When Seth Quinn emerged from the bathroom, he checked the time. It was almost noon.

’He’d really worn Clara Grant out, and now that it was time for lunch, she must be starving.’

So, he decided to wake her up to eat.

He walked to the side of the bed, bent down, and softly called her name twice, "Clara," but she was fast asleep and didn’t stir.

He reached out and gently patted her cheek. "Clara, wake up. Why don’t you eat something and then go back to sleep, okay?"

He kept his movements and voice gentle, wanting to wake her without startling her.

In her sleep, Clara Grant was only vaguely aware of something buzzing annoyingly in her ear and something else brushing against her face. It was extremely irritating.

She subconsciously raised a hand and swatted hard, trying to get rid of whatever was disturbing her dreams, but she ended up slapping Seth Quinn squarely in the face.

The slap stunned Seth Quinn, and the faint smile on his lips froze in place.

’If he didn’t know she was fast asleep, he’d have sworn she did that on purpose.’

’That slap actually kind of hurt. Hadn’t she claimed she was too tired to even lift her arms? She seemed to have plenty of strength just now.’

’He had been planning on letting her rest tonight since she was so worn out. But now... it looked like he couldn’t let her off so easily after all!’

The memory of her movements—clumsy and inexperienced, yet still enough to make his blood race and bring him to the peak of pleasure—made Seth Quinn feel his body slowly start to react all over again.

Ugh...

’Looks like that last shower was a waste. He was going to have to take another cold one.’

...

When Clara Grant finally drifted awake, she stared at the ceiling for a long moment with wide, hazy eyes as her memory slowly returned.

Thinking back on the morning’s events, Clara Grant pressed her lips together in a sweet, shy smile.

But before her smile could fully form, a head popped into view. "Awake?"

She jumped, startled. Only when she saw it was Seth Quinn did she breathe a sigh of relief and nod. "Mhm."

She sat up, and her stomach immediately began to GROWL. Rubbing her empty belly, she asked Seth Quinn, "What time is it?"

Seth Quinn glanced at the clock on the wall. "Three p.m."

’She remembered when Seth... finished... it was a little before noon. It’s three p.m. now? Had she really slept for three hours?’

’Then again, she’d always been a heavy sleeper. As long as no one disturbed her, she could easily sleep for hours on end.’

Seeing her surprised expression, Seth Quinn teased, "Even you think you slept for a long time, huh? Sleeping this much... you’re not pregnant, are you?"

Clara Grant shot him an annoyed glare. "You’re the pregnant one!"

’She was still on her period, how could she possibly be pregnant?’

Then she added accusingly, "And whose fault is that? You were the one bothering me so late last night and then waking me up first thing in the morning. Of course I’m sleepy—it’s all because of you!"

"Alright, alright, my fault." Seth Quinn didn’t argue, readily taking the blame as always. "You must be hungry. I just ordered some food; it should be here soon. Go take a shower and get changed, then come on downstairs."

Clara Grant was indeed starving. She nodded and got out of bed. "Okay."

She grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom.

With food on her mind, her shower was quick. In no time at all, she was dressed and walking out of the bathroom.

But just as she opened the door and took a couple of steps into the bedroom, she let out a sudden shriek, "Ah!" then frantically covered her eyes with her hands.