Chapter 6 Forbidden Memories

The air grew thick, suffocating, as the palpable sense of danger crept closer.

Cathryn's chest tightened painfully, her breath hitching as she instinctively tried to retreat. But her back was already pressed firmly against the cold wall, leaving her no path for escape.

Grayson's presence loomed over her, unyielding and suffocating.

His tall frame closed the distance, leaving her feeling trapped and breathless.

Her trembling fingers clutched at the rusty pipe beside the wall, her head bowing under the weight of his gaze. She dared not look him in the eye.

The dim light of the hallway veiled her fevered flush, but her crimson lips stood out.

Grayson's eyes flicked over her damp hair, the faintest glint of something unreadable flashing in his cold expression. His tone was sharp, carrying a frigid undercurrent. "Who are you hiding from? Why live in a place like this?"

His shadow stretching over her completely, making her feel even smaller under his scrutiny.

Her body swayed slightly, dizziness overtaking her as the fever robbed her of strength. With Grayson so close, her knees began to tremble uncontrollably, threatening to give out beneath her.

"Answer me!" he demanded, his voice rising with an edge of frustration.

Cathryn's lips parted faintly, her voice barely audible. "I..."

But before she could finish, a wave of blackness overtook her vision, and her body slumped forward.

She fainted.

Grayson's sharp reflexes caught her just as she fell, his arms wrapping around her slender frame. His jaw tightened as he felt the searing heat radiating from her skin.

Frowning, he bent down, scooping her up effortlessly as though she weighed nothing.

When Cathryn regained consciousness, she was enveloped in complete darkness, the quiet pressing against her ears. Not a single sliver of light broke through the void.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she was in her own bed. Reaching out instinctively, her hand brushed against something firm and smooth, the texture unmistakably leather.

Was it a seat?

Suddenly, a faint light flickered above, casting a soft glow over the confined space. A low, calm voice broke the silence. "Awake?"

Cathryn's head snapped up, her wide eyes locking onto a pair of cold, penetrating ones. Grayson's gaze was unfathomable, its intensity pulling her in like a whirlpool.

A shiver raced down her spine, and she stammered, "G-Grayson..."

Her mind reeled. Why was she alone in this pitch-black car with him?

Where was Rylan, the ever-present shadow who always followed Grayson?

As if plucking the thought from her mind, Grayson's voice cut through the tension, cool and composed. "You left your things at the coffee shop. When I brought them to you, I found you had fainted."

He turned his head slightly, glancing out the rain-streaked window. Reaching for the door controls, he pressed a button, and the glass slid down just enough to let in the sharp sound of rain.

"The car broke down. We'll have to wait a bit for someone to come."

The relentless wind that accompanied the rain sent a fresh chill through the cabin, making Cathryn shiver involuntarily.

Grayson's sharp eyes caught the slight tremor, his gaze dropping briefly to her fever-flushed lips before returning to her pale face.

His tone was faint but deliberate. "Cold?"

Cathryn felt trapped, her pulse quickening as the confined space seemed to shrink around her.

The faint scent of cedar-Grayson's unmistakable presence-filled the car, wrapping around her like invisible chains, making it harder to breathe.

Another gust of icy wind swept through the open window, carrying droplets of rain with it. She shivered again despite herself, murmuring weakly, "N-No, I'm fine..."

Grayson's frown deepened as he assessed her state, his expression hovering between concern and disapproval. Without a word, he reached for the coat draped over the passenger seat and handed it to her. "This is all there is. Put it on for now. The car picking us up should be here soon."

Cathryn hesitated, her fingers twitching as she debated whether to accept.

Grayson raised a single brow, his expression cool yet commanding. "Hmm?"

The simple sound carried an unspoken weight that pressed down on her, leaving her no choice but to take the coat.

"Thank you," she murmured, clutching the fabric tightly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

Her hand brushed against Grayson's, the chill of his skin shocking against the heat of her fever.

The unintentional contact startled her, but under his watchful gaze, she forced herself to take the coat, her fingers trembling slightly.

