Bound by a billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

~JESSICA~The next morning came too quickly.I hadn’t slept well…not because the bed was uncomfortable, but because he was there. Just inches away. Breathing. Existing. Making my heart do gymnastics in the dark.When I finally dragged myself out of bed, Daniel was gone. The space beside me was cold, the sheets untouched except for the place he laid before we both turned away from each other like teenagers scared of their feelings.A small note was left on the nightstand."Went for a quick meeting with the board directors. Will be back by noon. Don’t cause trouble. – Daniel."I smiled, rolling my eyes. Typical Daniel. Even in notes, he was a walking contradiction….distant, sarcastic, yet oddly thoughtful.I grabbed my phone and texted Clara back like I promised. Me: “Your nightwear almost killed a man last night. Hope you’re happy.”She replied instantly.Clara: “ONLY ALMOST? You’re slacking.”I rolled my eyes, then stood up from the bed to dress the bed.After

~JESSICA~Did Daniel Sutherland just kiss me??My breath hitched.His lips were soft…warm, tentative, lingering just long enough to send my heart crashing against my ribcage like it was trying to escape.By the time my senses caught up with the moment, he was already pulling back.Our eyes met. And for the first time since I’d met him, Daniel looked… scared.Not the kind of fear you show when you’re caught doing something wrong. No. This was deeper. Raw. Vulnerable.“I'm sorry,” he whispered, his voice rough but no longer fever-weak. “I shouldn’t have done that.”I couldn’t speak at first.I just… stared at him, processing everything.The kiss. The fever. The broken past he barely let me glimpse. The truth behind his walls.And now this….his lips on mine and the frantic beat of my heart that had no intention of slowing down.“You kissed me,” I finally said, more to ground myself than accuse.“I know,” he said, brushing a hand through his messy hair. “I just

~JESSICA~ “I'm still a virgin!!!” I shrieked and quickly sat up on the bed, watching the surprised, shocked, bewildered look on his face.“What…. what did you just say??” He stammered, still staring at me in shock.“I said I'm still a virgin” I repeated shyly.“The fuck! You never told me” he swore loudly.“You never asked. It's not something I go around saying because I'm not proud that I'm still a virgin at this age” I replied.“How old are you??” he asked.I looked down, suddenly shy.“I'm twenty four”“Twenty four and you're still a virgin? Woww!” He exclaimed.“You're the first man to ever touch me. The first man I ever kissed. The first man to see me fully naked. No man has seen me fully naked before. You're the first” I confided in him.Now, the look on his face changed from surprise and shock to pride.“I never knew about this,” he said. “Why did you make me the first?”“I don't even know why. I'm still surprised. Maybe because this whole wife t

~DANIEL~The rain was already falling by the time the driver turned off the A66 and entered the heart of Middlesbrough.The company had sent me off in a sleek black BMW, the kind that whispered wealth even when parked. And they had given me a driver. One that's familiar with Middlesbrough. I sat at the back seat with Jessica, while watching the driver behind the wheel, one hand resting casually at twelve o'clock, the other gripping the leather gearshift like it grounded him. I watched as he drove us toward the apartment they’d arranged…a three-bedroom flat not far from the development site.As the driver drove through the streets, and because Jessica was so quiet beside me, I couldn't help but take in my surroundings.The sky over Middlesbrough was a flat grey sheet, the kind that made even noon feel like early dusk. A cold wind blew in from the River Tees, biting through clothes, sharp with the metallic tang of distant industry. The chemical works and

~DANIEL~ The beep of my phone made my eyes flutter open immediately.I was about to sleep with disturbing thoughts of Jessica on my mind when my phone beeped.I checked and saw a text message notification.Could it be from Jessica??I have been ignoring her after that night at the hotel and she's aware about it.I was trying to protect myself….and her.I opened the text message and froze when I read the contents of the text.“Heard you're at Middlesbrough. Since you don't want to come to me, I'll come to you instead. Expect me as soon as possible, love.” It was from Crystal.How did she know my exact location??Was she tracking me down??If she's really at Middlesbrough then she'll really come to see me.I got off my bed, suddenly panicking.I didn't want to see her.I didn't trust myself enough to see her again.I don't think I've healed enough to meet with her again.I picked up my phone and replied her text.“I don't want to see you, Crysta