Chapter 426 - 429: Lost in His Gentle Embrace

The temperature dropped day by day. The early winter wind carried a bone-chilling cold that stung the face, leaving a faint ache.

Old Mrs. Lancaster was sensitive to the cold. In years past, once winter arrived, she would go to the warmth of Suthera to escape the chill and return to Aston the following spring when the weather grew mild again.

This year was no exception.

The staff had packed her luggage a week in advance.

Aside from her clothes, there were also her usual nourishing medicinal herbs, antique books to pass the time, her favorite purple clay tea set, and an aromatherapy burner to help her sleep...

On the day of her departure, Adrian Lancaster and Wren Sutton bid a reluctant farewell to Old Mrs. Lancaster, exchanging many reminders and well-wishes.

"Grandma, I’ll call you often. Please take good care of yourself in Suthera. I’ll miss you."

"Good children. Don’t worry, Grandma will miss you, too."

"Have a safe trip, Grandma."

Theodore Lancaster, Claire Sterling, and Lucia Lancaster were to escort Old Mrs. Lancaster to Suthera and would return once she was settled in.

Julian Lancaster was buried in work at the office. The Lancaster Group had several major projects going on, and he was too busy to get away. For convenience, he had moved into a private villa near the company and rarely returned to the family estate.

The vast Lancaster family estate suddenly fell quiet, leaving only Adrian Lancaster, Wren Sutton, their two children, and a few staff members.

The usual hustle and bustle faded away, replaced by a serene sense of peace.

The cold wind still howled in the courtyard, but inside the living room, central heating provided a steady flow of warmth. The finest silver charcoal burned in the fireplace, its leaping flames bathing the room in a cozy glow.

A faint scent of milk and the refreshing fragrance of sweet orange aromatherapy drifted through the air.

A staff member brought a bowl of freshly simmered pear and rock sugar soup to Wren Sutton.

Adrian Lancaster was playing with Owen and Nina. The two children babbled ceaselessly, their cheerful laughter filling the air.

The living room was lively once more.

...

「That evening.」

「The bathroom.」

Hazy light, billowing steam, and an elegant fragrance filled the air.

After her shower, Wren Sutton was wrapped in a loose bathrobe.

She stood before the mirror and looked around, but couldn’t find the hair dryer.

Through the door, she could hear Nanny Zane playing with Owen and Nina, punctuated by the sound of the children’s giggles.

Not wanting to go out and search for it herself, Wren Sutton called through the door, "Nanny Zane, could you bring me the hair dryer?"

"Of course, Young Madam."

A moment later, the door was gently pushed open.

Adrian Lancaster casually closed the bathroom door, locking it from the inside. His intentions were obvious.

With one hand in his pocket and the other holding the hair dryer, he leaned lazily against the wall by the door.

Through the ethereal steam, his affectionate gaze rested on Wren Sutton’s back, filled with the urge to rush over and embrace her from behind.

Wren Sutton was looking down and adjusting the belt of her bathrobe when she heard approaching footsteps. She assumed it was Nanny Zane.

But she had a nagging feeling that something was off. ’Those familiar footsteps don’t sound like Nanny Zane’s,’ she thought. ’They sound more like...’

Wren Sutton’s head snapped up.

Although the light was dimmed by the steam, she saw Adrian Lancaster’s reflection in the fogged-up mirror.

Her breath hitched. "...Honey, what are you doing here?"

Adrian Lancaster stood behind Wren Sutton, watching her reflection in the mirror, his expression completely transformed.

His eyes, softened and heated by the steam, held a quiet, burning fire.

His gaze was locked on her, roaming from her eyes to her lips, and then down to her steam-kissed neck and collarbones...

It was a tender, lingering look, yet filled with an unconcealed possessiveness and a desire for intimacy.

"Nanny Zane is with Owen and Nina; she couldn’t get away," Adrian Lancaster said, his voice low and hoarse, each word laced with heat.

"So I came instead. Is that a problem?"

He picked up the hair dryer and used his fingertips to gently brush aside the damp hair clinging to Wren’s neck, his touch casually grazing her fair, delicate skin.

"..." A shiver ran through Wren, and her face flushed slightly.

"Darling, let me dry your hair."

A warm breeze began to blow.

Adrian Lancaster’s long fingers combed through Wren’s hair as he held the nozzle at the perfect distance—not too close, not too far—to avoid burning her scalp.

Wren’s hair was long and thick, so drying it completely would take more than just a few minutes.

Adrian Lancaster was very patient, and he seemed to be enjoying the process.

The steam in the bathroom condensed on the mirror’s surface, diffusing the light into a warm, blurry glow that perfectly framed their intimate silhouettes.

Wren could clearly feel the extreme gentleness in Adrian’s hands as they moved through her hair. Yet the air around him was powerfully dominant, completely trapping her between his body and the sink, leaving her with no room to retreat.

He didn’t turn off the hair dryer until the very last strand was dry and smooth, at which point he casually set it on the counter.

The bathroom fell silent again, and in the quiet, they could hear each other breathing.

"Honey, thank you for drying my hair," Wren said, her voice soft.

Adrian Lancaster smiled dotingly. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, leaning in to press his body tightly against hers as his warm breath fanned across her ear.

"Darling, a simple ’thank you’ isn’t enough."

Wren subconsciously tightened her grip on her bathrobe, trying to suppress the frantic pounding of her heart. She swallowed, doing her best to remain calm.

She glanced up, and her gaze met Adrian’s.

In the depths of his dark eyes swirled an overwhelming tenderness and a raw, scorching love.

His gaze was like a gentle net, trapping her completely. It openly conveyed a long-suppressed longing and desire.

"You..."

"Darling, turn around," Adrian said, his voice hushed, raspy, and magnetic.

Wren’s heart pounded even faster, and she pressed her lips together shyly.

’She knew what he meant.’

Wren remained motionless and silent. Adrian wasn’t annoyed. After a moment’s pause, he lowered his head and gave her ear a light, tantalizingly bold nip.

Caught off guard, Wren couldn’t help but let out a trembling, "Ah..."

Her face instantly flushed crimson, and her heartbeat and breathing fell into disarray.

"Adrian, you’re terrible! You bit me."

Wren turned back, her tone playfully indignant, and gave Adrian a light swat.

Adrian’s heart melted. He caught her hand, holding it firmly in his palm.

"Yes, I am terrible."

The words had barely left his lips before he could no longer contain the surging emotions within him. Without giving Wren a chance to refuse, he lowered his head and captured her soft lips in a kiss.

His other hand wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her completely into his embrace.

His movements were gentle yet restrained, tinged with an irresistible surrender to his passion.

In the steam-filled bathroom, the sounds of breathing and kissing mingled intimately, enough to make one’s face flush and heart pound.

His familiar, masculine scent washed over Wren, powerful and domineering, completely enveloping her.

The kiss left her weak in the knees, and she gradually sank into Adrian’s tender embrace.

They kissed for what felt like an eternity, only pulling apart reluctantly when they were both breathless.

Seeing his wife’s flushed cheeks and glistening eyes, an even greater desire roared to life within Adrian.

He pressed his forehead against hers and murmured in a hoarse voice, "Baby..."