Chapter 164
Alexander’s injuries were not light. He had been relying on medication, strong willpower, and his robust physique to endure until now. With Avery by his side, the crisis was temporarily averted, and he finally relaxed completely, feeling the pain and fatigue wash over him. He leaned softly against Avery’s shoulder and whispered, "Miss Carter, I’m going to sleep for a bit. Wake me if something comes up."
Avery reached around his shoulder and gently patted his short hair as if soothing a big cat. "Go ahead and sleep. With me here, everything’s fine."
Alexander closed his eyes and smiled. "Thank you..."
After trekking through the dangerous rainforest for so many days, even with a "Guardian" on watch and a versatile backpack for protection, Alexander had always been in light sleep, waking at the slightest rustle. But now, as soon as he shut his eyes, he fell asleep. A smile still lingered on his lips, like a child lost in a beautiful dream.
Avery finally had the chance to look at him openly and without reservation. She admired his handsome face, tracing his well-defined, slightly arched brows with her fingertips. Her gaze shifted to his long eyelashes and the high bridge of his nose. Then, she noticed his perfectly shaped, sensuous lips, which seemed to keep others at a distance. Finally, her eyes lingered on his strong, defined jawline.
As she watched, Avery couldn’t help but chuckle to herself, feeling content. Despite the sweat, he didn’t smell bad at all. It was just a man’s strong, masculine aroma. The more she looked, the more satisfied and enchanted she became. Avery firmly believed she wasn’t perverse but rather an exceptional woman with refined taste.
As she gazed at him, unsure if she was genuinely sleepy or simply entranced by his beauty, she found herself closing her eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep.
After a long while, the low growl of the "Guardian" roused her. "Attention! Unidentified individuals are approaching from the ten o’clock direction."
Startled, Avery opened her eyes and realized it had grown dark. She helped Alexander sit against a tree trunk, then stood up, raising her submachine gun in a standard posture to watch the left front warily.