Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 97

The elevator doors slid open onto the basement level. Zinnia tightened her grip around Landon’s arm and helped him out.

Suddenly, she felt his full weight collapse onto her shoulder.

“Landon.” She clenched her jaw, biting back her irritation as she called his name.

“Sorry. My legs gave out—I can’t stand up straight,” he mumbled, voice low and rough.

This time, he leaned so heavily against her that his breath, fever-hot, brushed her ear, making the tips flush with heat.

Landon had the physique of a runway model—tall, broad-shouldered, and lean. At six-foot-three and a hundred sixty-five pounds, he was impossible for Zinnia to support with one arm alone. With no other option, she wrapped both arms under his and around his back, barely managing to steady him.

Anyone passing by would have thought they were embracing, not just trying to keep him upright.

Landon’s eyes were closed, his chin resting on her shoulder. The corners of his lips twitched—so slight she almost missed it.

Thankfully, the car wasn’t far. After just a few steps, they reached the parking space.

Zinnia let out a long breath, propping Landon against the car with one arm while she pulled the handle with the other. “Get in. Come on.”

He didn’t respond—didn’t even seem to hear her. His body felt limp, like he’d slipped out of consciousness.

A cold jolt of fear ran through her. “Landon?” she said, voice tight with worry.

He stirred, eyelids fluttering as if dragging himself up from deep sleep. “Hmm?”

“Get in the car. Your wound’s infected, and your fever’s out of control. We can’t waste any more time.” Her brow furrowed as she urged him.

“Okay.” For once, he didn’t argue or resist. He just did as she told him, sliding obediently into the passenger seat.

Gone was his usual commanding reserve; right now, he was quiet and pliant, almost like a well-behaved child. Whatever Zinnia told him to do, he did.

Landon blinked, snapping out of whatever strange emotion had flickered through him a moment before.

Zinnia straightened, refusing to meet his eyes. She started the car and pressed her foot to the gas.

The luxury SUV glided out of the garage, its starlit ceiling glittering above them.

It was rush hour, and the streets outside were gridlocked.

But strangely, Landon noticed, Zinnia never had to stop once. The massive SUV seemed to slip effortlessly through the jammed traffic, always finding a path forward as if the city parted just for them.

He leaned back, studying her in silence. She drove with single-minded focus, her features set and determined. Her lashes were long, casting soft shadows beneath her eyes whenever she blinked. With every flutter, they reminded him of a feather brushing against his heart—light, ticklish, impossible to ignore.

His fingers drifted absently to his abdomen, tracing the spot where she’d accidentally grazed him a moment ago. He could still feel the ghost of her touch—soft, gentle, and inexplicably intimate.

“Didn’t know you were such a good driver,” he murmured.