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Before she could answer, he kissed her again. And again. Each one more insistent, more possessive, as if he was trying to etch himself into her soul.
A sharp knock at the door made them both freeze.
Sawyer stilled but didn’t move away. He had locked the door before falling asleep with her last night. When no further sound came, he simply ignored it, diving back in, his lips reclaiming her throat, his pace growing rougher, more demanding, as if he was determined to take everything her body had to offer.
Another knock. This time, louder.
"Ms. Ellie? Are you alright?"
Ada’s voice.
Ellie’s eyes widened as she pushed at Sawyer’s shoulders, but he didn’t budge, waiting for Ada to leave.
But she didn’t.
"Oh my—should I call a doctor?" Ada's pounding on the door turned frantic. "Ms. Ellie? Are you awake? Do you need help?"
At this rate, the entire hospital would be outside their door in a minute.
Sawyer let out a low, frustrated breath and reluctantly pulled away.
Ellie scrambled up, wiping her lips with the back of her hand before quickly adjusting her clothes, tugging her shirt up to hide the fresh bite marks littering her skin. Then, composing herself, she rushed to the door.
The moment she opened it, Ada’s worried face shifted to one of relief. “Oh, Ms. Ellie, you’re alright!”
"I’m fine, Ada. I just overslept," Ellie said breathlessly, her body still trembling slightly.
If she was being honest, she hadn’t wanted to stop. But now, with Ada here, there was no choice.
Completely oblivious to the thick tension in the room, Ada strutted in, holding up a lunchbox. When she spotted Sawyer lounging back on the bed, she beamed. “Oh my, SNS is here too? Good thing I brought extra breakfast!"
Sawyer, who had been buttoning his shirt, suddenly frowned. He turned to Ada, his brows furrowing. “What’s SNS, by the way?”
Ada froze.
Her little face turned a shade paler as she stammered, "Uh—sorry, Mr. Stark! It—it was just a slip of the tongue."
She had grown too used to calling Sawyer ‘SNS’ around Ellie and hadn’t even realized when it slipped out. Now, she cast a worried glance at Ellie, silently pleading for help.
Sawyer’s gaze flickered between them, then landed on Ellie. "What’s SNS? Is that my name?"
Ellie’s heart nearly stopped.
"Oh right! I forgot—I need to go to the bathroom!" she blurted, spinning around and dashing toward the washroom like her life depended on it.
She shut the door behind her, pressing her forehead against it.
Why was disaster striking when she was stuck in a hospital?! If this monster found out what she and the maids had been calling him for the past three years, he’d devour her alive right here!
Hiding was the only option.
When she finally emerged a few minutes later, Ada was arranging breakfast on the small table. Sawyer was nowhere to be seen.
Ellie exhaled in relief. Crisis averted… for now.
"Where’s Sawyer?" Ellie asked as she gingerly sat down on the couch.
“He just left,” Ada replied, then slowly edged closer to Ellie, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Ms. Ellie, can I ask you something?”