Free Web NovelChapter 226: Chapter 226 - Sleep
Afternoon light filled the room, the sun coming in through the open window and stretching across the floor as dust drifted in the air.
Iyisha stood near the table with a bottle in her hand, taking small sips as she watched Malcolm from across the room.
He sat on the sofa, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, one hand resting against his chin as his eyes stayed fixed on Lance, unmoving for too long.
She lowered the bottle and studied him.
He hadn’t shifted.
Hadn’t rested.
"I’ll watch him," she said as she stepped closer.
Malcolm didn’t look at her.
"Go rest," he said. "You haven’t slept enough."
"I slept," she said. "You didn’t."
He stayed quiet.
"You need it," she added. "Even trained men fall if they don’t rest."
His hand shifted slightly against his chin, but his gaze stayed locked on Lance.
Iyisha exhaled and lowered herself, kneeling near his feet as she looked up at him.
"He’s not waking up faster if you stare at him," she said.
A thud came from the corner.
Marybeth dropped down against the wall and leaned back, opening a can as she settled in.
"I’ll guard," she muttered.
Iyisha glanced at Malcolm.
"We’ll watch him," she said. "Go rest for a bit."
Malcolm dragged a hand down his face and let it fall.
"No," he said. "You go. I’ll rest after."
Aljun sat in the corner and flipped open a book, glancing at them.
Marybeth looked up. "Malcolm," she said. "Iyisha hasn’t rested right since she used her power."
Iyisha looked at her.
"Hey, brute," Marybeth said throwing the book beside her. "Your girlfriend is sick too. Go make sure she sleeps before all of you drop."
Malcolm caught the book with one hand without looking and set it aside.
Iyisha stilled at the forbidden word.
He stood and finally looked at Iyisha. She sighed in relief at him now reacting. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"You okay?" he asked.
Iyisha pressed a hand lightly to her stomach, her brows pulling just enough as she shifted her weight.
"It’s nothing," she said. "Just feels off."
His eyes stayed on her for a second longer, checking.
"I’m fine," she added. "But I’ll appreciate good sleep."
He didn’t argue but he stood up taking Iyisha’s hand in his.
"Call us if he wakes up," he said.
Marybeth nodded and pushed herself up, moving to take his place on the sofa as she settled in.
"Finally," she muttered.
Iyisha glanced back at her, a small smile slipping through.
They stepped into the room and closed the door, the noise from the hallway fading as the space settled into something quieter, the air inside still carrying a faint musty smell beneath the flow of fresh air.
She glanced at the windows she had opened earlier, the curtains shifting slightly as the breeze passed through.
Malcolm sat on the bed.
She reached for the bottle and cloth, wetting it in her hands before turning back to him.
Iyisha moved to the table and poured water onto a cloth, working it between her fingers before turning back to him.
Malcolm watched her for a second.
"I can do it," he said looking at the wet hand towel in her hand.
She shook her head and stepped closer. "I want to," she muttered.
He didn’t argue and sat, his posture still tight at first as she lifted the cloth and brought it to his face, wiping the dirt away in slow passes as her hand moved across his cheek and up along his temple before brushing into his hairline.
He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little as she continued, her focus fixed on the motion even as her eyes lifted for a moment and met his.
She held it briefly.
Then looked away.
The cloth moved down to his neck, then lower as she pulled his shirt off and set it aside, bringing the cloth back to his skin as she wiped across his shoulders and chest, her hand steady while her breathing shifted slightly under the closeness. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Her eyes lifted again.
He was already watching her.
She held his gaze a second longer before looking away, dragging the cloth across his shoulder as if that gave her something to do.
"You keep staring," she said.
A low sound left him.
"Yeah."
She glanced at him again.
"Why?"
His eyes stayed on her.
"Because I want to."
She paused.
Then looked away again, her mouth tightening before a small breath slipped out of her, almost a laugh.
She moved over the scars, her touch softening there, the cloth following each line as her fingers slowed without meaning to.
He didn’t move.
She reached for his pants and unsnapped them, her fingers steady even as she felt his eyes on her again.
He looked at her with eyebrow slightly raised.
She rolled her eyes.
A quiet sound left him as he helped pull them down, his hand reaching for the cloth before she pulled it back again.
"We need sleep," she said pointedly at his tenting boxers.
He chuckled softly at that.
She crouched and pulled his boots off, then his socks, then the rest of his pants, her movements slower now as she avoided looking up, keeping her focus on the task while the space between them felt tighter than before.
She wiped down his legs, starting at his thighs and working lower, the cloth sliding over his calves and down to his feet as her hand slowed for a second before finishing.
She stood and went back for more water, pouring it onto a fresh cloth before returning and stepping close again, closer than before as she wiped across his chest once more, her hand lingering just a little longer as her eyes lifted again.
He was still watching her.
She held it.
Didn’t look away immediately this time.
She kneeled on the floor, her breath catching slightly as she reached for the last piece.
His hand caught her wrist.
"Don’t," he said, his voice low.
She looked at him.
"Or we’re not sleeping," he added.
A small breath left her, turning into a quiet laugh as she handed him the cloth.
"Fine," she said.
He took it.
She stepped back and grabbed a pair of boxers she had found, handing them to him before turning away.
"Here."
He changed.
When she turned back, he was already looking at her.
"Come here," he said.
She paused.
Just for a second.
Then she walked to him and sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap as she hesitated, unsure how close he meant.
Malcolm didn’t say anything.
He just reached out and pulled her down beside him.
Closer.
Her breath caught as she settled against him, her body going stiff at first as she felt the heat of him through the thin fabric, his arm coming around her without hesitation.
She stayed there.
Still.
Her heart started to pound.
Too loud.
Too fast.
She shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable, but it only made her more aware of him, of how close he was, of the steady rise and fall of his chest against her back.
His breath brushed against her hair.
Warm.
Even.
She swallowed.
She wasn’t going to sleep like this.
Not with her chest tightening and her thoughts running.
Not with him this close.
Her fingers curled slightly against the sheets.
Malcolm’s arm tightened just a little.
"Sleep," he said.
Simple.
Low.
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding and closed her eyes, her body still tense for a second before slowly easing as she stayed there, listening to his breathing, feeling it settle into something steady.
Her heart didn’t slow right away.
But she stayed.
And she didn’t move.
