Falling for the Goddess

Can't Sleep?

The gray silk comforter lay folded neatly on the bed, and the white pajamas were folded just as meticulously at the foot of the bed.

Adrian Blake hesitated for a moment before picking up the pajamas. The silky material felt smooth and delicate in his hand. As he grabbed it, the fabric unfurled, and a smaller piece of cloth slipped out from the middle.

He froze for several seconds, his body rigid, the tips of his ears turning a faint shade of red.

He stared, dumbfounded, unsure of how to respond.

The white lace underwear lay on the bed, dainty and minimal, exuding elegance and understated sensuality.

Adrian's breathing hitched, an unfamiliar sense of awkwardness washing over him. He had never felt this unprepared.

With Sara Hart still waiting in the bathroom, Adrian squeezed his eyes shut briefly, then picked up the underwear with the pajamas, covering it with the top layer. With a mix of embarrassment and determination, he walked toward the bathroom.

He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, the bathroom door cracked open slightly, and a slender arm reached out, its fair skin dotted with a few droplets of water that trailed down.

Adrian averted his gaze almost immediately, extending the bundle to her.

Sara grabbed it quickly, whispering, "Thank you."

Adrian was already sitting on the bed when she finally emerged from the bathroom, reading a book.

With her head slightly lowered, Sara tried to avoid looking at him. The heat from her shower still lingered on her skin; her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, making her look as delicate as a freshly plucked peach.

She wore a white silk nightgown, her long, brown hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. Droplets of water clung to the tips of her hair, and her smooth skin gleamed faintly under the dim lighting. The thin material of the nightgown clung to her body as she moved, subtly revealing her figure and the graceful curve of her waist.

The gown wasn't particularly revealing, yet Adrian felt a moment of breathlessness, a sudden dryness in his throat. He glanced away abruptly, lifting his glass from the nightstand and sipping water.

As Sara turned to tidy up, Adrian unintentionally saw her exposed back.

Her waist was slender, and her back was both delicate and graceful. The burn scar from before had almost healed, leaving no mark behind. However, a faint bruise still lingered on her shoulder blade.

The memory of her standing protectively before him flashed through his mind, and Adrian felt an inexplicable surge of emotion.

"Sara..." he began.

"Hm?" Sara turned toward him, still patting her hair dry.

Adrian paused for a moment before saying, "It's nothing. Get some rest."

"Oh, okay," Sara replied, hastening her movements.

Once the lights were off and they were lying in bed, Sara stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing. "Why did I even try following those tips?" she thought. It was mortifying, and Adrian hadn't seemed to react at all.

"Maybe I should just go back to my usual pajamas tomorrow."

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she shifted her position, unconsciously turning to face Adrian's side of the bed.

The room was dark, and Adrian wouldn't know she was facing him.

"Can't sleep?"

Adrian's voice broke the silence when Sara shifted for the third time.

Sara froze. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

"No."

She turned slightly, peering through the darkness at his silhouette. "I'm going back to school tomorrow. Should I leave at 8 a.m. as usual?"

"Yeah," Adrian replied before pausing for a moment. "Do you want to take a couple more days off?"

"No," Sara said quickly. "No one's taking the whole holiday off in the lab. We've got a lot going on, and I must stay on top of it."

"What made you choose this field?" Adrian asked suddenly, curiosity evident in his tone.

Their conversation took on a relaxed, almost friendly tone in the darkness. Sara hesitated briefly, then suppressed a pang of bitterness, keeping her voice light.

"There wasn't any particular reason. I started doing chemistry experiments in high school and found the lab environment comforting. It's quiet, with no one to disturb you so that I could focus."

"After I won a chemistry competition, I got into the chemistry department through early admission. I never really considered anything else."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. Sara's achievements were extraordinary. Winning a national competition that led to early admission at North Capital University was no small feat. Yet, she spoke of it as if it were just an ordinary part of her life, with no trace of pride or boasting in her voice.

"And your friend," Adrian asked briefly, "did you meet him through the competition?"

It took Sara a moment to realize that Adrian was referring to James Hill.

"Are you talking about James Hill?"

"Yeah."

After learning about the lab accident, Adrian had read a news report about it and had noticed James Hill's name. The young man had striking features and an understated, composed demeanor—traits that likely attracted many women.

"James Hill is more talented than I am. He truly loves this field. He couldn't participate in the competition due to a family matter; otherwise, he would have gotten early admission."

"He's incredibly gifted. He even became the top science scorer in our year's college entrance exams," Sara said, her tone full of admiration.

Adrian couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling that surfaced in his chest as he listened. Sara sounded more animated when discussing James Hill than when talking about her accomplishments.

"He had several universities vying for him, and North Capital University even sent a representative to recruit him. But he ultimately chose the University of Technology because it offered a higher scholarship and was closer home."

Adrian noted the subtle hint of hardship in James Hill's story but chose not to delve deeper.

"Am I talking too much?" Sara suddenly asked, worried that she might be rambling.

"No," Adrian replied softly.

Feeling the unusual opportunity for a deeper conversation, Sara wanted to learn more about Adrian. "What about you? Balancing computer science and finance must've been tough, right?"

Adrian was slightly surprised. "How did you know I studied both computer science and finance?"

Sara's breath caught for a moment, nearly giving herself away. She quickly recovered, "I... I heard it from Grandma."

That explanation made sense.

"It wasn't too bad," Adrian answered simply.

He had pursued computer science out of personal interest, while finance was expected of him as a member of the Blake family.

Noticing Adrian's shift in mood, Sara decided not to press further.

"Let's sleep," Adrian's voice finally broke the silence.