The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 169

‘Come on,” she muttered, twisting further and wincing. “Stupid thing.”

I took a step back, figuring I should probably leave instead of watching her undress like a creep. But the way she was struggling made me feel like an asshole for leaving. She had clearly been struggling with the corset by herself all this time. I couldn’t just walk away when she obviously needed help.

Before I could second–guess myself, I pushed the door open and stepped into the room.

“Need help?”

Ella spun around, eyes going wide. A flush crept up her neck.

“Alexander. I thought you were… I thought you had business.”

“I did. It’s finished.” The lie came easily. “You look like you’re having trouble.”

She glanced back at the mirror, then at me, uncertainty written all across her face. Finally, she sighed. “I can’t reach the laces. They’re too high up.”

“Turn around.”

turned to face the mirror, moving her hair over her shoulder and presenting her back to me. Her pale skin and the sight of the beautiful nape of

closer, close enough to smell the lingering scent of roses in her hair and the faint vanilla of her perfume. My fingers found the top of

as I worked, but I could see her watching me in

as the first few inches of

but when she reached behind her to continue on her

working my way down, my knuckles occasionally brushing against the smooth skin of her back through the gaps in the lacing. Each lace was fucking torture.

The bodice of her dress sagged slightly, revealing more

skin.

tremble slightly. Just a few more eyelets and she’d be able to step out of the

slide my hands around her waist, to turn her in my arms and kiss her the way I’d been wanting to

my child. I had every right to touch her, to claim her, to make love to her until neither of us could think

every

I could see Ella’s face, flushed and expectant, lips slightly parted. With a deep inhale, her

Dammit.

the final laces and stepped back, clasping my hands behind me

able to manage