Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

The next morning, Clara woke up early, only to find Dylan radiating heat beside her. She quickly sat up and touched his forehead. "Mr. Dylan, you're burning up!"

The room had been comfortably warm, thanks to the fireplace gently crackling all night. How did he manage to catch a fever?

Dylan slowly opened his eyes, giving a soft groan of acknowledgment. Clara was worried sick. They'd only shed their jackets before bed. She quickly grabbed his coat and helped him put it on. "Let's get you cleaned up a bit. I'll check with the front desk for any medicine."

Supporting him to the bathroom, her fingers brushed his wrist-his skin was alarmingly hot. Dylan's face was flushed, his eyelashes fluttering like a feverish prince.

Clara hurriedly got herself ready and guided him downstairs. She rushed to the front desk. "Do you have any medicine? Someone here has a fever."

The receptionist shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, we ran out a few days ago."

Clara hurried back to the car with Dylan and asked Aiden, "Aiden, do we have any fever reducers in the car? Mr. Dylan's burning up."

Aiden, looking surprisingly fresh despite the circumstances, shook his head, worried. "We should head to the nearest town. It's about twelve miles from here."

Clara turned up the car's heat, settled Dylan in the backseat, and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Hang in there, Mr. Dylan. We're heading to town now."

The lodge was truly in the middle of nowhere, and Clara regretted not packing some ibuprofen.

Aiden started the car and drove off slowly. Meanwhile, the receptionists were chatting by the fire. "Who goes out to watch snow in the middle of the night? It was freezing. I saw someone outside and it gave me a fright."

They rubbed their hands, knowing just how cold it had been outside. "Why not enjoy the view from indoors? What if they caught a cold?"

"Maybe I was seeing things, but I swear I saw someone."

Clara's car reached an intersection, only to find the road blocked. The heavy snowfall from the previous night had closed all nearby routes, making town inaccessible.

Next to her, Dylan had slumped against her shoulder, asleep with a fever, his cheeks flushed. Clara didn't dare push him away, so she wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him steady.

Aiden glanced back but said nothing. Clara felt a bit guilty. "Aiden, I'm not trying to take advantage of Mr. Dylan. I'm just making sure he doesn't fall. He's out of it right now."

Aiden calmly replied, "I know."

Clara sighed in relief, watching the snowy landscape with growing anxiety. "What should we do now? We can't get to town, and there's no medicine at the lodge. Should we head straight to our destination?"

Just then, Dylan's weak voice chimed in. "Head to the destination."

Aiden frowned but stayed quiet. The road to their destination was miraculously clear, though the snow kept falling heavily. With hours still ahead, Clara wanted to rest but felt Dylan's head nudge her shoulder.

Startled, she tried to move away, but Dylan almost slipped from his seat. She quickly returned to her position, supporting him like a human pillow.

The car hit a bump, and Clara instinctively steadied his head, but felt a sudden warmth on her neck, like his lips had brushed against her skin.

She quickly pushed Dylan back, securing him in his seat. Aiden noticed her reaction but remained silent.noveldrama

Clara's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Aiden, maybe I should drive?"

Aiden ignored her, and Clara continued to sit in the back, feeling restless. She couldn't let go of Dylan, so she stayed put awkwardly.

Ten minutes later, Dylan opened his eyes, looking confused, lost in a feverish haze. Clara grew increasingly worried, feeling helpless.

Suddenly, Dylan raised a hand and gently pinched her cheek. She frowned, about to pull away when he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

Clara immediately raised her hands, signaling to Aiden. "This is all Mr. Dylan's doing, not mine. You have to vouch for me when he wakes up. I don't want him blaming me."

Knowing Dylan hated being taken advantage of, Aiden almost laughed, trying to keep the car steady. "Sure."