Chapter 52

Whatever silly charm that tiger-faced brute was trying to throw her way, Daisy was far more concerned with her disheveled state. Her back was still exposed from where he had torn the dress, the robe was barely draped over her shoulders, and the rest of her clothes weren’t even fully off yet.

“Max, if you don’t mind… could you close your eyes for a moment? I need to change into the robe.”

“My woman is full of requests today.”

But he shut his eyes obediently, and Daisy timidly slipped out of the torn dress and cinched the robe tight around herself.

“All done.”

When he opened his eyes, his mouth quirked into a smile at her disheveled state.

“What?”

“So clumsy. Come here.”

“D-don’t undress me again—”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m dressing you, not the other way around.”

He adjusted the robe, retied the bow neatly, then added.

“Though if you’d rather I undress you, I’m happy to oblige.”

“N-no, thank you.”

So he hadn’t meant to strip me naked.

She flushed scarlet, embarrassed by her own outburst.

“So what shall we do now? We still have twenty-five minutes to spare.”

“I’m not sure.”

“Shall I decide?”

Absolutely not. She couldn’t let him lead; who knew what madness he’d try.

“Would it be alright if I took a short nap?”

“And where do you plan on sleeping?”

“Over there.”

When she pointed to the long sofa in the dressing room, Maxim’s eyes scanned it doubtfully.

“You’re free to do so, but are you sure this place is suitable?”

“Yes. I told you I grew up in the back alleys. I can sleep just fine on streets covered in rotten fish heads and dog filth, as long as I have somewhere to lay my head.”

“Hmm.”

She exaggerated, hoping to dampen his interest. She had slept rough on missions, but never quite like that.

“To me, this might as well be a palace. Four walls and a roof… even the fitting room is luxurious.”

“…”

“Have you ever woken up to a stray dog licking your face?”

She tossed it out recklessly, watching him. Maxim stared at her, his gaze turning a little heavier.

“You must’ve suffered so much.”

His response surprised her.

“Still, I admire your strength. That resilient beauty you carry, I imagine it came from surviving all that.”

How needlessly generous of him. Considering how many enemies he’s slaughtered just to get laid, it’s almost laughable.

“Thank you. Anyway, I’ll rest now.”

Awkward, she trudged to the sofa and curled up. Using her arm as a pillow, she shut her eyes tightly.

Step, step, step.

Footsteps drew near.

When they stopped close by, she heard the rustle of fabric.

‘What now, is he undressing again…’

Then rustle, his jacket settled over her. The scent was unmistakable, the same that always enveloped her whenever he pushed close uninvited. When she opened her eyes wide, Maxim was smiling down at her as he drew the jacket up to her chin.

“You’re only wearing a thin robe. You’ll catch a cold sleeping like that.”

“…”

“Wait.”

He sat beside her, gently resting her head on his thigh.

“I-I don’t mind—”

“Well, I do.”

“It’s just for a little.”

“Even for a moment, you should rest properly. I’ll read the newspaper in the meantime.”

He picked up a newspaper from the table. Daisy, defeated, closed her eyes again. Beneath her cheek, she could feel the solid muscle of his thigh, so hard it felt ridged beneath her skin.

‘My arm’s not even falling asleep. Gotta admit, it’s pretty nice.’

Warm, firm, strangely comforting, he made a good pillow.

Now that she basically had an entire bed, she tried to drift off. Truthfully, she was exhausted, but strangely enough, her mind only grew sharper the more she tried to sleep.

‘Something feels odd… am I imagining it?’

Peeking through her lashes, she saw his gaze fixed not on the paper, but on her face.

Was he watching her sleep… or keeping surveillance? Either way, it was unnerving.

‘And since I’m facing him, he has a view of my face. This is mortifying.’

Daisy shifted slightly, pretending to move in her sleep, and turned onto her side to curl up. That was when something firm and heavy pressed against her cheek.

So that’s what that was…

She realized it immediately.

Whatever was pressing against her, it definitely wasn’t his thigh.