They did not know how long they had been hugging for when Carrie finally felt sleepy.


    Ryan got onto the bed, and the two of themy there together. They seemed like a loving, newlywed


    couple.


    Carrie rested her head on Ryan’s sturdy arm, her small face buried in his chest. She sniffled a little


    before closing her eyes.


    was war


    “Carrie, can I ask you something?” One of Ryan’s arms around her shoulders, while the other gently


    rubbed her forearm.


    “Mm…okay.”


    “Do you like me?” Ryan’s heart was beating loudly when he asked his question.


    “Hmm… Of course I do.”


    “Not like a brother, I mean the romantic sort.”


    Ryan coughed slightly, and his face was flushed. “Like the way your


    older brother Justin likes Anna.”


    Carrie’s clear eyes flickered, and she clutched Ryan’s ck shirt, fiddling with the delicate buttons.


    “I… Don’t know.”


    Ryan sighed and smiled bitterly. “Alright. Let’s go to sleep now.”


    “But I like being with you. When you go out, I can’t do anything but


    worry about you and wait for you toe home. When I’m with you, everyday feels so short. When I


    see you, I feel really happy.” Carrie’s eyes were half-closed as she spoke softly.


    Ryan’s breathing became heavier, and his palms, which were wrapped around her shoulders, were


    “There was one day you came back reallyte and came to my room


    to check on me. I pretended to be asleep, but actually, I was awake


    the whole time.”


    When Ryan heard this, his heart clenched.


    That night, he had gone out with Yasmin to deal with some people. who had been working against him-


    his Uncle Liam’s cronies.


    Ryan had always shown Carrie the cheerful and enthusiastic side of


    himself.


    He would never let her see his dark, cruel, and ruthless side.


    Carrie pursed her lips. “That day, there was a really strong smell of blood on you. And your hand was


    wounded. When you touched my forehead, I could feel it.”


    As she said this, she took his right hand and took off the ck leather glove covering it.


    Although the wounds on his knuckles and fingertips had already. scabbed over, the scars remained.


    “Ryan, I’m worried that you’re doing something dangerous outside.


    I’m worried something will happen to you. I’m so scared…”


    Carrie’s heart twinged, and hershes fluttered as she kissed his


    scars. “I don’t understand. I don’t know. Is this the sort of like you were talking about?”


    Ryan’s heart thumped hard. Finally, unable to hold back the tide of his feelings, he flipped her over and


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    pressed her beneath him.


    In all her twenty-two years of life, Carrie had never been this close to


    a man before.


    Ryan was her first, and she was slowly learning to ept him, though


    it seemed like he was the only one she could ept.


    “Carrie, don’t tempt me… I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold myself


    back.”


    “Do you want to kiss me, Ryan?”


    Carrie obediently wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting her pink, glossy lips slightly. “I-I’m ready!”


    “No…”


    Ryan restrained himself and finally sighed in surrender, returning to his previous position and pulling


    Carrie close as he murmured, “I’ll wait for you to ept mepletely, Carrie.”