Chapter 303

The butler's earlier remark about having prepared the room had actually meant outfitting Hannah's room with discreet, high-end surveillance cameras.

That particular order had come straight from Claude on their drive back.

At last, a shadow of satisfaction played across Claude's lips. "Good. Now bring Hannah a glass of water.

Make sure it's tampered with the substance that helps people sleep soundly. The stronger, the better."

He lingered over the wòrd "soundly," his gaze dark and unreadable.

"Understood, Mr. Hobbes," the butler responded, bowing before slipping away.

Once the butler was gone, Claude didn't go back to his own bedroom. Instead, he slipped into a secluded chamber buried deep within the mansion, a room brimming with state-of-the-art electronics.

He strode to the large, custom-built control station, unlocked it with a fingerprint, and watched as the enormous curved monitor split into four crystal-clear feeds from different viewpoints.

There, in perfect detail, was Hannah. She'd changed into the silk pajamas the butler had laid out, her hair still damp from a recent shower.

The sound of the butler's knock, followed by his offer of water, came through clearly.

On screen, Hannah answered the door and accepted the glass.

Claude inched closer, barely breathing.

She raised the glass to her lips and drank.

First sip.

Then another.

Half the water in the glass was already gone.

Claude's tense jaw finally slackened, and he exhaled slowly, relief and anticipation mingling in his eyes.

He started silently ticking off the minutes, his attention glued to Hannah's every mnove on the screen.

By the time twenty minutes had slipped by, she was out cold.

"Perfect." A murmur of satisfaction, low and rough, escaped Claude, possessive, dark, entirely too pleased.

Quiet'as a shadow, he rose from his chair and slipped away, making his way to Hannah's room with practiced stealth.

Hannah lay sprawled peacefuly across the wide bed, her breathing even and undisturbed.

Taking a seat on the edge of the mattress, Claude allowed his eyes to drink in the lines of her sleeping figure, lingering over every detail.

He lifted his left hand, pausing mid-air as if savoring the anticipation, and then let his palm drift gently to her cheek.

Heat radiated from his fingers as they skimmed over her skin, impossibly soft beneath his touch.

A sharp breath caught in his throat, barely audible, as the sensation threatened to overwhelm him.

The delicate feel of her skin sent a tremor racing through his body.

Craving more, he found himself bending lower, moving inch by inch, drawn toward her in the silence.

His cheek grazed hers, a feather-light contact that made his heart pound. His eyes fluttered shut, a wave of contentment washing over him.

Still, it wasn't enough to satisfy the restless ache inside. A wild urge clawed at him from within, louder than reason.

Compelled by longing,,Claude carefully peeled back the blanket's edge. He eased his tall frame onto the mattress beside Hannah, moving with deliberate caution.

In the quiet, his heart thundered in his chest. Turning to face her, he slipped an arm around Hannah's waist, both protective and possessive, and gently drew her closer until her entire body was pressed against his embrace.

Her scent flooded his senses, and he drew in a deep, almost desperate breath, unable to get enough. That was her signature scent, something undeniably Hannah, unlike anyone else.

Beneath his touch, Hannah stirred ever so slighty,shifting in her sleep.

Claude felt her shift in his arms, and rather than letting go, he instinctively pulled her closer.

Minutes crawled by, and he lay awake, afraid that sleep might shatter the fragile reality of this moment.

As morning crept near, Claude finally propped himself up, intent on slipping away.

But the absence of her warmth in his arms gnawed at him, leaving him hollow.

He hesitated and then leaned in close again, unwilling to leave, eyes fixed on her peaceful sleeping face.

A darker, fiercer urge surged through him, completely drowning out the last of his restraint.

Claude bent down, this time not content with just brushing his cheek against hers. He aimed lower, seeking the delicate skin of her neck.

With a determined hunger, he pressed his lips against her neck, leaving a lingering,heated kiss.

A faint, wet sound broke the stillness, matched by the insistent pull of his mouth.

Hannah let out a soft, involuntary gasp at the sudden contact, her brow furrowing slightly as her body instinctively tensed.

But Claude, swept up in a twisted satisfaction, couldn't bring himself to let go. One hand held her shoulder steady, anchoring her as he claimed the moment. He wanted to leave his mark.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to stand still.

Finally, he pulled back, eyes glinting with satisfaction as he admired the hickey blooming on her slender neck,prominently visible. He reached out with trembling fingertips, gently tracing the edge of the kiss mark with a sense of infatuation.

Unable to resist, Claude snapped a photo of his work. Satisfied to his core, he slipped out quietly,pulling the door shut behind him.