The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 359

The rhythmic patter of the shower was occasionally punctuated by her soft humming, drifting out like a siren's song.

Charley, dressed in French silk pajamas, sat stiffly on her pink bedsheets, the thin blanket pulled over his lap.

The quilt was covered in a playful print of teddy bears, honey jars, and daisies. It smelled of chamomile detergent and warm sunlight.

The bathroom door featured a large frosted glass panel. Her silhouette shifted behind it, blurring and sharpening with her movements, much like her humming.

He ran a hand through his already messy hair, realizing his forehead was uncomfortably hot.

She liked the way he smelled, claiming it helped her sleep better. At first, he found it incredibly endearing. Who wouldn't want to hold their girlfriend all night?

But he quickly realized that, to her, 'sleeping' was purely a state of unconsciousness, not an activity.

It was absolute torture.

He had asked her once if she wanted him to bring over a custom aromatherapy sachet for her closet, or maybe just scent her blankets with it.

She had looked up at him with those pitiful, wide eyes, her expression instantly shifting into quiet devastation, as if he had just broken her heart.

He figured she probably just needed a giant, human-sized body pillow that smelled good—one that could adjust to her wildly unpredictable sleep positions and keep her feet warm.

Eventually, the water shut off. She began toweling her hair behind the frosted glass. He kept his eyes locked on her silhouette for a moment before his heart rate and body temperature spiked completely out of control, forcing him to look away.

*When the wise meditate on the nature of existence, they illuminate the emptiness of all worldly desires...*

...

When Lavinia finally stepped out of the bathroom, she saw her giant human body pillow sitting obediently in bed, waiting for her.

She practically bounced over, pulled back the covers, and snuggled right into his arms.

"I used a new body lotion today. Cedarwood," she said, holding her wrist right under his nose. "Does it smell good?"

His eyes darkened. "Yes," he said tightly.

She studied his face closely. He always seemed far too stoic when they were in bed. Even when they were tangled up together, he never crossed a single line.

Over time, she had simply gotten used to it, treating him like an interactive plush toy. Ever since he started staying over, her terrifying nightmares of drowning had completely vanished, and she slept soundly until morning.

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