Chapter 160

Isabella drifted off to sleep in a blissful haze, her tiny fingers clutching Evelyn's nightgown.

The little girl nuzzled deeper into her mother's embrace with a contented sigh. "You smell like flowers, Mommy," she murmured sleepily.

Across the expansive king-sized bed, Dominic lay motionless.

Only the soft glow of bedside lamps illuminated the opulent master bedroom, casting shadows across the lavish furnishings.

Evelyn gently stroked Isabella's silky hair, marveling at how quickly the child had settled. After years apart, she'd expected tears or tantrums at bedtime.

Instead, her daughter had simply curled against her like a contented kitten.

"Mommy, can I hold them?" Isabella's sleepy voice piped up, small hands already fumbling downward.

Evelyn understood the childish impulse - at five, Isabella still sought the comfort of a mother's touch.

But with Dominic mere feet away, heat crept up Evelyn's neck.

After a moment's hesitation, she guided the searching hands beneath her nightshirt. "Just for a little while, sweetheart. Tomorrow morning, I'll make your favorite pancakes."

Isabella sighed happily, snuggling closer like a baby koala clinging to its mother. Within minutes, her breathing evened out into sleep.

Dominic, who had been staring at the ceiling, turned his head slightly.

Evelyn remained perfectly still, terrified of disturbing the sleeping child. Eventually, exhaustion claimed her too.

Even in sleep, her arms maintained a protective circle around Isabella.

Sometime before dawn, Evelyn half-woke to the sensation of small hands being gently extracted from her nightshirt. The sheets felt damp where tiny palms had rested.

Still half-asleep, she reached out blindly for her daughter.

Her hands met only cool silk.

Evelyn's eyes flew open.

She sat bolt upright, heart pounding as she scanned the empty bed. The indent of a small body remained on the mattress, but Isabella was gone.

Evelyn scrambled from bed, bare feet hitting the plush carpet as she rushed toward the door.

She collided with Dominic just as he exited the nursery.

"Why did you take her?" Evelyn demanded, voice still thick with sleep.

Morning light revealed Dominic's disheveled appearance - his robe hung open, revealing a slice of toned chest. Evelyn became acutely aware of her own state: wrinkled men's shirt hanging off one shoulder, hair in wild disarray.

"You were crushing her," Dominic said matter-of-factly, brushing past her into the bedroom.

Evelyn's mouth fell open. "That's impossible! My boarding school roommate said I slept like a statue. Even my grandfather—"

Dominic silenced her with a searing kiss.

Evelyn rose instinctively on tiptoe before reality crashed back. She shoved against his chest with both hands. "Stop—"

But Dominic cradled her face, fingers tangling in her sleep-mussed hair as he deepened the kiss. The scent of her shampoo - something floral and expensive - filled his senses.

"Please don't," Evelyn gasped when he finally released her mouth.

Her protest died as Dominic's lips trailed down her throat, his hands making quick work of her shirt buttons. The garment slid from her shoulders as he unhooked her bra with practiced ease.

When his mouth closed over her breast, Evelyn arched against him with a strangled cry.

Dominic lifted her effortlessly onto the bed, stripping away the borrowed pajama pants with one swift motion.

"Dominic, the children will hear—" Evelyn's protest dissolved into a moan as his hands roamed her body.

The bed creaked alarmingly as Dominic shrugged out of his robe, revealing he'd worn nothing beneath.

Evelyn's eyes widened. "You—"

Her indignant remark turned into a gasp as Dominic's hands gripped her waist. The headboard knocked against the wall with each movement.

A small knock sounded at the door.

"Daddy? Evelyn?" Alexander's sleepy voice called. "What's that noise?"

Evelyn yanked the duvet up to her chin as the door creaked open. Dominic moved to block their visitor's view.

"I... saw a mouse," Evelyn panted, face flaming.

"A mouse?" Alexander rubbed his eyes. "Like in Tom and Jerry?"

Dominic tightened the belt of his robe. "Go back to bed, Alexander."

"But if there's a mouse, can we keep it? I've always wanted a pet hamster!"

"This mouse," Dominic said sternly, steering his son toward the door, "wants to play with Evelyn."

Alexander's protests faded as Dominic deposited him back in his room.

Alone again, Evelyn trembled beneath the covers - though not from cold. The memory of Dominic's "mouse" made heat pool low in her belly.