My Cold-Hearted Husband Wants Me Back
Chapter 73: They’re Getting Better At Responding

Chapter 73: They’re Getting Better At Responding

Lunara frowned. "What? Why all of a sudden—"

"Just walk," Eryx muttered, placing a firm hand on her back.

He barely took a step when he spotted them. Men in suits, his grandmother’s men, peeking into the store, ready to enter. His pulse quickened. Running wasn’t an option because the moment he stepped out they’d see him immediately.

Grinding his teeth, he turned sharply to the staff. "Is there a back door?"

The staff looked even paler than before and shook her head. "N-No, sir. But there’s a small storage room for staff."

Eryx didn’t hesitate. "We’ll use it."

The staff hesitated. "If they ask—"

"Just tell them that we already left," he cut in, his voice low and firm. "And if you keep quiet, I’ll make sure you get" he instantly pulled out his phone, typing quickly, "ten thousand."

Without another word, he grabbed Lunara’s wrist and pulled her along.

The moment they stepped inside, Lunara froze.

"This is what you call a storage room?" she whispered harshly.

It was tiny, barely enough space for one person, let alone two. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with boxes, but the center was cramped, leaving them pressed together in the narrow gap.

Eryx exhaled, his chest nearly brushing against hers. "Not ideal, but it’ll do."

Lunara shifted uncomfortably. "Move back."

"There is no back," he murmured, his voice slightly shaky as he whispered.

Lunara huffed, her hands pressed against his chest as she tried to create even a sliver of space between them. "This is ridiculous. I’m leaving."

Eryx’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist. "Stay put."

"No. This is cramped, uncomfortable, and honestly, what are we even hiding from?" she argued, twisting slightly in his hold. "I should just—"

"Lunara," he warned, voice low, but she wasn’t listening.

"I’m leaving. I don’t care. I don’t even know why I’m—"

But then Eryx heard hurried footsteps.

His grip on her wrist tightened. "Shhh... keep quiet."

The footsteps slowed as they neared the storage room. A shadow passed beneath the door.

Lunara huffed, completely ignoring his warning. "No, I’m done hiding in this—"

The footsteps stop right outside. His pulse jumped.

Without thinking, he yanked her closer, one hand sliding around her waist, the other tilting her chin up and captured her lips with his.

Lunara’s entire body stiffened.

Her first instinct was to push him away but then she heard the doorknob rattle.

Panic flared in her chest.

Eryx’s lips pressed more firmly against hers, coaxing her into staying still, playing along.

The door didn’t open. Instead, a voice spoke from outside. "I told you, they already left. They’re not here."

Lunara barely heard it.

Her mind was too busy processing the warmth of his lips, the way his fingers held onto her waist like he refused to let go.

Her heart thudded violently against her ribs, echoing louder than the voices outside. She swallowed hard, but the tingling sensation on her lips refused to fade.

Their lips lingered for a few more seconds before Eryx softly pulled away.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to him. Eryx wasn’t looking at her. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed somewhere over her shoulder like he was pretending that kiss never happened.

Lunara took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "Y-You... didn’t have to do that," she mumbled, her voice embarrassingly weak.

Eryx finally looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"You wouldn’t shut up," he said quietly, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, trying to ignore the way her body was still reacting to him. "Nonsense, you can just ask me to keep quite" she muttered, but even she could hear how breathless she sounded.

"I did." He frowned, his chest was still heaving up and down as if he was trying to calm down from his own emotions

Outside, the footsteps fade away, the sound of retreating voices growing distant.

Eryx exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "It’s safe now."

But neither of them moved.

For a moment, neither could look away.

Until Lunara broke the silence with a glare.

"Next time," she said, her voice low, "just tell me to shut up. You don’t have to kiss me like you mean it."

That finally made Eryx smirk faintly, his gaze flickering down to her lips once more.

"Who says I didn’t mean it?"

Lunara decided not to continue to be in the intense situation. She moved, trying to go out. in the cramped space, her sudden movement threw them off balance.

Eryx reached out instinctively, catching her just as she stumbled. Their bodies pressed together, his arms wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her close.

Once again, they freeze, their eyes met.

Lunara’s hands rested against his chest, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. She swallowed hard and tried to step back, but his grip didn’t loosen.

"Excuse me," she whispered. "Can you let me go, now? I believe they’ve gone."

His gaze darkened as he looked down at her, his voice low and deep. "Since you told me not to ask if I want to kiss you... it’s okay to just kiss you, right?"

Lunara’s breath hitched. "That’s not what I—"

Before she could finish, his fingers tilted her chin up, and the space between them vanished once more.

Eryx pulled away, giving her a few seconds to breathe. Lunara barely had time to think before his lips captured hers again. Unlike before, there was no hesitation. His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he deepened the kiss.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, torn between pushing him away and holding on. But the moment his hand slid up her back, pressing her even closer, her knees weakened.

Eryx tilted his head, kissing her slower this time, as if savoring the way she melted against him. His thumb brushed against her cheek, his other hand still firm on her waist, keeping her steady.

Lunara gasped softly when he nipped at her lower lip, and he took the chance to kiss her deeper. A shiver ran down her spine as his warmth surrounded her, making it impossible to think about anything else.

Eryx pulled back just enough to look at her, his breath still warm against her lips. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flickered with something dangerous.

"You’re not even refusing," he murmured, his thumb tracing her lower lip. A smirk tugged at his mouth. "Your lips... they’re getting better at responding."

The chill in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, making her freeze. He leaned in again, this time lingering longer as their breaths tangled together.