Chapter 362 Ashton’s POV: The Sender
Dominic waited until I’d ended the call before venturing, ‘Sir, shall the meeting proceed?’
I pinched the bridge of my nose. ‘It goes ahead as scheduled. Get everything ready. I’ll be there shortly.’
‘Yes, sir.’ With a quick nod, Dominic left to make the preparations.
The meeting dragged on all afternoon, running well past the usual end of the day. By the time it wrapped up, Harry was waiting with his report.
‘Boss,’ he began, stepping into my office. ‘I’ve traced the parcel. It was sent from a small courier depot called Riverside Landing Packages. No CCTV on site. The clerk described the woman who sent it as wearing a mask and a cap, so her face was obscured. He estimated she was in her twenties and didn’t seem to be from the local area. The trail ends there.’
I didn’t need CCTV to know who it was.
After Genevieve’s failed attempt with the aphrodisiac and the knife she’d sunk into my leg, she’d fled. She’d forced me to lie to Mirabelle about a business trip just so I could spend three days in hospital, and even after coming home, I’ve had to avoid sex with my own wife for fear she’d discover the wound.
Genevieve had backed herself into a corner, knowing I wouldn’t let it slide, so she ran. I’ve had people looking for her ever since.
It seems since she can’t get to me directly, she’s decided to target Mirabelle instead.
‘Don’t courier companies require contents inspection? What kind of amateur operation is this?’ I bit out, the words cold and sharp.
Harry flinched at the tone. ‘It’s a very small outfit, sir. Not much business. Their procedures are... lax.’
‘A company with no professional ethics shouldn’t be in business.’ I fixed him with a stare. ‘You know what to do.’
‘Yes, boss. I’ll have our people acquire the company immediately.’
Satisfied, I gave a curt nod. I grabbed my suit jacket from the back of the chair, deciding the rest could wait until morning. It was time to go home.
When I got back to the villa, Mirabelle greeted me as usual, seeming perfectly fine. I allowed myself to relax.
As it turned out, I relaxed too fucking soon.
She had a nightmare that night.
‘No...’ she whimpered, her hand twitching and pushing at the air as if fending something off. ‘Take it away.’
The movement woke me instantly. I switched on the bedside lamp, flooding the room with a soft, amber glow.
In the light, I could see the sheen of cold sweat on her forehead. My jaw tightened. I pulled her into my arms, cupping her face with my other hand. ‘Mira. Wake up.’
‘Ah!’ She jerked her head, her eyes flying open. She stared at the ceiling, the remnants of raw fear clouding her gaze.
It took her a moment to focus, to see me leaning over her. ‘What... what happened?’
‘You were having a nightmare,’ I said, my brow furrowed with concern as I studied her.
She shook her head weakly. ‘I don’t know. I don’t remember. Maybe I was dreaming.’
But I was certain. It was the parcel. She’d never had nightmares like this before today.
I leaned down, pressing my forehead against hers. Her skin was cool, but otherwise she seemed okay. I let out a slow breath.
‘Go back to sleep. I’ve got you.’ I held her close, my hand moving in slow, firm circles over her back, soothing her the way you would a frightened child.
‘Mm,’ she nodded, her expression dazed, still not fully present after the nightmare, even though she had no memory of what it was about.
We lay back down, and she settled against my chest. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then closed her eyes under the steady stroke of my hand.
I reached to turn off the lamp, but then reconsidered. With a quick adjustment, I dimmed the light to a soft, warm glow that wouldn’t be too harsh.
A few minutes later, she turned over, pillowing her head on my arm as she lay on her side. Then, after another few minutes, she rolled onto her back again, facing the ceiling.
I’d been drifting off, but her shifting woke me. I looked down at her and asked, my voice low, ‘Can’t sleep?’
She nodded. ‘Mm.’
I propped myself up on one elbow, looking down at her from this new angle. ‘Then let’s do something more productive.’
‘What kind of productive?’
One of my arms was still trapped under her head. With my free hand, I tilted her chin up. I held her gaze, my own intense, and murmured, ‘What you’ve been wanting since two nights ago.’
The words hung in the air between us, and I didn’t wait for a response before I got to work. I captured her lips with mine, but unlike my usual stormy approach, I was gentle this time. My movements were slow and tender, almost sweet.
She froze for a second, then her arms came up around my neck. She kissed me back, her response quiet but eager. She tilted her head up, deepening the kiss.
My eyes lit up. I didn’t hold back, claiming her more possessively. My hand found the gap in her pyjamas, and I slipped it inside with ease. Her skin was soft and smooth like silk under my palm, and I couldn’t get enough of the feel of it.
She let out a soft, impatient whimper. My hand moved over her, setting her skin on fire wherever I touched, until she was burning up. Her breathing grew ragged.
‘Is this all it takes to undo you?’ I murmured the words against her lips, a hint of teasing in my tone. The heat of my breath mingled with hers as she gasped, and I drew in the air she exhaled, our breaths becoming one.
My voice was rough when I spoke again. ‘If you can’t handle even this, how will you cope when I really get started?’