Chapter 106:

Jayden remained composed and forthright. He gently pushed Elyse aside and wheeled himself into the room, leaving her confused. A few moments later, Elyse gathered her thoughts and hurried after him, questioning, “Aren’t we supposed to be sleeping in separate rooms? Why do you suddenly want to sleep in mine?”

Jayden looked up at her, his gaze piercing. “Don’t you want to sleep with me?” he asked.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I’m not yet comfortable with the idea,” Elyse admitted, finding it increasingly difficult to meet his eyes. Her guilt intensified.

“I took your virginity, so it’s my responsibility to look after you,” Jayden stated matter-of-factly, scanning the room. “Besides, you are my wife. It’s only natural for us to sleep together.”

Elyse was speechless, unable to argue against his logic, yet the thought nagged at her. Jayden’s definition of responsibility—based solely on taking her virginity—wasn't the caring she yearned for.

Concealing her disappointment, she cautiously ventured, “So, from tonight, we’re to share a bed?”

Jayden nodded. “I’ve prepared myself mentally. You should come to terms with reality soon.” This explained his earlier unease.

After collecting herself, Elyse looked at Jayden thoughtfully. Then, in a low voice, she asked, “Should I help you with your shower later? Can you manage to take off your pants? I haven’t done that before, and I’m worried I might not do it well.”

“I don’t need your help with the shower, nor with taking off my pants,” Jayden responded abruptly, like a startled cat.

Embarrassed, Elyse touched her nose. She knew Jayden valued his independence and was sensitive about his disability. His legs were a private matter, and he didn’t want her to see him at his most vulnerable. “I’ll go shower first, then,” she announced.

She opened the wardrobe and grabbed her new pajamas. As she was about to undress, she paused and glanced back at Jayden.

Catching her look, he asked, “Why aren’t you undressing? Aren’t you going to shower?”

Feeling awkward, Elyse replied, “Can you turn around, please?”

After a brief silence, Jayden asked bluntly, “I’ve already seen you naked. Why are you still shy, Elyse?”

Overwhelmed, Elyse grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “Shame on you!”

Blushing deeply, she hurried into the bathroom with her pajamas. The pillow slid down, revealing Jayden’s irritated expression. He was so angered that he almost stood from his wheelchair to confront her. How dare she hit him with a pillow? he thought. But then, a scream from the bathroom halted him.

What happened? Jayden approached the bathroom door, his hand on the doorknob. He nearly burst in but managed to restrain himself.

“It’s okay. No worries,” Elyse called out, rubbing her waist where she had hurt herself after slipping. She didn’t mention the fall.

Jayden sighed in relief upon hearing her voice, realizing how worried he had been.

It took Elyse nearly an hour to emerge from the bathroom, now dressed in her new pajamas. She found Jayden leaning against the bed, absorbed in a book, seemingly waiting for her.

“Why didn’t you take a shower?” Elyse asked, puzzled.

Jayden looked up at her with a hint of indifference. “You were in there for almost an hour. Did you expect me to wait for you? Isn’t there another bathroom in the house?”

Elyse’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “What are you waiting for? Come up here,” Jayden patted the empty space beside him and smirked. “Do you want me to pull you over here?”

Her blush deepened as she climbed onto the bed awkwardly and lay down next to him.

She stared at the ceiling briefly, feeling Jayden’s gaze on her. Her eyelashes fluttered as she cautiously turned to meet his eyes. Jayden, usually cold and reserved, tonight exuded an intense, almost magnetic allure. “Are you sure you’re clean?” he asked, pulling her close. Their body heat mingled, heightening the tension between them.

Elyse felt her nerves spike. Their relationship had shifted significantly, and her feelings for him had deepened. They were both completely aware of this now.

Her eyes darted around, her heart racing. In a soft, slightly annoyed tone, she answered, “Yes.”

“Let’s make sure,” Jayden said, his voice low and tinged with desire, his Adam’s apple moving visibly.

Flushing, Elyse gently pushed against Jayden’s firm chest and murmured, “Can we turn off the light? Let me see your face. I didn’t get a good look at you last night.”

Despite her reluctance, Jayden’s insistence overwhelmed her protests, reducing her responses to soft, resigned sighs. ...