CHAPTER 211: MORNING BREATH

"No," Anna corrected with a shrug. "I just let him drown in his own assumptions... which I’m sure must’ve shattered by now."

She knew Kathrine well enough. By the time she reached home, her sister would’ve stuffed some sense into their father’s head. So worrying about Hugo any longer felt pointless. Not that she expected an apology from him anyway because that was a luxury she had never received growing up.

Daniel, on the other hand, stared at her for a few seconds, his wife’s strange logic slipping into his mind like some addictive, bewildering drug.

She was ridiculous and he was helplessly affected by her, which somehow made him withdraw from that part.

Finally, he exhaled and leaned back slightly.

"About Kathrine... how is she?" he asked, shifting the topic.

It wasn’t concern — not exactly.

Daniel didn’t care about Kathrine’s personal life, her emotions, or her drama. But if she had truly gotten into an accident that made Anna be with her, then he needed to know if the situation was real or just another manipulative twist from her end.

His voice remained calm, but his eyes sharpened—waiting for Anna’s answer, gauging if Kathrine’s injury was genuine or another potential trap Anna had narrowly escaped.

Whereas Anna studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for even the smallest trace of concern. But Daniel’s expression remained unreadable.

When she found nothing, she exhaled softly and leaned back into the couch cushions.

"She just sprained her ankle, that’s all," Anna said lazily, waving it off now that the initial panic had worn off. But as the words left her, she couldn’t help replaying the earlier scene in her mind.

Kathrine had been oddly evasive about the incident. Too guarded as she tried to hide it from her. And the more Anna thought about it, the more it didn’t sit right with her.

"Then there’s nothing much to worry about, I guess," Daniel said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Anna looked at him and nodded, brushing it aside for now.

To her, Daniel’s reaction seemed normal, even indifferent. But little did she know Daniel’s mind was elsewhere.

"About the date... I wanted to know whether you—" Daniel began, turning toward his wife. However, the rest of his words dissolved on his tongue seeing Anna already asleep.

Her eyelashes rested softly against her cheeks, her breathing even and gentle.

She didn’t even make it through his sentence the moment her head touched the cushions, exhaustion swept her away.

Daniel’s eyes softened instantly, the storm inside him quieting.

The corner of his lips lifted in a small, admiring smile.

"My little wife is tired," he murmured under his breath, brushing his fingers lightly along the contour of her cheek.

Careful not to wake her, he adjusted her position, slipping his arm beneath her head and helping her lie properly along the couch.

Anna stirred once, only to nuzzle deeper into the cushions like a cat seeking comfort.

Standing there for a moment, Daniel just kept watching her.

The softness of her expression, the calm that washed over her when she slept it made something in his chest ache in a way that was new... unfamiliar... addictive.

After sometime, he finally stepped away to change. The anger, anxiety, and tension from earlier finally caught up to him, weighing down every muscle in his body.

By the time he returned to the room, he realized just how exhausted he truly was and without a second thought, Daniel walked towards Anna and joined her on the couch, making enough space for both of them and lay down while pulling her close.

Her warmth gradually seeped into him, and before he knew it, the great Daniel Clafford, who rarely slept more than a few hours per night, was dozing off, holding his wife protectively against his chest.

***

Anna had no idea how long she’d slept until she became aware of something hard pressed against her.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she attempted to move slightly, but the bed felt strangely small, as if the space around her was shrinking, as if something held her in place.

Why can’t I move...? And what is this thing poking me? Her mind was still clouded with sleep, drifting somewhere between dreams and reality when a low groan stilled her.

’What was that?’

She thought it was her imagination when another sound followed once again.

"Hm..."

Her eyes snapped open and there she was, entirely wrapped in Daniel’s arms.

Wha the- Anna sneered mentally, finding his hold too firm and possessive even in his sleep.

Daniel’s face was buried in her hair, his breath warm against the nape of her neck.

And the "hard thing" poking her? Yeah... it very much his needy dick

Wamth crept up her cheeks, flushing red and jolting her awake from her sleep. And just when she thought she could move away, Daniel only tightened his hold around her as if sensing her escape attempt even in his slumber.

Her heart raced in her chest. Just what kind of morning is this...?

But then she heard warn.

"Wifey, don’t move," Daniel mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. "I’m already on the verge of losing myself."

Anna froze instantly.

Slowly, very slowly, she tilted her head up, only to find Daniel’s heavy-lidded eyes sliding open.

Except there was nothing sleepy about the way he looked at her.

’Why... why does he look like an untamed beast just waiting to pounce?’

Anna’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard.

She’d read plenty of romance novels. She’d heard about morning sex and also knew about hormones and half-asleep impulses. But right now, her biggest fear was—

Don’t tell me he’s about to kiss me. Not now. Not with my morning breath.

Her eyes widened in horror as Daniel leaned in closer—slowly, deliberately, like a man who knew exactly what he wanted.

He was a breath away from capturing her lips when she reacted on pure instinct.

"No! Not now—you haven’t brushed your teeth!"

Anna blurted the words in panic, confident she had successfully stopped him.

Her palm stayed firmly over his lips, her eyes pleading. But she forgot one important thing—

When it came to kissing her, Daniel did not care about logic.

Or... morning breath.

"Then," he murmured against her hand, voice low and raspy, "let me taste you."

Before Anna could react, he gently pulled her hand away and leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss that stole her breath.

This man is going to be the death of me.