NovelEnglishChapter 1292: In her drowsy state, Laney mumbled, "I know it's you, Merrick." Her words left Cliff stunned. A hollow laugh escaped his lips. Fighting to contain his emotions, he gripped her chin between his fingers.
"Open your eyes and look at me," he commanded.
A shiver ran down Laney's spine. Sleep vanished instantly. Her eyes flew open, and reality crashed down around her. Cliff stood before her. The gravity of her mistake-uttering Merrick's nin Cliff's presence-hit her like a thunderbolt. Dread pooled in her stomach.
Cliff's face loomed closer, his eyes glacial.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Laney, who am I?" The weight of his question left Laney reeling, desperate to salvage the situation.
"Where... Where am I?" she stammered, squeezing her eyes shut.
"My head's pounding." Cliff's response was a frost-laden scoff. Seeing through her charade, his expression darkened as he withdrew his hand.
"Rest a while longer. I'll prepare something for your hangover." Laney lay rigid, eyes clamped shut, not daring to breathe a word. Minutes later, Cliff returned with the remedy, carefully spooning it between her lips.
As his apparent willingness to overlook her slip of the tongue registered, Laney's tension gradually ebbed, and she dutifully consumed the soup. The gentle tinkling of her spoon against the bowl filled the silence.
Cliff dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
"Clearer headed now?" Your favorite stories are on gVl"You promised you wouldn't forceinto doing it," Laney ventured cautiously.
"Mm, I won't," Cliff replied, his tone deceptively paternal.
"So tell me, Laney, do you recognizenow?" His unexpected gentleness left her wrong-footed.
"I recognize you, Cliff," she whispered.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCliff's lips curled slightly, but the smile never reached his eyes. He lifted her, carrying her toward the bathroom with the dark red box in hand.
"Is it jewelry?" Laney asked, her throat tight with nervous anticipation.
"No, I'll show you later."
In the bathroom, Cliff took charge of bathing her. Steam rose in gossamer wisps, filling the space with a white haze. Laney found herself perched on his lap; his arms forming an intimate prison around her. Though she could shift position, escape was impossible-his embrace both tender and confining, like a velvet-lined trap. Cliff retrieved the contents of the box.
"What is that?" Laney's eyes widened at the sight of what appeared to be a length of ribbon, crimson as fresh blood and smooth as liquid silk.
Without a word, Cliff began winding the ribbon around them both. Only when she felt the fabric binding their waists together did Laney begin to resist. "Cliff, what are you doing?"
Each movement caused the ribbon to constrict, molding itself to her form. The stark contrast between her delicate skin and the vivid red created a mesmerizing tableau. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1
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