Page 117 of Tangled In Lies

He grins. “Did you want them to call you Princess too?”

She groans. “Hold, be serious.”

He sighs, like he’s sad the fun is already over. “A lot of the guys prefer that small distance. It keeps their senses sharper when they’re not overly friendly with their client.”

She seems to mull over the information, the spot between her brows scrunched together. “That makes sense and no sense at the same time.”

Holden nods. “We can talk about it later. Let’s get out of here first.”

“Fine.”

She climbs into the SUV, and I follow her.

Holden navigates us back onto the main road, and with every mile we leave behind us, my body relaxes more.

Eve is quiet the whole drive home. For a moment, I wonder if she’s asleep, but then I see her fingers tapping away on her legs. I want to slide across the middle seat to get to her, but then the moonlight illuminates her face through the window, showing me the gentle lift of her mouth.

I didn’t intend to tell her about Connie and her music tonight. But when the orchestra played one of Eve’s favorite songs, and she started moving her fingers on my back along with the melody, the words just spilled.

And I’m not sorry about it.

How could I be if they might have been precisely what she needed to hear?

Is that what the kiss was for?

Was that what she was thanking me for?

It was undoubtedly one of the most innocent kisses I’ve ever had. Yet, it felt like someone reached into my chest and took my heart in a chokehold.

We say goodnight to Holden, so he can check in with his team, and make our way up the stairs.

Up to my bedroom, that has slowly turned intoourbedroom in the last few weeks.

Eve leaves for the bathroom to get ready while I take off my suit jacket by the couch, draping it over the back. My tie comes off next. I’m undoing the last button on my shirt when Eve calls my name.

I cross the room and push open the bathroom door, finding Eve in the middle of the ample space with her back to me.

She clears her throat and watches me over her shoulder. “Mmm, could you help me with the zipper, please? I got the top open but then got stuck halfway down.”

“Sure.” I stalk toward her, my gaze stuck on her long hair tumbling down her back. She must have taken it down the second she came in here.

I gather the soft strands in my hands and sweep them over her shoulder, grazing her skin in the process.

Eve shivers, just like earlier.

And just like earlier, my dick takes notice.

I stare at what’s already exposed on her back and the small patches of her skin that are a little pinker than the rest. Newer. Freshly healed after the attack.

I brush my fingers over them. “Do they hurt?”

She shakes her head.

I touch every spot where she got hurt, some of them smooth skin and others scars. Goosebumps spread under my fingertips.

Then I kiss them—one by one.

“You’re so beautiful.”

---