The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter

555

The joy of regaining what had been lost only heightened the collision of attraction between them. For the first time, Marve abandoned all restraint, taking the initiative with a fervor that let her usual composure behind.

Byron's dark eyes, still hazy from the remnants of unconsciouses, grew even darker. Though momentarily surprised by her sudden display of intimacy, he welcomed it with a wry smile every inch the man who always took everything in stride Slowly, her eager, almost careful kisses awakened something dle within him A restless energy churned in his chest, compelling him to act.

If only his body, drained and weak from recovery, would allow a deliberate care that belied his outward nonchalance. Their breaths mingled, melting together into one,

Instead, he let his lips guide hers, deepening the kiss with

A sudden clatter broke the moment. Something had fallen to the floor, snapping Maeve and Byron out of their embrace like startled actors caught mid-scene.

Maeve turned sharply, her heart in her throat, and found the room's doorway crowded. The attending doctor, a pair of nurses, and Archer stood frozen in place, their faces betraying a mix of embarrassment and shock.

"Mr. Byron, stammered Archer, his boyish face blazing red, "the monitors showed you were awake, so the doctor... uh, came to check on you." His words stumbled over themselves as if tripping on the very scandal he'd just witnessed. Archer hadn't expected to walk into such an electrifying scene.

No wonder the monitors had flagged a racing heart rate. He'd thought it was pain or distress,

He wondered, 'But kissing? Seriously? A kiss, of all things!"novelbin

Yes. Byron leaned back, calm as ever, while Maeve looked like she might combust from embarrassment. Her check flamed, her gaze darting everywhere but at him. Meanwhile, Byron's only reaction was mild annoyance at being interrupted Kissing his girlfriend, who'd have the guts to complain about that?

Maeve, on the other hand, was mortified. She scrambled off his lap, ears burning as she shuffled aside to give the doctor space.

The attending physician examined Byron thoroughly, jotting notes into his pad as he spoke. "Your internal injuries are healing steadily, but your legs will take longer. The burns are prone to infection, so your caretaker will need to keep a close eye on them"

He adjusted his glasses and added, "Avoid spicy food, alcohol, and tobacco. Keep the wounds dry. Oh, and you'll need to refrain from, uh, certain activities. Too much strain could cause the wounds to reopen."

Byron took the news without batting an eye, but Maeve? She looked like she wanted to sink through the floor.

The doctor turned to her with a knowing look. Young lady, don't let him sweet-talk you into anything. His injuries need

rest, not... exertion.

Maeve's face turned a shade of red that could stop traffic. She stammered, T... I understand."

Regret hit her like a truck.

Why did I even kiss him?' she thought.

The nurse set down Byron's medication before quietly leaving the room. One by one, the others followed, their footsteps soft against the tiled floor. Archer, ever thoughtful, lingered just long enough to close the door gently behind them. Mon

Marve let out a muffled groan and buried her face in her hands her nose glistened with sweat from the heat radiating off

her skin.

Byron arched a brow, his voice a low rasp. All shy now? You seemed pretty eager earlier. Didn't get enough Want another round

He hadn't touched her all week, after all

"Keep dreaming!" Maeve shot back, refusing tright. "Didn't you hear what the doctor said? What if you tear your stitches and make it worse?" Byron's pale lips curved into a faint smirk. "Then I guess it'd be romantic way to go, wouldn't you say?"

Maeve turned speechless.

She decided he looked much better lying there, silent and motionless.

Unlike now, where every word out of his mouth was nonsense.

"How are you feeling? Does your leg still hurt?" Maeve wasn't about to let him derail the conversation. Her worried eyes stayed fixed on his injured leg. Byron glanced down and winced ever so slightly. "Who wrapped this bandage? It's hideous."

Macre was at a loss for words. "Is this really the time to care about that?"

He gingerly shifted his thigh. The sharp, slicing pain at his knee hade him frown, cold sweat beading at his temples, though not a single sound escaped his lips.

"What are you doing?" Maeve immediately noticed something was off. She hurriedly stopped his movements: "Don't push yourself! You're not healed yet! You'll just make it worse.

"I'm fine." Byron muttered, his voice dropping a few degrees. Then, with a teasing glint in his eyes, he looked at her and added, "Don't you think I could still bring you to heaven, even like this?" "Byron!" Maeve's face flushed crimson, caught off guard by the blatant heat in his gaze. "Can you stop being so shameless?"

Seeing her flustered, Byron leaned back with a lazy smirk. "Shameless? Who was it that kissed me first? Who was trying to get a rise out of me?"

"I... I wasn't. Maeve stammered.

He interrupted smoothly, his voice softer but no less insistent. Admit it, Maeve. It's been a while. You missed me, didn't you?"

A week wasn't long, but it wasn't short, either.

Since their reunion, the two had never been apart for such a long time.

For Byron, who had grown used to keeping Maeve within his sight, those seven days had been nothing short of torture.

Maeve froze, her embarrassment fading as her gaze met his. His dark eyes, as deep and quiet as the ocean under the moonlight, revealed an emotion so raw that her heart trembled in response.

It was far more overwhelming than the kiss earlier. Her hands grew clammy, and she felt utterly at a loss.

Clearly, she wasn't the only one who had been longing for someone during that week.

"No," she answered, breaking eye contact. Tve been having a gre time here. Every day is so busy, I don't have time to think about some self-righteous guy who doesn't care what others think Byron's brow furrowed slightly. When have 1 ever been self-righteous? Other than in berl, of course."

Maeve choked, blindsided yet again.

Byron studied her carefully for a moment, then asked, "Did Archer say something to you?"

Ever since he woke up, she had been acting strangely.

First, she took the initiative to kiss him, and now she said such things.

She looked away, unsure how to respond. Before she could come up with an excuse, he added, "You hesitated. So I was night."

'Damn it, he is sharp, she thought.

"What did he tell you?" Byron's eyes narrowed. "Whatever it was, it's clearly upsetting you. And unless it's about me running into that fire, there must be something else." Maeve's lips parted slightly. "Do you have some kind of mind-reading superpower?"

She pondered, 'How does he always know?"

Byron's expression cooled, his gaze turning distant. If you're feeling guilty because of whatever he said and you're trying to get closer to me out of pity, don't bother.

"I don't need anyone's pity, Maeve Not even yours."

He had kept the truth from her precisely because he knew her too well.

He thought. If Maeve finds out I nearly died for her, her overly soft heart and guilt-ridden kindness might compel her to develop feelings for me.

But this isn't what I want.

What I want is her love, pure and without strings attached