bChapter /bb238 /b

    He, on the other hand, seemedpletely unfazed, moving about with an ease that made it clear he felt right at home.

    Maybe it came from growing up together–side by side in front of the bathroom mirror, their routines were almost perfectly in sync.

    They looked, in that moment, just like a couple who’d spent years together–so attuned it was as if they shared the same heartbeat.

    As the thought shed through her mind, Elissa’s heart gave a startled little jolt.

    After they finished washing up, the two of them headed back to Rowan’s ce, one after the other.

    Mindful of his obsession with cleanliness, Elissa changed into a different pair of slippers. She hadn’t even set her heel down when a pair of arms slipped around her waist from behind. Before she could turn around, his kiss crashed down on her, fierce and overwhelming.

    He didn’t give her the slightest chance to refuse.

    When his hand tugged up the hem of her nightdress, she shivered.

    But she didn’t fight him; she let herself melt under his touch.

    Then, hisrge hands swept her off her feet, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his lean, muscr waist.

    Striding across the living room, he carried her straight to the master bedroom.

    Elissa’s camisole nightgown slipped off one shoulder, baring her smooth skin. Her face and neck flushed a deep crimson–she couldn’t bring

    herself to meet his eyes.

    He caught her chin, and his next kiss burned against her lips.

    Elissa thought, for sure, that everything would just happen, naturally, as if it were meant to be.

    b1/3 /b

    17:14

    But then Rowan nced down at her trembling eyshes, and suddenly pulled theforter over her, wrapping her up like a cocoon in his arms. She looked at him in confusion.

    He brushed her hair back and murmured, “Let’s get some sleep.”

    Elissa’s dark hair fanned out across the sheets like silk, her eyes

    shimmering with startled tears. “Sleep?”

    Rowan’s arm tightened around her, the veins on his forearm taut, his voice rough and low. He smirked. “Don’t want to sleep?”

    “I–I want to,” she stammered.

    She just hadn’t expected it. She’d already braced herself, but Rowan had suddenly called it off, right in the middle.

    Not that she minded, really–maybe it was for the best.

    Watching her curl obediently into his embrace, Rowan felt the tension in his stomach tighten painfully.

    But now wasn’t the right time.

    Not yet.

    The next morning, Rowan woke with a jolt when someone kicked him in their sleep.

    He snapped awake immediately, his eyes sharp and cold. But when he saw the culprit was the sleeping woman beside him, all that fierceness melted away, reced by indulgence.

    Stretching out an arm, Rowan grabbed his phone from the nightstand to check the time. Without turning on the light, he made his way to the bathroom to wash up in the dark.

    They weren’t supposed to leave until six thirty.

    It wasn’t even six yet.

    17:14

    Rowan, fastening the buttons on his suit jacket with one hand, cocked an eyebrow. “She has a habit of kicking in her sleep,”

    Woke him right up.

    Evan, missing the point entirely, suggested, “Sir, maybe you should let Miss know, or… sleep in separate beds?”

    Idiot.

    Couldn’t he hear the fondness in Rowan’s tone?

    Separate beds? Not in a million years.

    Before they reached the airport, Rowan checked the time and made a quick call.

    The sun hadn’t even risen, but Janice picked up almost immediately.

    Her voice was sleepy. “Didn’t you say you have a girlfriend now? Why are you calling me so early?”

    Rowan chuckled. “Having a girlfriend means I can’t call you anymore?”

    “That’s not it,” Janice replied, sounding genuinely concerned. “But aren’t you worried you’ll wake her up? What if she thinks you’re not considerate enough and breaks up with you?”

    Rowan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You that worried I’ll end up single?”

    “Of course I am. Now, spit it out–what do you need?”

    Rowan didn’t bother beating around the bush. “That herbalist you wanted

    to introduce me to–what’s her name again?”

    373

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