Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women-Chapter 187: I Could Get Used To This

Vanessa stirred, her mind caught between sleep and wakefulness, warmth wrapping around her like a cocoon.

She blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

It took her a moment to realize that the warmth she felt wasn’t from the blankets — it was from him.

Ethan’s strong arms were wrapped securely around her waist, his body pressed against her back.

His steady, rhythmic breathing tickled the back of her neck, and she could feel the slow rise and fall of his chest against her.

’Damn.’

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep like this.

She should have pulled away at some point, should have slipped out of bed before morning arrived.

But now, as she lay there, completely engulfed in his hold, she couldn’t even move.

Not that she wanted to.

Her fingers twitched slightly, resting against his forearm, and she exhaled a deep, contented breath.

There was something safe about his embrace, something grounding.

And it terrified her.

Because she knew she could get used to this.

She could get used to waking up next to him, to feeling his warmth against her skin, to knowing that for a few fleeting moments, she didn’t have to be strong.

But reality wasn’t that kind.

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She sighed and reluctantly tapped his arm.

"Ethan," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

He groaned, tightening his hold slightly as if refusing to acknowledge her attempt to wake him.

"Ethan," she tried again, shifting slightly. "You need to get up. That super-secret project of yours — whatever it is — you said you’d be busy all week, remember?"

Another groan.

This time, he buried his face into the back of her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.

"Not going today," he mumbled.

Vanessa’s brows furrowed. "What?"

"I’m not going today," he repeated, his voice rough with sleep.

He shifted, his grip around her waist firm but lazy. "Changed my mind."

She scoffed. "You — what? No, you were making such a big deal about it. You have to go, don’t you?"

He didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he sighed heavily, rubbing his face into her shoulder like a stubborn child refusing to wake up.

"Doesn’t matter," he muttered. "Staying home."

Vanessa twisted slightly in his hold to look at him, her expression incredulous.

His eyes were still closed, his features relaxed, and yet he looked so determined to ignore her words.

"You’re serious," she said flatly.

"Mhmm."

"You — " She exhaled sharply, biting back her frustration.

Ethan was impossible.

She wasn’t sure if he was just exhausted or if he really didn’t care about whatever this project was, but either way, she could tell she wasn’t going to change his mind.

And she hated that.

"You’re so stubborn," she muttered, finally giving up.

He hummed in response, clearly pleased that she had stopped trying to push him out of bed.

His hold around her loosened slightly, his fingers brushing absently against the fabric of her shirt.

Vanessa stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the situation.

How had things changed so much in just one night?

She’d gone from sulking over the thought of him with someone else to waking up in his arms.

It was ridiculous, insane even, but she couldn’t deny that she liked it.

Liked this.

She could feel the steady beat of his heart against her back, the warmth of his body molding against hers.

It was too easy to stay like this, to pretend that this was normal.

But was it?

Was she just overthinking everything?

She sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Fine," she relented, relaxing into his hold. "But if you’re staying home, then you’re taking me out today."

Ethan let out a lazy chuckle. "Deal."

The warmth of the bed had been intoxicating, but eventually, reality caught up with them.

"Alright, alright," he mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He stretched lazily, his muscles flexing as he let out a deep yawn. "I’m up."

Vanessa sat up beside him, her fingers running through her hair as she shook off the last remnants of sleep.

She still couldn’t believe she had spent the night here, curled up in his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And yet, it had felt… right.

Not that she’d ever admit that out loud.

Ethan, of course, wasn’t making things any easier.

He slung an arm lazily around her shoulder as they slid out of bed, his body still warm from sleep.

"Bathroom?" he asked, voice thick with drowsiness.

She gave him a side glance. "You need me to hold your hand or something?"

"Nah," he smirked, tightening his hold slightly as they walked. "Just like keeping you close."

Vanessa rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away.

The hallway was already bustling with the quiet rustle of the maids going about their morning cleaning routine.

A few of them passed by, their expressions carefully neutral — well, most of them.

She caught the faintest hint of a knowing smirk from one of the older maids, and immediately, her face burned red.

They must have seen her coming out of his room.

’Great.’

She turned her head slightly, trying to will away the heat creeping up her cheeks.

Ethan, however, seemed utterly unbothered.

He walked with an easy confidence, his arm still draped over her like this was completely normal.

The worst part? He knew she was embarrassed.

She could feel the amusement radiating off him.

"Something wrong?" he asked, his tone innocent but his smirk anything but.

"Shut up," she muttered, pushing open the bathroom door.

Ethan chuckled as he followed her inside, finally letting his arm slip away as they moved to the sinks.

Without missing a beat, they both reached for their toothbrushes, moving in sync like it was something they did every day.

Vanessa focused on brushing her teeth, ignoring the way Ethan kept glancing at her through the mirror.

She could see it coming — the teasing.

And sure enough —

"You know," he began, foaming toothpaste in his mouth as he spoke, "if you were gonna spend the night, you could’ve at least worn something more comfortable. Not that I mind, but I’m sure you do."