Chapter 306: Chapter 306 My Cute Bunny
The glow of the screen painted her face in warm colors as she curled up on the couch, pulling a blanket over her lap. The clock on the wall kept ticking, and the faint sound of the wind outside brushed against the windows.
Her thoughts drifted again—to his deep voice, the way he looked at her when he was amused.
Still, her eyes kept flicking toward the door, listening for footsteps, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, anything that would tell her he was finally home.
The TV played quietly, but Bella hardly noticed it. Her heart was waiting, listening, and hoping for that familiar click of the lock and the sound of his calm voice calling her name.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
When Leo finally returned home, the first thing he noticed was that the lights in the living room were still on. A faint glow spilled softly across the hallway, and the quiet murmur of the television reached his ears. He frowned slightly; she should have been asleep by now.
He walked forward, his steps slow and soundless against the floor. And there she was.
Curled up on the couch, her hair messy from sleep, her soft breathing steady and peaceful, the blanket half-slipped off her shoulders. The flickering light from the TV danced gently across her face, highlighting her long lashes and the curve of her lips. She had clearly tried to stay awake, waiting for him, but sleep had won in the end.
Leo stood there for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then slowly, he sat down beside her, elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her.
Bella was different. The kind of beauty that didn’t come from perfection but from warmth, from the softness of her eyes, from the quiet emotions that lingered in her expressions. She wasn’t sculpted like a model, and yet he couldn’t imagine a single woman more beautiful than her.
Her face reminded him of wet ground after rain—fresh, gentle, alive and his own eyes, dark and stormy, always seemed drawn to her like clouds drawn to the earth they long to touch.
He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. His fingers sank into the silkiness of her hair; it was so soft, fluffy even, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. He traced the curve of her cheek with the back of his hand; her skin felt warm and smooth, softer than even Dorabella’s plush fur.
Something inside his chest tightened again, that strange, quiet ache he had been fighting for weeks. The more he tried to suppress it, the stronger it grew.
Before he realized it, he had already slid one arm beneath her knees, the other behind her back, and lifted her gently into his arms. She stirred faintly, mumbling something incoherent before curling closer into him, her head resting against his chest. His heart gave a slow, heavy thud.
He carried her upstairs, his footsteps quiet, his gaze soft as the faint scent of her shampoo wrapped around him. When he reached their room, he laid her down carefully on the bed and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. For a moment, he simply stood there, watching the rise and fall of her chest, the peacefulness of her sleeping face.
With a small sigh, he turned away and headed to the bathroom. The sound of the shower filled the silence, washing away the exhaustion and dust of the day. When he stepped out, dressed in loose sweatpants and a soft shirt, his hair still damp, the room was dim and calm.
He walked back to the bed and couldn’t help but chuckle softly when he saw her—his little wife had somehow managed to roll herself up completely in the blanket like a tiny cocoon of warmth. Only a hint of her hair peeked out.
"My cute bunny," he murmured under his breath, amusement flickering in his eyes.
With one arm, he tugged the blanket bundle gently toward him until she was within reach. She shifted in her sleep, a small sigh escaping her lips as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.
Her warmth seeped into him immediately, melting the coldness inside his chest. His eyes softened as he looked down at her, his hand resting lightly on her back.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Poke.
Poke.
"Let me sleep..." Bella muttered softly, frowning as something kept nudging her arm. Her voice came out hoarse and sleepy, her lips forming a little pout. Whoever was disturbing her morning peace clearly had a death wish.
"Wake up," came a low voice, calm and deep, but the faint chuckle that followed made her chest flutter even in half-sleep. That sound was warm, familiar, and dangerously pleasant.
"Leo..." she mumbled, her lashes trembling as she forced her heavy eyelids open. Her voice was barely above a whisper, rough from sleep, the name leaving her lips like a sigh.
He was sitting right beside her, leaning slightly on one elbow, the morning light from the window outlining the sharp line of his jaw and the lazy amusement in his eyes. "Are you hibernating, bunny?" he asked, his tone teasing as he reached forward and poked her cheek again, unable to resist.
"Umm..." Bella yawned, rubbing her eyes with both hands before sitting up slowly. Her hair was a fluffy mess, falling over her shoulders, and her sleepy eyes blinked at him like a confused kitten.
When her vision cleared, her heart gave a tiny skip. He was already dressed, black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, matching black pants that fit him a little too well. The contrast made his skin look warmer, his dark hair slightly tousled, and his expression devastatingly calm.
She stared at him for a moment longer than she meant to, still not fully awake.
Leo smirked. "Like what you see?"
Bella blinked, cheeks turning pink as she looked away quickly. "I—no! I was just—uh—thinking why you’re up so early," she said, her voice stammering as she grabbed the nearest pillow and hugged it like a shield.
"Early?" he repeated, glancing at the clock. "It’s almost nine, sleepyhead."
Bella gasped. "What?! Nine?" She jumped slightly, her blanket slipping off as she looked around in panic. "I’m late! I had to check the code update and—"