Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 432: Tempting

Anna held his gaze for a moment longer, the playful glint in her eyes slowly softening into something warmer—something quieter. The teasing smile faded, replaced by a look Daniel knew too well. It was the one she wore when she stopped joking and started feeling.

She reached up, smoothing the damp hair at the back of his neck, her thumb brushing lightly against his skin. "You’re tense," she murmured, not accusing, not worried—just observant.

"I’m fine," Daniel said automatically.

Anna smiled, the kind that said she didn’t believe him for a second. "You always say that."

She stepped closer, close enough that he could feel her warmth, smell the faint trace of her perfume—soft, familiar, comforting. Without breaking eye contact, she placed both hands on his chest, right over his heart.

"Come here," she said quietly.

Daniel didn’t resist. He never did when she spoke like that.

She guided him toward the bench near the window, nudging him down until he sat. Then she stood between his knees, her hands still resting on him, grounding him in a way no words ever could.

"You know," she said lightly, trying to keep the moment from becoming too heavy, "most husbands would bring flowers when they miss their wives. Mine tries to outrun his thoughts instead."

"I didn’t miss you," he replied, deadpan.

Anna gasped. "Wow. Liar and emotionally unavailable? I really married well."

Despite himself, Daniel laughed, the sound low and genuine. "I missed you," he admitted. "I just didn’t know what to do with the feeling."

Her expression softened instantly. She leaned down, pressing her forehead against his. "You don’t have to do anything with it," she whispered. "You’re allowed to just feel."

Her hands slid up his shoulders, thumbs kneading gently, easing tension he hadn’t realized he was carrying. Daniel closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the sensation, into her.

"When you’re not there," he said quietly, "the house feels... empty."

Anna smiled at that, her heart swelling. "That’s because you’re used to me now," she teased softly. "Terrible habit, I know."

"I don’t want to break it."

She kissed his temple—slow, deliberate. Then his cheek. Each kiss was unhurried, like she was reminding him of something simple and true.

"You’re not alone, Daniel," she said gently. "Even when your mind tries to convince you otherwise."

He opened his eyes, meeting hers. "What if one day you realize I’m too much?"

Anna laughed softly, but there was no humor in it—only certainty. "Then I’ll remind myself that I chose you. Every version of you. The calm one, the overthinking one, the one who runs himself into exhaustion instead of asking for comfort."

She brushed her nose against his, intimate in a way that made his breath hitch. "Especially that one."

Daniel’s hands came up almost instinctively, settling at her waist. "You make it sound easy."

"It’s not easy," she admitted. "It’s just worth it."

She leaned in then, kissing him—not rushed, not demanding. Just warm and lingering. The kind of kiss that wasn’t about hunger, but reassurance. About us.

Daniel kissed her back slowly, carefully, like he was afraid of breaking the moment. His hand slid up her back, fingers splaying against her skin, anchoring him firmly in the present.

When they finally pulled apart, Anna rested her head against his shoulder, her arms looping loosely around his neck.

"You know," she said after a moment, voice muffled against him, "if you keep letting me influence you like this, you might actually learn to talk about what’s bothering you."

He huffed a quiet laugh. "That sounds dangerous."

"It is," she agreed cheerfully. "For you."

She shifted slightly, straddling his lap now, her movement unhurried, natural. Daniel stiffened—not in tension this time, but awareness.

Anna noticed, of course. She always did.

"Relax," she whispered, brushing a kiss along his jaw. "I’m not going to interrogate you tonight."

"That’s reassuring."

"I’m just going to steal you for a bit," she said. "Until your thoughts behave."

"And if they don’t?"

"Then I’ll distract them," she replied smoothly.

She kissed him again, deeper this time—not desperate, but intentional. Daniel’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, his breath mingling with hers. For the first time that night, the noise in his head quieted.

There was only her. The warmth of her body, the steady rhythm of her breathing, the unspoken promise in every touch.

When they finally broke apart, Anna smiled softly, brushing her thumb across his lower lip. "Better?"

He nodded, resting his forehead against hers. "Much."

"Good," she said. "Because tomorrow, you can go back to being strong and composed and mysterious."

"And tonight?"

"Tonight," she whispered, "you’re just my husband."

Daniel watched Anna for a few seconds longer than necessary. He had always admired her boldness—the way she never hesitated to step closer when he pulled away, the way she instinctively knew when he needed comfort without asking. The quiet determination in her eyes, the softness she wrapped around strength, made something warm unfurl in his chest.

"And how exactly do you plan to distract them?" he asked, his voice deliberately light, a teasing edge slipping in despite himself.

Anna’s eyes flickered with amusement.

Daniel had had Anna in every way a man could have his wife, yet nothing ever dulled his hunger for her. If anything, time had only sharpened it. The same seemed true for her. They were hopelessly addictive to each other—drawn together whenever the world felt too loud or too heavy, never hesitating to seek comfort in the way only they understood.

Anna slowly pulled back, the corner of her lips curling upward into something mischievous. Without breaking eye contact, she stepped away from him.

Then she turned, walked toward the door, and locked it. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The sound echoed softly in the room.

Daniel leaned back instinctively, one hand resting on the bench, his posture relaxed but his attention fully alert. His gaze followed her every movement. There was something about her now—too calm, too deliberate—that made his pulse slow and spike all at once.

She turned to face him again, her eyes dark with promise.

"How about we have some fun?" she asked lightly.

Before he could respond, her fingers reached for the hem of her top. She lifted it slowly, unhurried, as if she was fully aware of the effect she was having on him. When she let it fall aside, Daniel’s breath caught.

Her skin glowed softly under the lights—familiar, yet never ordinary. No matter how many times he saw her like this, the sight always undid him. Always would.

There was no world in which he could ever get used to her curves, the quiet confidence in the way she stood, the unspoken knowledge that she had complete control over him in moments like this.

I’ll make sure she regains every bit of that weight once the movie is done, he thought absently, the idea oddly possessive and fond all at once.

His eyes lingered for a second longer before he looked up to meet her gaze again. The air between them thickened, charged with unspoken intent.

As the intensity in her eyes deepened, Daniel pushed himself to his feet.

"Sure," he said simply.

He reached for the hem of his own shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside without ceremony.

Anna inhaled softly, unable to hide her reaction this time. Her eyes traced him openly, appreciation written plainly across her face.

"Tempting," she murmured, a slow smile spreading across her lips as she stepped closer.