Page 42 of Tangled In Lies

His words register, and I glance at the clock. Shit. How did time pass so quickly? I barely got anything done. And I was supposed to be at dinner ten minutes ago.

“Sorry.” I close the notebook I was working in and slide off the bed without disturbing my things. “Give me five minutes to get changed and freshen up.”

I head toward the bathroom and the walk-in closet.

“Evangeline.”

Phoenix’s voice stops me dead in my tracks, and I glare at him over my shoulder.

“You have two minutes. There’s no need to get changed.” He drags his gaze over my leggings and oversized sweatshirt. “You look fine.”

Before I can reply, he’s gone, leaving me to stare at the spot he just vacated.

“One and a half minutes.” His voice flows inside the room from the hallway.

I hurry to the bathroom to pee and at least take care of the flyaway hairs that have escaped my messy bun throughout the day.

The dining room is in the opposite wing on the first level, and I’m sure not even running would get me there before Phoenix’s time runs out.

I try to rush anyway, slamming into a solid brick wall when I turn the corner to the dining room.

No, not a wall. A chest. Phoenix’s rock-hard chest.

He steadies me with his hands on my arms before he grabs my chin and tilts my head back until I gaze at him. My nerve endings stir and tingle from his touch, and my lips part in response.

“The next time you’re late, I’ll put you over my knee and spank your ass like a petulant child who can’t follow simple orders.”

Chapter 12

Evangeline

Iswallow and blink up at him.

Did he just say what I think he said, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

I’m surrounded by the dark aroma of his woodsy scent, wrapped in the familiarity of him. Of the old him. The old us. There are two versions of us: one that belongs in a book’s “then” section, the other in the “now.” One would be pleasant and the other would be cruel.

Tyler is talking to me, but I don’t hear a single word. I’m too aware of the way Phoenix’s gaze is on me. At least, I think he’s looking at me. Since he arrived with my brother at my pool party to babysit, it feels like someone is staring a hole into the side of my head. And it’s doing funny things to my body. Despite the warm temperatures in the pool, my nipples are hard, and I have no doubt poor Tyler is getting a front-row seat to that show.

Something like nostalgic longing stabs me in the chest, but I ignore it.

Although, after yesterday when his thick, hard cock pressed against my stomach, I’m wondering if he’sstruggling with similar issues. Maybe not necessarily any form of emotional longing, but his body is still clearly reacting to mine, just as mine is to his. And I hate it. It’s inconvenient and a little concerning, but I’m not sure there’s anything I can do about it.

The pressure at my chin increases, homing my focus back in on the man in front of me.

Or rather, the man now looming over me like a fire-breathing dragon, ready to eat me alive. But not in a good way.

His eyes are so dark they are black pools, filled with nothing but pure loathing. “I said, do you understand?”

He’s waiting for a reply, and I scramble to remember what he’s referring to. His words repeat in my head, and I press my lips together to prevent myself from reacting and nod.

I’ve never been spanked before, and now is certainly not the time to start.

Especially not with Phoenix.

Why are you clenching your thighs then?

There is that traitorous voice in my head again, loud and impossible to ignore. Something coils tightly in my belly.

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