Another gust of cold wind mixed with rain swirled through the window, causing her body to shudder visibly.

Grayson's frown deepened as his voice broke the silence. "Put it on."

His tone was calm but carried an icy authority that left no room for argument.

Three years had passed, and the weight of Grayson's presence had only grown more oppressive. Even his lightest commands felt heavy, almost inescapable.

Cathryn hesitated briefly before draping the coat over her shoulders.

The warmth helped, but it came with the unmistakable scent of Grayson, enveloping her in a way that made her chest tighten.

Without warning, memories she had buried long ago clawed their way to the surface.

She could almost feel the heat of his drunken body pressing against her from that fateful afternoon three years ago. The fire in his eyes, the way his lips had claimed hers with unrelenting dominance-those forbidden moments she had tried so desperately to erase now came rushing back.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, but it wasn't just from the fever.

Grayson's sharp eyes caught the slight shake in her frame. Without a word, he pressed the button to raise the window, cutting off the biting wind and the relentless rain.

The moment the sound disappeared, the car became eerily quiet, the confined space suddenly too intimate. Cathryn's heart raced, and she blurted out hoarsely, "Don't close it!"

Grayson paused, his brows knitting together as if piecing something together. He adjusted his seat, deliberately leaning away from her to create some distance.

Cathryn's lashes fluttered as she noticed the movement.

Did Grayson still detest being too close to others? She couldn't blame him. In her current disheveled state, she wasn't exactly pleasant company.

But those thoughts quickly faded as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Her breathing grew shallow and uneven as she leaned heavily against the car door, her strength draining away with each passing second.

Grayson noticed the sudden pallor in Cathryn's face and leaned forward, his fingers brushing her forehead. The searing heat beneath his touch made his frown deepen.

Cathryn's heavy eyelids fluttered, her dry lips barely moving as she murmured weakly, "You got some water?"

It was then he realized how parched she looked. Her once-lustrous lips were now dry and cracked, and her spirit seemed utterly drained.

Without hesitation, he retrieved a small bottle of water from the glove compartment, unscrewing the cap with swift precision. But as he leaned forward to hand it to her, he paused, realizing it was impossible to reach her comfortably when he was in the front passenger seat.

Adjusting the seat backward, he leaned over, his tall frame bending awkwardly to bring the bottle closer to her lips.

"Here," he said, his tone low but steady.

Cathryn, too weak to raise her hands, allowed him to hold the bottle as she took a tentative sip. It wasn't until then that she became acutely aware of how close he was-his broad shoulders partially draping over her, the faint scent of cedar enveloping her in the confined space. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, the intimate position rendering her momentarily frozen.

As she swallowed, the water caught in her throat, threatening to spill. Startled, she bit her lip, instinctively glancing at Grayson.

For a moment, time seemed to stretch.

Grayson's sharp gaze caught hers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her vulnerable expression. She looked fragile, as though she could break under the weight of his stare, yet there was something about her that seemed to slip through his grasp.

The air grew unbearably heavy, tension weaving between them like an unspoken secret, forbidden and impossible to ignore.

Cathryn's body stiffened as she tried to retreat, but the car door was already at her back, trapping her in place.

Grayson's gaze dropped briefly to her lips, lingering for a few seconds longer than he intended, before he quickly turned his eyes away. His voice came out quieter, rougher than before. "Do you need more water?"

Normally, Cathryn would have declined, eager to escape the closeness. But her throat burned, parched and raw, and instinct overrode hesitation. She weakly grabbed Grayson's hand, steadying the bottle as she took a few more sips.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice softer now, the warmth of the water easing her discomfort.

Grayson's fingers twitched slightly as he felt the residual heat of her touch, the texture of her fevered skin lingering like an imprint.

For someone who kept everyone-family included-at arm's length, this lingering softness Cathryn brought unsettled him in a way he couldn't quite place.

He frowned as he studied her trembling frame. She looked so fragile, yet so afraid of him.

Was he truly that terrifying?

Half-closing his eyes, his expression remained cold as he asked, "Cathryn, why are you so afraid of me?"