?Chapter 1029:
Dunn was not one for restraint.
Beneath theposed surface of his demeanor, an untamed desire wed at him—a primal urge to pin Aurora against the table and explore her in ways far beyond mere kisses. The thought barely took root before it consumed him, making the delicate brushes of their lips feel woefully inadequate.
But he held himself back, reining in his hunger with an almost painful effort, afraid of overwhelming her. Instead, his kisses became lighter.
Aurora, breathless and flushed, clung to him the moment she felt her lungs might give out. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed herself against his chest, trying to calm her chaotic pulse. A peculiar warmth spread through her.
The spell was broken by the ring of Dunn’s phone, pulling them both back to reality.
Aurora retreated to the guest bedroom, but her promise to Dunn lingered in her mind. She pulled out her phone and dialed Lynda’s number.
“Lynda, how have you been recently?”
Lynda’s voice was bright and upbeat, a far cry from the somber tone Aurora remembered from her past heartbreak. “I’ve been great! Why? Do you miss me already?”
“I miss you! I dream about you every night!”
“Okay, okay, cut the theatrics. What do you need?”
Grinning, Aurora adopted a mysterious tone. “You’re still working on projects with your professor, right?”
“Yep,” Lynda replied. “I’ll probably continue working with him after I graduate. It’s all set.”
Aurora wasn’t as optimistic as before. When it came down to Dunn versus Lynda’s professor, she doubted Lynda would pick Dunn.
“A friend of mine is starting a researchb. They’re in the early stages and urgently need a capable team. It might be worth considering.”
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Lynda apologized. “I’m sorry, Aurora. My professor has given me so many opportunities; I can’t walk away from that.”
“I get it,” Aurora replied, understanding why she had made that choice.
After hanging up, she sat in silence, troubled by her inability to help Dunn. Yet, she resolved that someday, when she worked in the same field, she’d find a way to contribute to his dreams.
A weekter, Dunn’s bandages came off, marking a return to normalcy. Aurora packed her things and left his house, but instead of heading back to school, she decided to stop by her own home first.
Molly had spent seven days locked in her room, emerging only afterpleting a painting that met her exacting standards. Now, she carefully wrapped the framed canvas in kraft paper, ready to send it off to the art institute.
“Ugh, I’m dead!” Molly groaned.
“Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” Aurora asked.
Molly thought for a moment, then replied, “Not really. The usual drama. Katie is still causing a fuss every day, but no one takes her seriously except for Rnd.”
“Okay.”
.
.
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