Chapter 325

---- Chapter 325 Giselle stood motionless at his bedside, her gaze lingering greedily on Donovan's face. She studied every feature as if it had been years since she'd really looked at him this closely. His features were sharp and striking, his face carved with strength . Even lying there with his eyes closed, injured and pale, he radiated a kind of commanding presence that made it hard to look away. She drew ina deep breath, then dipped a towel in water, wrung it out, and sat down at his side. With careful strokes , she dabbed the sweat from his forehead and gently wiped his face.

The soft cloth slid over the planes of his cheeks, his nose, his lips, before drifting down to his neck. She moved on to his chest, her touch tender and unhurried. When she finished, she started to rise, intent on rinsing the towel. But as she straightened, ready to leave the bedside, Donovan suddenly grabbed her fingers. Realizing he was awake, Giselle didn't turn to meet his eyes. She let him hold her hand, her own fingers slowly curling into his palm. Teasingly, she traced light circles there, and a faint smile tugged at her lips, soft and relieved.

Sensing the shift in her mood, Donovan gave a tug and pulled her closer until their eyes locked. His gaze burned into her, and her breath caught. ---- Before he could speak, she bent down and kissed him. Her hand slid behind his head, the other cupping his cheek as she kissed him with reckless abandon, pressing deeper and harder until she was breathless. Every knot of pain, every tangle of resentment, every suffocating doubt seemed to dissolve in that fevered kiss. Her mind went blank, leaving only the heat of their mingled breath and the hammering of their hearts.

It was like she had wandered the desert for endless days, parched and stumbling on the brink of collapse -only to find alush oasis. She drank from it greedily , as though life itself poured back into her veins. They clung to each other, the kiss shifting from tender to wild, from yearning to a battle for dominance, each trying to outmatch the other in intensity. Neither wanted to let go. At last, on the edge of suffocation , Giselle broke away, gasping. Donovan's eyes stayed shut as he drew in ragged breaths.

The kiss had left him winded, despite his injuries , no discomfort stirred in his body-only a rush of fierce, unshakable pleasure. Giselle settled back against the headboard, still at his side. He let his head rest on her lap, his hand clamped tightly around her slender fingers. With his eyes still closed, he seemed content simply to stay there. No words were exchanged; they simply leaned into each other, quietly sharing a warmth that was new to them both. For a moment, it felt as though all their battles had found ---- their resolution in silence.

After several minutes, Giselle brushed her fingertips across his cheek. Her voice was low, almost playful. "From now on, only I'm allowed to hit you. If any other woman dares lay a hand on you, I'll tear her apart." He gave a faint, careless hum of assent. "Fine. I'll let you do whatever you want-scold me, hit me, anything . As long as you never leave me again." A small laugh slipped past her lips. Then she bent down once more, capturing his mouth in another kiss.