Chapter 55 Plan Works
Meryl hurriedly explained, “Anne was just joking, you shouldn’t take her seriously. I… I…”
But her words faltered, caught in the whirlwind of emotions swirling around her.
Just then, Chandler leaned in, capturing her lips with his in a sudden kiss.
Meryl froze, her mind racing as Chandler’s large hand cradled the back of her head, tilting her face up towards his.
The world around them faded into silence, the only sounds being the soft rustle of fabric and the faint echo of their quickening breaths. Chandler had indulged in a bit of white wine earlier, and the subtle scent lingered on his lips, intoxicating her senses.
At that moment, Meryl instinctively closed her eyes, feeling a jolt of electricity coursing through her, even to her fingertips.
His rough fingers grazed her slender waist, settling on her back, sending shivers down her spine.
She felt small and delicate in his embrace, completely at his mercy, not daring to move.
Just as the heat between them intensified, Chandler’s phone rang, cutting through the tension like a knife.
They pulled apart, foreheads touching, both breathing heavily, their hearts racing in unison.
After a few long seconds, Chandler reluctantly released her and walked over to the table to grab his phone.
Meryl stood frozen in place, her mind racing back to the kiss they had just shared, her heart still pounding in her chest.
When Chandler returned, he was slipping on his clothes, his expression shifting from playful to serious.
“I’ve got to take a business trip last minute. I might be gone for a few days.”
Meryl blinked, momentarily taken aback. She nodded, quickly gathering her thoughts and rushing to the bedroom to help him pack.
She rifled through the closet, pulling out three tailored suits suited for different occasions, pairing them with ties that matched perfectly.
After a moment’s thought, she added two sets of comfortable casual wear, neatly organizing everything in his suitcase.
When Chandler saw the effort she put into packing, he was taken by surprise.
His eyes softened as he grasped her wrist, pulling her into his arms.
Chandler buried his nose in her fragrant hair, his voice low and teasing. “No sneaky watching porn videos while I’m gone, alright?”
Meryl leaned against his chest, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wasn’t planning on it…”
Chandler’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he smirked. “Even if you’re curious, just wait for me to come back. We can explore together.”
Meryl’s mind raced at his words.
She thought, “Is that what I think it means? Exploring together?”
Before she could dwell on it, his phone rang again, the urgency palpable.
Meryl watched him head out the door, feeling a mix of emotions as he left.
Once he was gone, she tiptoed back to her room.
As soon as she lay down, her mind was flooded with thoughts of their kiss – the way his lips felt against hers, the warmth of his body. She pulled the blanket over her, unable to resist the urge to slap her cheeks in embarrassment.
She pondered, “If that phone hadn’t interrupted us, where would we be right now? And his body… he even asked if I was satisfied… Oh, come on! The Chandler everyone talks about being so reserved and composed? When did he become so… suggestive? Was he acting like that because of me, or has he always been like this?”
That night, Meryl tossed and turned, unable to shake the images dancing in her mind, finally succumbing to sleep around three in the morning.
Meanwhile, on the plane, Chandler sat with a magazine in hand, though he hadn’t turned a single page in nearly an hour.
He adjusted his seat and closed his eyes, thoughts drifting back to his earlier conversation with Dante over drinks.
Dante had exclaimed, slapping the table excitedly, “Come on, man, just go for it! You’re married now – what’s there to fear? You’ve got a killer physique! Just show a little muscle, and Meryl will be putty in your hands! Use your charm, man! With that perfect face of yours, you could sweep ten girls like Meryl off their feet! Wait, Chandler, don’t walk away!”
Chandler ignored Dante, casually grabbing his suit jacket from the sofa and slipping it on.
Dante, undeterred, continued his relentless chatter.
“Chandler, trust me! I’m staking our nearly thirty-year friendship on this! You walk around in front of her, just wrapped in a towel, and Meryl won’t be able to handle it. I swear!”
Chandler remained silent, finished putting on his suit jacket, and left the club.
Thinking about how Meryl reacted tonight, Chandler couldn’t help but smile.
A mischievous grin spread across his face as he mused, “Looks like Dante’s plan works after all.”