CHAPTER 0009 Meadow's POV : My heart was beating so loud , I could barely hear myself think . His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles , grazing the rock that sat pretty on my ring finger . I squirmed under him again , hating the way my heart responded to his touch . Hating how badly I wanted to close the distance between us and say yes , like some desperate , touch - starved idiot . Not that I was that far off . " I ... can't , " I breathed , my voice barely above a whisper . Be his wife ? Alaric made it sound like a simple choice . Like all I had to do was say yes and he'd give me the world . But I didn't want the world . I just wanted to feel normal again . To not be someone whose entire life had just blown up in her face . " Why do you even want me ? " I pushed at his chest . " You say you want me to be yours , but what do you really stand to gain from this ? " His eyes didn't flinch . " Nothing . " My breath caught for the umpteenth time today . That was all it kept doing . This man was making it difficult for me to breathe . Alaric leaned down , the corner of his mouth twitching slightly . " Just you , Meadow . " Just . You . Meadow . Just me . I hated how those three words made something inside me unravel . " Why ? " I asked , desperate to ground myself . " Why me ? Why not anyone else ? " Alaric's jaw tensed . And for a moment , I thought he wouldn't answer . And then he muttered , " Like I said last night , you touched me . " I blinked , scoffing when I caught myself . " Yeah , you said that . Along with some other bullshit that you never bothered to explain or found some way to take my mind off it . " He pushed off the bed , running his ink - covered hand through his thick hair . 1/4 CHAPTER 0009 +15 BONUS I wanted to do that . Run my hand through his hair . Badly . His back was to me when he exhaled roughly , rubbing the back of his neck . " I don't feel people's touch . I never have . I was diagnosed with a neurological condition years ago . " His voice was flat as he spoke , as if he was talking about the most casual thing known to man . " Think of it as an intense insensitivity to touch . Physical contact doesn't register . Not pain . And most times , not pleasure . " His tone had changed at the last word . And his back was still turned to me . My chest tightened . " That's ... real ? " He nodded . " It's rare , and complicated . But yes . I've lived my entire life in a body that doesn't respond the way it should . " My brain tried to make sense of that . Of the fact that he could touch people and never feel them. That no matter how many women tried , none of them ever- " And you can feel me ? " I whispered . " Yes . " I didn't know where the sudden boost of courage came from , but before I could talk myself out of it , I rose to my knees , crawling toward the edge of the bed where he sat . And then , kneeling behind him , I lifted my hand , hovering for only a few seconds before I placed it on his lower back . " You can feel this ? " I asked , my voice shaking with anxiety . " No , " his reply was soft . " I can't . I can only feel you when you touch my bare skin . " My heart broke for this man . I wondered all the things he must have gone through all because of his inability to feel . But my heartbeat picked up again when he asked me a question . " Do you want to take it off ? " I hesitated . I could've touched his hand if I wanted to confirm his condition , but something about taking his shirt off seemed much more appealing to me . So I did . I reached for the hem of his shirt , and as I pulled it over his head , Alaric's entire body tensed from the light graze of my knuckles . His breath hitched . I froze , the black fabric of his shirt still clutched in my fingers . 2/4 CHAPTER 0009 +15 BONUS " You felt that , " I whispered . He didn't turn around , but he didn't need to . Because I could see it - his skin shifting beneath my touch , his back muscles tense , shoulders tight like he was physically restraining himself from reacting . I let the shirt fall from my hand and brushed my fingers lightly across the muscles of his back . Down his spine and back up . Across the dark ink sprawled over his left shoulder blade , leading down to his arm . He shuddered . I pulled my hand away , realizing that I may have gotten carried away . But I was stunned . Completely stunned . " You really can feel me , " I said softly , in awe of the beautiful man sitting in front of me . Alaric finally turned to face me , his eyes dark and unreadable . " I don't know why . " His voice was rough . " I don't care why . " He rose to his feet , pulling me out of the bed and close to him so I was against his chest . " All I care about is that I can , " he said , running his hand through my hair , causing me to lean into his touch . " That when you touch me , I feel it . And it doesn't fade , Meadow . It stays . " I was trembling , not out of fear . But because no one had ever said something like that to me . No one had ever looked at me the way he was now - like I was something powerful . Something rare . " I'm not special , " I said , voice shaking . " I'm just- " " You're mine , " he interrupted - quite smugly , might I add . " That makes you special enough . " I blinked rapidly , trying to get my head on straight , but it was impossible with the way he was looking at me . Like I was the only thing in the room worth seeing . " So that's why you want to marry me ? " I murmured . " Just so you can feel me ? " " It's the same thing you want from me , isn't it ? " Alaric smirked , his hand tightening around my waist . " Let's think of it as a mutual need . " My heart stuttered . There was no sarcasm in his tone . No ulterior motive in his words . He genuinely just wanted me to touch him . And in return ... he'd take my virginity . This ... burden , away from me . Funny how I'd been keeping it for one person but decided to give it up to the next handsome man who came by . 3/4 CHAPTER 0009 +15 BONUS Alaric stepped away from me , walking toward the closet and pulling out a dark button - down shirt . " Now , I'd love to stay here and keep chatting with you , but I have a board meeting in Seattle . In a few hours . " He moved with the kind of precision that came from years of control . Years of not letting himself feel or break . Or want . " Oh ? " I managed , still at a loss for words . " Get dressed , Meadow . " He turned to me , fixing his cuffs . " We leave in twenty - five minutes . My jet's on standby . " I didn't even know what to react to first . The fact that he had a private jet , or the fact that he'd used the word " we " in his sentence . I chose the latter . " I'm sorry , we ? " Alaric tilted his head at me . " I'm not leaving without my wife , Meadow . " " But I- " " Get dressed , " he repeated , walking toward me again . " If you don't want to stay married , we'll annul it . If you want revenge , I'll help you get it . If you want to disappear , I can make it happen . And if you want me ... " His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth . " You already have me . But this meeting is of utmost importance . And we need to leave soon . " And then , without waiting for my reply , he walked out , leaving me standing in the middle of the room . Breathless . Speechless , with a lot of questions churning in my mind . 4/4 Title: Cohabitating Lover by CrushReel In the romantic tale "Cohabitating Lover," Corinne, a runaway bride still donned in her wedding attire, and Andre find themselves mistakenly tangled in a leasing office mix-up. Despite initial reluctance, they become unexpected roommates after a series of arguments lead to an unconventional living arrangement. Exploring themes of love, transformation, and the magnetic pull of opposites, this modern romance unfolds against the backdrop of a luxurious mansion and a high-powered office setting. As Corinne and Andre navigate their differences and shared living space, their individual glow-ups and personal growth intertwine in a heartwarming display of vulnerability and resilience. This sweet romance novel stands out for its portrayal of characters grappling with unexpected circumstances while discovering the true meaning of companionship. With a blend of CEO dynamics, modern settings, and the allure of opposites attracting, "Cohabitating Lover" offers readers a refreshing take on love and self-discovery. Escape into this ongoing story available to read at CrushReel for a captivating journey through the complexities of relationships and personal evolution.