CHAPTER 146: WHY CAN’T I STOP MYSELF

"God, this is so embarrassing!" Anna hissed, pushing Daniel off her and scrambling out of bed.

She hadn’t meant for Mariam to walk in on them — like that — and yet the horror of being caught wasn’t half as mortifying as Mariam’s stunned reaction before she’d fled the room.

Daniel steadied himself, still sitting on the edge of the bed, watching as Anna paced the floor in a frenzy. His gaze followed her like a pendulum, left and right, until she finally stopped and shot him a glare that could’ve melted stone.

"This is all your fault, Daniel! Why didn’t you lock the door? And how could you just—just stay on me while Mariam was still inside?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow, her flustered outburst amusing him far more than it should have. There was something about the way she scolded him — firm, sharp, but not truly angry — that made it sound more like a habit than a reprimand.

"So," he drawled slowly, lips curving, "you’re saying I should’ve locked the door... so no one could disturb us?"

Anna blinked, his words sinking in far too late. Then her eyes widened in horror. "What? That’s not what I meant!" she gasped.

Daniel’s smirk deepened. "Didn’t you just say that? That I should’ve locked the door so Mariam wouldn’t have walked in?"

"...You—" Anna faltered, completely thrown off. "You’re twisting my words!"

He chuckled softly, the sound deep and infuriatingly smug. "Am I? Or are you just embarrassed to admit it?"

Before she could protest, Daniel reached out and pulled her forward — firm but gentle — until she was perched on his lap.

"Daniel!" she yelped, hands pressing weakly against his chest.

He tilted his head, gaze locked on her flushed face. "I’m only saying what you said, wifey," he murmured, voice low and teasingly rough. "You didn’t want anyone to disturb us, right?"

His tone sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it — that dark, velvety voice laced with temptation.

Anna’s breath hitched. She wanted to push him away, to scold him again, but her body betrayed her. Her mind went still; her heartbeat didn’t.

Daniel noticed. His grin softened into something far more dangerous — a knowing smirk. His hand rose to her face, fingers brushing lightly along her jaw before his thumb traced the outline of her lips.

"You wanted me to kiss you, didn’t you?" he whispered.

Anna froze. His thumb lingered, slow and deliberate, as his gaze dipped to her mouth — the same lips that had kissed him only minutes ago. The heat in his eyes made her breath catch, her pulse stumble.

Her voice came out small, trembling. "I-I didn’t say that."

"But your eyes did."

The way he said it — confident, quiet, certain — made her throat tighten.

Daniel leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "You have no idea how tempting you look right now," he said, voice dropping an octave. "It’s taking everything in me not to take you right here, right now."

Anna’s lips parted, her breath unsteady. His words sank deep, heady and bold. The dark glint in his eyes left no room for doubt — he meant every word.

Goosebumps prickled her skin. She knew exactly what he was implying, knew she should push him away, say something — but her body wouldn’t listen.

Why can’t I move?

Her eyes flickered up to his. That smoldering look of his — dangerous, hungry, almost reverent — made her chest tighten.

Do I... want the same thing?

The thought made her heart race faster. Her gaze drifted from his eyes to his lips, lingering there a moment too long. The urge to close the distance between them — to taste the heat again — rose unbidden, fierce and confusing.

And before she could stop herself, Anna swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Daniel..."

He smiled then — slow, knowing, and devastatingly sure.

Anna still couldn’t understand why he was smiling so much.

Was it because she had embarrassed herself yet again... or because her life had become a public spectacle and he simply didn’t care?

Her chest tightened. The more she looked at him — calm, relaxed, utterly unbothered — the more the question pressed on her tongue until it slipped out before her mind could stop it.

"Are you that happy?" she asked quietly.

The words surprised even her. She didn’t know why she wanted him to care — to frown, to worry, to feel something — when she was the one who had told him to stay away from her life. And yet, the thought of him remaining so unaffected by the chaos around her stung more than she wanted to admit.

’Was he even aware of the rumors? Of the whispers that now carried her name?’

Daniel had been watching her, amusement still tugging at his lips, when he noticed it — the flicker of sadness that dimmed her eyes. The smile that had lingered on his face faltered.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He’d only wanted to tease her a little, to lighten the mood like he always did. But that look... the quiet ache behind her words... it made him stop.

For a moment, the air between them shifted — from playful to heavy, from teasing to something far more fragile.

However, the longer Daniel looked at her, the more the realization sank in.This wasn’t just about embarrassment or frustration — she was hurting because of the...

"Don’t worry," he murmured softly, his voice gentler than she’d ever heard it. "Everything’s going to be fine."

His hand rose to cup her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek.

Anna froze. The sincerity in his eyes left her breathless. There was no teasing smirk this time, no hint of mockery — only warmth. Only him.

Her throat tightened, and before she realized it, tears began to sting her eyes.

’Why do his words feel so comforting? And why can’t I... stop myself from—’

Her thoughts trailed off as her lashes fluttered shut, the silent invitation clear.

Daniel hesitated for a heartbeat, his chest tightening as he took in the sight of her — so vulnerable, so unguarded. Then his heart gave in. He leaned forward and kissed her, softly at first, as if afraid she might break.

The world seemed to blur around them. The noise, the rumors, the pain all washed away in that single, quiet moment.

To him, it wasn’t just a kiss. It was a promise one he silently made as he deepened it, his hand still holding her as if anchoring her to him.

’I promise to protect you, Anna’ his heart whispered.’ And I’ll make sure anyone who dares lay a hand or even an eye on you will have to go through me first.’