Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Sharing a Bed for the First Time
###Chapter 48: Sharing a Bed for the First Time
There were no rooms left.
Upon hearing this, Ethan Hawthorne’s brow furrowed slightly.
Before he could speak, Erza Sinclair, who was standing behind him, stepped forward to confirm, "Are all room types fully booked? Including the suites?"
"Yes, sir. My sincerest apologies. There’s a major convention in Jaxen today, so all rooms have been booked. The last two rooms were, in fact, taken by the two guests who just checked in."
Ethan Hawthorne looked at Erza Sinclair. "Contact other hotels."
Erza Sinclair immediately took out his phone and started searching. A few minutes later, he reported with a troubled expression, "Mr. Hawthorne, I’ve checked everywhere. Every single star-rated hotel within a five-kilometer radius is fully booked."
The air hung still for a moment.
Ethan Hawthorne remained silent, his long, slender fingers tapping lightly on the smooth countertop, his expression unreadable.
Then, he turned his head, his gaze landing on Erza Sinclair. Though he said nothing, the meaning was clear: ’Solve the problem.’
...
Erza Sinclair felt the invisible pressure from his boss as his mind raced.
He recalled faintly seeing Benjamin Sterling and Rose Joyce leave with a single room key, which meant the other room must belong to Miss Rhodes.
A bold and brilliant idea instantly took shape in his mind.
He stepped forward slightly, leaned closer to Ethan Hawthorne, and suggested with a perfectly serious face, "Mr. Hawthorne, our schedule is tight. Switching hotels now would delay tomorrow’s important meeting. Since President Sterling and his party booked two rooms, and Director Rhodes is also here... she must be staying alone."
He paused, his tone becoming utterly sincere and natural. "Given the special circumstances, why don’t... you and your wife make do for the night?"
"..."
The front desk clerk’s eyes widened instantly. She had to press her lips together to keep from crying out, but her mind was already in turmoil.
’Wife?! That stoic Mr. Hawthorne is actually married? And his wife happens to be here too?! Oh my god! This is some earth-shattering gossip!’
Ethan Hawthorne’s deep gaze rested on Erza Sinclair’s face for a moment. His eyes were calm and placid, yet they sent a faint chill down Erza’s spine, making him feel as if this month’s bonus was teetering on the edge of a cliff.
However, Ethan Hawthorne didn’t reject the idea outright.
’That is... a good idea.’
Ethan Hawthorne dialed Maxine Rhodes’s number.
The call was answered quickly.
Ethan Hawthorne concisely explained the situation, then presented what seemed to be the only logical solution. "I know this is presumptuous, but for the sake of efficiency, could I trouble you for your suite’s living room sofa for one night?"
Maxine Rhodes let out a soft breath, her voice returning to its usual calmness. "Room 1808. Come on over."
After hanging up, Maxine Rhodes’s gaze fell on the small sofa in the living room.
An image of Ethan Hawthorne’s 188cm frame surfaced in her mind. If he really slept here, his long legs would probably have trouble even stretching out.
The doorbell rang. She opened the door, and Ethan Hawthorne walked in, bringing a chill from the night air with him.
"You take the bed," Maxine Rhodes said, her tone perfectly calm. "I’ll make do on the sofa for the night."
Ethan Hawthorne set down his luggage, his voice low but resolute. "I can’t have a woman sleeping on the sofa."
Maxine Rhodes looked up, meeting his insistent gaze.
Under the warm yellow light, a faint glimmer flashed in her eyes. Then, her red lips parted, and she made a shocking proposal: "Then let’s sleep together."
The air hung still for a moment.
Ethan Hawthorne took a step forward, his tall figure casting an imposing shadow over her. He looked down at her, a dark tide seeming to churn in his eyes, his voice low and heavy. "Are you sure you want to invite a normal man to share a bed with you?"
He deliberately stressed the word "normal," a dangerous aura filling the space between them.
Instead of backing away, Maxine Rhodes met his intimidating gaze and took half a step forward. The ends of her hair brushed against his arm as she moved, sending a subtle tremor through him.
"So..." She tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting over his tightly pressed lips, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "Is Mr. Hawthorne implying that your self-control... isn’t very reliable?"
Her words were like a spark, instantly igniting the darkness in Ethan Hawthorne’s eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice turning husky. "Maxine Rhodes, you’re playing with fire."
"Am I?"
She chuckled, her fingertips tracing a feather-light path across his chest, a touch that felt as light as a feather yet carried a searing heat. "I’m just assessing the potential risks."
Seizing the moment his breathing faltered, she deftly sidestepped and picked up a blanket she had already prepared.
"The bed is big enough. We can each have our own blanket." She walked toward the bedroom, her voice betraying no hesitation. "I have faith in Mr. Hawthorne’s self-control, and even more faith in my own judgment. We have business to attend to tomorrow, so there’s no need to waste time on formalities."
Ethan Hawthorne stood rooted to the spot, watching her composed back with eyes as deep as the night. After a long moment, he finally nodded and followed her.
The bedroom lights were dimmed to a soft yellow, and the large bed looked especially suggestive in the ambiguous lighting. By unspoken agreement, they each took one side, leaving enough space between them for another person.
After lying down back-to-back, the room fell into an intense silence, so quiet that they could clearly hear each other’s unsteady breathing and their own thundering heartbeats.
They both tried their best to remain still, afraid that the slightest movement would shatter the fragile equilibrium.
But in that moment, physical sensations were infinitely magnified in the darkness. Ethan Hawthorne could clearly feel the warmth of another person’s body beside him, and the crisp, elegant fragrance from her hair wafted around his nose, strand by strand.
The sensation endlessly frayed his taut nerves.
Maxine Rhodes was equally unable to ignore the powerful presence of the man beside her. She could even faintly feel the beat of his heart, intertwining with her own, leaving her feeling unsettled.
Just as this silent awkwardness and a certain indescribable flutter filled the air, a coquettish, melodious female voice, heavy with obvious implication, came clearly through the not-so-soundproof wall.
"Mmm... Benjamin, you’re so naughty~"
It was Rose Joyce’s voice.
Immediately after, Benjamin Sterling’s muffled whisper could be heard, along with a RUSTLE, like the friction of clothing.
!!!
On their side of the wall, both of their bodies stiffened at the same time.
Maxine Rhodes subconsciously clutched the blanket to her chest, her cheeks feeling a little hot. Of course, she knew what was happening next door.
’Rose Joyce knows I’m in the room next door. She’s definitely making those sounds on purpose.’
Ethan Hawthorne shifted his position, trying to hide the sudden tension and awkwardness in his body.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to dispel the inappropriate images that the sounds and the faint scent of the woman beside him had conjured in his mind. He silently cursed the damn soundproofing and the unrestrained couple next door.
However, the performance next door seemed to have only just begun. * * *
