Chapter 266

It was late. Jason had just finished his shower, changed into a dark blue silk pajama set. He leaned against the headboard, reading under the warm glow of the bedside lamp. The light softened the sharp lines of his face, casting shadows over his pale skin. He'd always looked refined, but the recent illness made that elegance feel even more delicate, almost scholarly. In the walk-in closet, Ruby sat at her vanity, slowly brushing through her jet-black hair. She had taken a bath earlier, her skin soft and fair, almost porcelain-like. But her now-pronounced baby bump—she wasn’t sure if that would still appeal to a man. She sat there awhile, running through thoughts and emotions before finally stopping herself and walking back into the bedroom. Jason picked up on her footsteps and looked up from his papers. A small smile tugged at his lips. "Your belly seems bigger again," he teased lightly. Ruby lifted the thin quilt, slipping into bed beside him. He instinctively opened her robe, bent do