It wasn’t long before Georgia slipped into the room. Kayden lay there on his makeshift bed on the floor, seemingly fast asleep. Treading lightly, she made her way over to him. In the soft glow of the night light, she gazed down at his closed eyes, his breathing steady and rhythmic. She couldn’t tell whether he was truly asleep or not.
Gently, Georgia lowered herself to sit beside him, her eyes tracing the contours of his face as her mind wandered. That was just like him, she thought. Always giving, never asking for anything in return. Even after saving her life, he’d never once made any demands. It was as if he believed everything he did was simply his duty, nothing out of the ordinary.
Three years they had been married, yet Kayden had never once exercised his rights as a husband. He would always keep his distance. Just look at them now – him on the floor, her in the bed. What kind of married couple lived like this?
A pang of guilt shot through Georgia as she watched him. After all, hadn’t she been the one to set these boundaries? On their wedding night, she had banished him to the floor, and there he had stayed for three long years. The thought of it now made her heart ache. Here was a man who always put her first, and she wouldn’t even share the bed with him. She was a terrible wife.
Ever since that day Kayden had saved her from a crowd of thousands, she had known – he was the one, her lifelong partner. If she had accepted him as her husband, why was she still holding back from her wifely duties?
Kayden’s earlier encounter with her sister had caught Georgia off guard. It was a stark reminder that he was a man with… needs. If she kept up this cold act, who knew what mistakes he might make?
Swallowing hard, she steeled herself to reach out and shake his arm.
But her hand froze mid-air. She thought, “Oh god, what am I doing?” Her face was burning with embarrassment. What if Kayden didn’t feel that way about her? Wouldn’t she be making a complete fool of herself? And if that were the case, how could she ever face him again? He would think she was the one desperate to… No, she couldn’t do it. It would ruin everything. She snatched her hand back.
But no sooner had she retreated than doubt crept in again. They were married, after all. And she knew Kayden – he always played it cool, acting like nothing bothered him. But in reality, he was attentive to her every need. Even the tiniest problem, he would try his best to solve it for her.
So even if he did have those desires, he’d never show it. That just wasn’t Kayden. In a marriage, someone had to make the first move. If Kayden wouldn’t, then it was up to her. Between husband and wife, there was no room for such hesitation.
Georgia gritted her teeth and reached out to tap Kayden’s shoulder. The moment her fingers made contact, his eyes flew open. Not a gradual awakening, but wide awake in an instant, as if he had never been asleep at all. Their eyes locked, but they didn’t say a word. Georgia’s eyes were wide, blinking rapidly.
She stared at him, feeling suddenly exposed as if he could read her every thought. Her cheeks blazed crimson.
“What’s wrong?” Kayden asked, propping himself up on his elbow.
Flustered, Georgia’s gaze darted around the room.
Regaining her composure, she met his eyes again. “Get up,” she said softly.
Confusion crossed Kayden’s face. “Why?”
“Just… get up,” Georgia insisted, tugging at his arm.
Bewildered, Kayden rose to his feet, towering over Georgia like an overgrown young boy. She couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of him, all awkward limbs and baffled expression.
“What’s so funny?” Kayden asked, his brow furrowed. Though he had to admit, her laughter was music to his ears.
Ignoring his question, Georgia busied herself gathering up his bedding. Kayden watched, utterly perplexed.
“So,” Georgia tried to sound casual as she worked, “what exactly happened with Leah earlier?”
Kayden had been expecting this. He had seen it in her eyes. “She slipped,” he explained. “I caught her, that’s all.”
“I see,” Georgia murmured, stowing the bedding in the closet. Then she turned to face him, her eyes meeting his. For once, she didn’t look away. In three years of marriage, this was the first time she had truly held his gaze. She had watched him sleep countless times, but this was different. His eyes open, alert… he was even more handsome than she’d realized.
In the soft lamplight, the man and wife stood face to face. Something was changing, a feeling neither could quite name.
For the first time, love filled every corner of this room. Even Georgia, the ice queen herself, felt a warmth spreading through her chest. For the first time, she found herself hoping, yearning for what might come next.
Kayden couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was breathtaking, more beautiful than any actress or model could hope to be. Her delicate features, those full lips, those mesmerizing eyes – every blink sent his heart racing. And her figure… perfection didn’t begin to cover it. If he had to put it into words, only “otherworldly beauty” would suffice.
But it wasn’t just her looks that had captured him. It was her heart, her very essence. She had stood by him for three years. She deserved his lifelong devotion.
Georgia saw the intensity in Kayden’s gaze and swallowed hard. “About Leah,” she said softly, “I know what she’s like. She’s always stirring up trouble. But you can’t take her seriously, okay? She’s your sister-in-law. If you let her get to you… well, you’ve already lost. And if she ever really confuses you, you can always talk to me about it. We’re married, after all.”