Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter

907

"I don't smell any alcohol," Lena muttered.

Aaron leaned closer, his flawless face coming within a breath's distance of hers.

Lena's nerves tightened like a spring, her pupils dilating as she stared at his face so close to hers. Her heartbeat pounded like a drum, loud and unrelenting.

"How about now? Do you smell it?" Aaron's voice was low, smooth, and intimate. The closeness made her focus solely on his lips-perfectly shaped, not too thin nor too full. They looked soft, and the thought of kissing them briefly crossed her mind. An inappropriate and utterly ridiculous notion, yet there it was, popping into her head uninvited.

Amidst her quickened breaths, she seemed to catch a faint hint of sweetness, mingled with a subtle, intoxicating aroma of alcohol. It was... oddly pleasant.

Her hand gripped the edge of the counter tightly. She dared not move, let alone breathe deeply, afraid that the smallest action might bring her lips to his.

If it were anyone else, she might have pushed them away and bolted. But this was her uncle. The man she'd grown up with, someone whose character she knew better than anyone else.

flirting-it couldn't be. He

water's boiling," she said abruptly, breaking

water had boiled, and the

and seasoning to the pot. Lena took the opportunity to retreat to the dining table,

chest, she chastised herself silently: Lena, what is wrong with you? Are your hormones out of balance, or have you been

herself spiral, who knew what might happen? She feared crossing a line so unforgivable it

noodles for her. The dish was rich and fragrant, a stark contrast to the sad, plain noodles she had made

heading to the fridge. He returned with a plate

1/2

+25 BONUS

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favorite. "I just had these made. Let me know if

guard. It had been ages since

keeping her head down as she focused