Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 65

Oscar’s got a thing for me, I can tell. Maybe young boys were more impressionable, more easily smitten.

Suddenly I felt a pang of guilt. What if Oscar’s feelings for me deepen? What would I do then? I asked myself. I didn’t fancy his pursuit, nor could I reciprocate the way he wanted. I just wanted to use his attention to balance my inner chaos. If he was willing to play this game with me, killing time together, I might consider it. But if he got truly emotionally invested, I’d be totally out of it.

I was deep in thought, my mind a chaotic mess, when Neil came back from his shower. He was in a black bathrobe, exposing some muscular contours, looking quite tempting.

I withdrew my gaze, tucked my phone under my pillow, and pretended to sleep.

After a while, I felt the mattress sink a bit. Neil had lain down beside me. He smelled of a mix of shower gel and shampoo, a scent I found appealing.

“Why don’t you sleep in the guest room?” I asked hirm, my back turned to him, sounding as ift didn’t care.

“I own half of the master bedroom too, Neil responded coldly.

“Why did you use my bathroom then? And my shower gel and shampoo?” I turned around to face him. “I thought you said you didn’t like the scent?”

Once a woman started doubting, her questions became sharper.

Neil’s face was close to mine. His expression as flawless as ever, he turned to look at me. “Irene, do you even know what you’re talking about?”

a while. I felt somewhat powerless and turned

grabbed my shoulder and forcefully turned me around. I let

hell are you doing?!” 1 shrieked, tears welling

at my lips. Just as I realized something was off, he harshly kissed me, silencing my outcry. He kissed me until I was almost out of breath. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my lips, and then Neil let go of me. There was a trace of

have you gone mad?!” I also touched my painful lips, and sure enough,

caught my hand, rendering me

about to curse him, he shut me up again. We tussled in the bed. I tried resisting him, but his dominant

sweat and Neil’s bathrobe was gone, his back glistening with sweat. He got up from the bed, glanced at the mess of sheets and pillows, then went out to the balcony shirtless and lit

sweat–soaked hair, took a deep breath, and muttered

successfully fended off Neil’s advances

1. in.

my good

death, will you?”

was covered in marks, at least I didn’t

continue.” “Fuck off!” I threw a pillow at Neil. He caught it in stride, threw it on the floor, then quickly came to the side of the bed,

foul mouth,” Neil said, then didn’t give

resist hi

minutes later, I admitted defeat in

every time Neil passionately made love to me, I had no chance of getting to bed

my mother–in–law, Faith, and I had to drag my tired body out of bed. When I finished showering and sat in front of the vanity mirror, I was shocked by my own reflection. I looked pale, with

his usual elegance. By comparison, I

Neil said, as if he wasn’t the one who had been wild last night. He