Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Still sitting comfortably on Ethan’s lap, Meadow felt the shift of motion beneath her as Ethan picked up the small automated remote attached to the arm of his wheelchair. With a gentle press, he maneuvered them toward the walk-in closet, this time

entering the space with her instead of waiting outside as he usually did.

The small gesture felt strangely intimate.

A quiet whisper of trust.

A sign that he wanted to be part of her routines, not separate from them.

Inside the closet, they both changed into their nightwear.

But Ethan had a request.

A bold one.

He wanted her to wear a sheer nightgown, nothing underneath.

Meadow stiffened, cheeks warming instantly. Her first instinct was to refuse. She felt exposed in ways that made her throat tighten.

But Ethan wasn’t demanding, just watching her gently, waiting.

So she humoured him.

She chose a cream, sheer short gown, so thin it felt like moonlight on her skin. So revealing it was practically nothing.

When she stepped out wearing it, Ethan’s breath caught almost imperceptibly.

He wore only his shorts, broad chest bare, muscles defined even in his seated posture.

They looked at each other for a long moment in the quiet closet.

Awkwardness.

Desire.

Trust.

All tangled together.

Then they moved to the bed.

Meadow, still flustered, reached for the nightstand to get Ethan his tablet. But the moment she opened the drawer, something

caught her eye,

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11:20 Wed, Jun 17

Chapter 45

A note.

Stuck neatly to a small, elegant box.

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“For Meadow.”

Her heart stuttered.

She blinked, pulled the box out carefully, and opened it.

A phone.

A beautiful, new phone.

Her eyes widened, shimmering with emotion she couldn’t hide. She looked at Ethan immediately, her hands flying as she signed Thank you, slowly, sincerely, with her whole heart behind the gesture.

Ethan smiled, softly, warmly.

“My number is already saved,” he told her. “Call me anytime. And if anyone does anything to you while I’m away, call me

immediately. No matter the hour.”

Before he could say anything else, Meadow rushed to him, throwing her arms around him with excitement and gratitude. She’d been wanting to hug him properly for so long, but always held back, always cautious.

Not tonight.

Tonight she let herself be bold.

It took Ethan a moment, just a moment, to respond. Then he wrapped one arm carefully around her waist, pulling her gently against his chest. Her warmth pressed to him, her joy vibrating through her body.

She stayed there for a while, face tucked into his shoulder, holding him as if afraid to let go.

When she finally pulled back, she was still smiling, radiant and shy at the same time. She looked more beautiful than the first day

he saw her. It wasn’t the gown.

It was the light in her eyes.

A glow he had helped create.

She reached again for his tablet, but Ethan stopped her with a shake of his head.

“Leave it,” he murmured. “I want to spend the night holding you.”

Her breath softened, melting into something warm and tender. She joined him in bed, curling naturally against him. Ethan wrapped

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Chapter 45

his arm around her and pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder.

“I just want to hold you tonight,” he whispered. “I don’t know how long we’ll be in Ceenas, but… I want something to keep my mind

company while I’m away.”

It was the closest he’d come to confessing he would miss her.

In truth, he already did.

He had spent more time with Meadow than anyone since Cynthia left.

The women who came after Cynthia were fleeting shadows, pretty faces without connection. Nothing lasting. Nothing meaningful.

But Meadow…

Meadow was different.

He thought his emotions were under control.

He thought he was untouchable.

He thought he was simply being responsible, nothing more.

But the truth was much deeper.

His walls were coming down.

Quietly.

Softly.

Without his permission.

And he didn’t even notice.

Ethan inhaled, drawing in her familiar rose scent. Then he kissed her neck, slowly, carefully.

A small sound escaped Meadow’s lips.

Something soft.

Something like a moan.

Just like her sigh before, Ethan did not miss it.

It struck him in the chest.

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Chapter 45

He began to wonder, quietly, privately, whether her mutism was selective. Whether something had silenced her voice. Trauma.

Illness. Fear.

He believed she had a voice somewhere hidden behind years of hurt.

But he would never push her.

Never corner her.

Never shame her.

He would research.

Investigate quietly.

Learn what he could without giving her false hope, without repeating the mistakes of doctors who once promised himmiracles they

couldn’t deliver.

He would protect her heart even in this.

He would take each step carefully.

Because she deserved that.

Because she deserved him at his best, even if he doubted whether his best was enough.

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Underwater: The Silent Luna