Chapter 266

Whoa. I froze. That came out of nowhere. Hayden wasn’t just bold; he was downright blunt. My heart hammered, and before I could process it, I blurted, “Why?”

He swallowed, his throat bobbing. “I just don’t want to be away from you.”

It was so simple, almost too honest. I guess when you’re into someone, you can’t bear to be apart, even for a minute.

“But I’m not the kind of girl who casually does things like that,” I said, without thinking.

Hayden’s face tightened, and his ears turned a cute shade of pink. It was hilarious how straightforward he could be yet blush so easily.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, stumbling over his words. “I just… I want to be with you.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Seeing him flustered made me want to tease him further. “So, you’re saying you want to stay over, sleep in the same bed, but, like, just talk under the covers?”

He cleared his throat. “Pretty much.”

“Can you promise that?” My questions grew bolder. They were legitimate questions, though.

Hayden said, “Why don’t you find out?”

I was speechless. Well, okay then. Besides, hadn’t I been testing him, wondering if he felt the same way?

“I’m going to grab my stuff. You’re not going to lock me out, are you?” Hayden asked, completely unfazed.

I raised an eyebrow. “Just don’t chicken out.”

His smile widened. “I won’t.”

As he retrieved his things, I leaned against the bathroom sink, trying to regulate my breathing. My mind raced; I wasn’t sure I was ready to go that far with Hayden tonight. Jace’s words echoed in my head—“She made a move, but I’m not into her”—sharp and painful, like a thorn in my chest.

It made me wonder if something was wrong with me, if I was truly unappealing, incapable of attracting someone.

Feeling a surge of determination, I slipped into a black lacy nightgown, bolder than anything I’d worn before. Tonight, I wanted to captivate him.

With that thought, I opened the door. Hayden was already back, in his pajamas.

Chapter 265

Our eyes met, and in that instant, I knew Hayden’s heart pounded as hard as mine. I wanted to approach confidently, but my legs felt like jelly.

Before I could move, Hayden was already coming toward me. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he silently lifted me. I instinctively grabbed his shirt. As I drew closer, I smelled his soap—clean, simple, and entirely different from Jace’s. Jace always smelled of expensive, artisanal scents, but Hayden’s was familiar and comforting, like everyday brands. Stronger, more grounding.

Between the scent and the sudden rush of being lifted, my head spun, leaving me breathless. Hayden carried me toward the bedroom. With every step, my heart felt ready to burst. I held on tighter, barely processing what was happening. “Why are you carrying me? I can walk, you know.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed. Way to ruin the moment.

“Afraid you’ll chicken out and run,” Hayden teased, his tone knowing, as if he’d read my mind.

I pressed my face against his chest, refusing to back down. “If I wanted to run, I wouldn’t have let you in.”

“My bad, then,” he retorted with easy confidence, missing no beat.

My cheeks burned as he carried me to the bed and gently set me down, his eyes never leaving mine. But he didn’t move away. He simply looked at me, his gaze intense.