Chapter 19: The unknown feelings.
Theodore stirred awake, blinking at the sunlight filtering through the window. A soft weight pressed against his side, and he turned his head slowly. There, nestled close to him, lay Bella.
Theodore’s breath caught in his throat. Never before had he known such a physical closeness with a woman. A foreign warmth bloomed in his chest, a mixture of yearning and something altogether new.
His body craved her touch, and his hands itched to feel her. Before he could process the unexpected emotions churning within him, his hand reached out and traced the gentle curve of her cheek.
Her skin was impossibly soft beneath his calloused fingers. He lingered, captivated by the sight of her sleeping face, her lips slightly parted. The sudden urge to taste them sent a jolt through him, stealing the moisture from his mouth.
Unconsciously, he leaned in closer, the space between them shrinking with every passing breath. Just as his lips were about to brush hers, Bella’s eyes fluttered open.
Their gazes locked.
Theodore froze, feeling a bit awkward. ’Did she know what I was about to do?’ he wondered, his thoughts racing.
Bella’s cheeks mirrored his own blush as she realized she was so close to him. She had no recollection of how she ended up sleeping in his bed. She scrambled to her feet, self-consciously tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Theodore sat up, still dazed by the intensity of the moment. He watched her, a mix of emotions playing across his face, as he tried to decipher the newfound feelings she had stirred within him.
"I’m so sorry." An apology tumbled out first from Bella’s mouth. "I didn’t know when I fell asleep. I didn’t mean to intrude into your private space." Mortified, she couldn’t meet his gaze.
The warmth in Theodore’s chest instantly curdled to ice. His eyes narrowed, the tenderness vanishing completely. Technically, they were married. Sharing a bed wasn’t a transgression, yet Bella’s reaction felt like a slap.
Why was she acting like she had made a mistake?