Chapter 178

The bed was small. After Aubree got in, she immediately pressed herself against the wall, curling up.

Bowen, a disciplined sleeper, lay rigidly on the far side, which surprisingly created a distinct gap between them.

But that was all.

The space was still cramped. One turn, and they’d bump into each other.

Aubree gripped the quilt tightly in both hands, her entire body rigid with tension. Enveloped by Bowen’s unfamiliar scent, she felt like she could hardly breathe.

The church at night was eerily quiet. Despite the distance between them, Aubree could hear his heartbeat with startling clarity.

“Thump… Thump…” His heartbeat was strong and steady.

Curled up under the quilt and facing the wall, Aubree found sleep impossible in these circumstances.

Before long, Bowen’s breathing grew slow and steady.

Is he asleep? Aubree wondered.

It was getting uncomfortable to lie in the same position for so long. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, Aubree cautiously turned over.

Sure enough, the bed was tiny. Even through the quilt, Aubree could feel her arm brush against Bowen’s.

As she lifted her head, Aubree’s body went rigid in an instant.

Unbeknownst to her, Bowen had turned onto his side, his face now mere inches from hers.

If I’d moved just a fraction more, our lips might have met, Aubree thought to herself.

Aubree gazed at Bowen’s impossibly perfect face mere inches from hers, her heart pounding wildly out of control.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Bowen’s eyelids fluttered. He cracked his eyes open slightly, his gaze still clouded with sleep, looking utterly groggy as if lost in drowsy confusion.

“Just sleep,” As if acting on instinct, Bowen reached out and casually ruffled Aubree’s hair. “Don’t fuss.”

Bowen’s scorching breath made Aubree shrink back, her whole body tensing. His rough voice sent a shiver down her spine.

Aubree jolted and instinctively burrowed deeper under the covers, suddenly feeling awkward and tense all over.

But Bowen only stirred briefly at her touch, then fell motionless again.

Peeking through half-closed eyes, Aubree stole another glance at Bowen and muttered under her breath, “Why do you have to be so damn handsome…”

In the darkness, Bowen, who was supposed to be asleep, curled his lips into a smirk. Silently, he mused, “How else would I catch your eye if I weren’t handsome?”

After what felt like ages, drowsiness finally crept in. Aubree’s eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted into a deep slumber.

Almost the moment Aubree drifted off, Bowen stirred beside her, rolling onto his side. His eyes gleamed intensely in the darkness, betraying no hint of the drowsiness he’d feigned earlier.

“Bree?” Bowen called softly, but received no response.

After being wound up tight, Aubree fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

Bowen smiled and reached out to caress Aubree’s face. It felt warm, delicate, and incredibly soft. Unable to resist, he gave her cheek a gentle pinch, only pulling his hand back after he’d had his fill of the delightful sensation.

In the darkness, Bowen lay on his side, his gaze burning with gentleness as he stared at Aubree.

After gazing at her for what felt like an eternity, Bowen slowly propped himself up and planted two soft kisses on Aubree’s forehead, in a gentle murmur, he said, “Good night. Sweet dreams.”

After doing all this, Bowen lay back down, inching closer to Aubree through the quilt.

The room’s air conditioner was on a timer. It was a small space, and running it all night would have made it unbearably stuffy.

In the dead of night, the room temperature dropped. Aubree, with a delicate constitution and prone to cold hands and feet in winter, soon began to feel the chill.

Still deep in sleep, she instinctively snuggled toward the warmth.

At some point, her hand slipped under Bowen’s blanket. The warmth seeped in, and Aubree relaxed, the tension melting from her face.

Unconsciously, Aubree had burrowed under Bowen’s blanket, tucking her hands and feet against his chest, her body instinctively curling into his warmth.

Bowen had woken up the moment Aubree reached out her hand. But really, who in their right mind would turn down such a sweet, unconscious embrace? So instead of stopping her or waking her, he quietly lifted his quilt to make room for her.