Chapter 356 I Said Stop Touching Mc
After rinsing out the bowl, James grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom
Lily hadn’t slept in that bed for a while. She thought returning to it would feel strange, that she’d lie awake unable to sleep.
But the nket carried that familiar, clean, crisp scent of woods and herbs, his scent and somehow, it gave her a deep sense offort and security, Curled up beneath the gradually warming covers, she drifted <b>off </b>faster than she expected.
When James stepped out of the bathroom, that was what he saw.
The girly quietly nestled in his bed, looking especially obedient. Thanks to the chicken soup, her little face had finally regained some color, a faint blush softening her pallor; even her lips were a rosy red, sweet and soft in a way that tugged at his heart, and made him really want to kiss her.
But the swelling on her cheek–puffed up high–was an eyesore.
He called Ashton and gave instructions to block Yulia’s exit and teach her a lesson. Then he peeled a hard- boiled egg and sat beside Lily, carefully rolling it across her swollen cheek.
Yulia had pped her with full force earlier. Lily’s face had really taken a hit.
As James gently rolled the egg across the bruised skin, his fingertips asionally brushed her cheek. The pain faded, reced by a warm, soothingfort. Seeking more warmth, Lily unconsciously rolled over and wrapped her arms around him.
She murmured sleepily, “Hug…‘
“”
James never used to check Facebook much.
But ever since Jackson had added him as a friend, he’d sometimes find himself scrolling without thinking. Just now, he had stumbled on another of Jackson’s posts–one set to “Only Visible to James.”
“Didn’t get to register our marriage today. Puppy is heartbroken. But Lily said she’d go on a date with me tomorrow night and give me a big hug. Puppy needs a hug…”
The post was apanied by a photo of a little white puppy, tears in its eyes, begging for a hug.
As soon as he saw it, James’s mind swapped the puppy’s head for Jackson’s grinning one.
<i>Disgusting</i><i>. </i>Face darkening, he tossed his phone aside and was just about to go get a thermometer when he felt a pair of soft little handsnd on his body.
Then he heard her mumbling, “Hug…”
She was obviously dreaming about her little puppy… <i>Jackson</i>.
James’s chiseled features turned ice–cold in an instant.
He wasn’t going to be anyone’s stand–in–especially not Jackson’s.
Chapter 356 I Said Stop Touching Me
With as much self–control and principle as a man could muster, he pushed her hand away <b>from </b><b>him </b>and said coolly, “Lily, I’m not Jackson.”
Lily was sleeping soundly and didn’t register what he said.
All she knew was that the thing beside her felt so warth, warmer than even the cozy nker<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>she </b><b>didn’t </b>want to let it go. She reached out again, this time wrapping both arms tightly around his lean waist.
Then, she nestled her
“Lily!”
James’s whole body tensed; his throat tightened.
Especially now, her hands weren’t exactly behaving.
Before he could even decide whether or not to be Jackson’s stand–in, her soft little fingers slipped under the hem of his tank top and grabbed a handful of his abs.
His muscles locked up like stone. His temples throbbed violently from the effort of holding back.
With what little sanity he had left, he rasped, “Lily, are you trying to feel Jackson’s abs? I’m not Jackson!”
That morning, he’d seen another one of Jackson’s posts–again, visible only to him.
The attached photo was so tacky, it made James nauseous.
Jackson had bitten his shirt hem and lifted it up with his teeth, showing off his sculpted chest and abs. “Wedding night. I want to be touched. Chest, abs, V–line… everything I have belongs to you…”
The more James thought of Jackson’s smug, arrogant face in that photo, the harder it became to breathe. “Don’t touch my abs!”
His outburst disturbed Lily’s sleep.
She wasn’t quite as deep under as before.
She vaguely heard him say something about abs and, eyes still shut, mumbled back in agreement, “Touch abs…”
<i>Ha</i><i>! </i>James actually let out a breathless, sarcasticugh. <i>She </i><i>really </i><i>does </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>touch </i><i>Jackson’s </i><b><i>abs</i></b><i>! </i>
Grinding his teeth, he hissed, “I’ll say it one more time. I’m not your little puppy!”
<i>Little </i><i>puppy</i>? <i>What </i><i>puppy</i><i>? </i>Lily’s hand moved lower, squeezing his lower abdomen.
<i>Hmm</i><i>… </i><i>it </i><i>felt </i><i>nice</i><i>. </i>Her eyelids were heavy as lead; she had no interest in opening <b>th </b>chaotic mess, like it had been stuffed with glue.
In her princess room, she had lots of plush toys made of the softest fabrics<b>. </b>
Her mind <b>was </b><b>a </b>
She especially loved the giant plush puppy, almost her size. Hugging it always helped her <b>sleep</b>. <b>Lately</b>, she’d fallen asleep every night wrapped around that stuffed dog. <i>Wait</i>… <b><i>am </i></b><b>I </b><b><i>hugging </i></b><b><i>that </i></b><b>plush </b><b>puppy </b><b><i>right </i></b>
J:<b>20 </b><b>Sat </b><b>26 </b>
Chapter 356 I Said Stop Touching Me
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