“I wanna sleep a little more,” Christina drawled.
“I made breakfast,” Dylan coaxed. “It won’t taste good cold. Come on, get up, wash up, and you can nap again later.”
The second she heard he’d cooked, Christina’s eyes popped open, and a smile tugged at her lips.
Still groggy, she gave a lazy stretch and rolled over to face him. There he was—that face. Unfairly good-looking, like someone had hand-sculpted every detail.
Dylan caught her gaze, leaned in, and kissed her softly.
“Hug me,” Christina said, grinning as she reached her arms out.
Since they’d made it official, she’d started showing more affection without even thinking.
She didn’t fully understand it, but being around Dylan just made her want to be close.
Like she could melt right into him and stay there forever. She’d never felt like this before, never wanted to lean on someone the way she leaned on him.
But deep down inside her, the walls were still there. Her past had built them brick by brick, and even now, some part of her hesitated to let go completely.
Dylan lifted her up into a warm hug, smiling softly.
𝓢𝓮𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 ⲅ𝓪𝓁ⲛ𝓞𝓿𝒆𝓁𝓼⸳𝖼𝖔𝖒
They were close now, but he felt that quiet, unseen wall between them.
Maybe it was the lingering shadow of her past, the things she hadn’t quite shaken off yet.
He knew it well—and honestly, it didn’t bother him. He had all the time and patience in the world to gently win her heart, piece by piece.
Even if that day might never come, he’d spend every day showing her she’d made the right choice—just by choosing him. And honestly? As long as she stayed with him, that was enough. Her being there—that was everything.
At the bathroom doorway, Dylan leaned against the frame, watching Christina brush her teeth and wash her face. He couldn’t help smiling, just quietly taking her in.
Moments like this—so small, so ordinary—meant everything to him now.
Feeling his eyes on her, Christina flushed.
She raised one hand and tried to cover his eyes, laughing.
.
.
.