Page 17 of Forbidden Vows

“Protein. Noted.” Strong fingers circle my wrist, sending sparks of electricity over my skin where he’s touching me. He tugs me back to him, asking, “When will I see you again?”

“It’s a big city.” We lock eyes. “You probably won’t.

We stand there momentarily, his hand on my wrist, our gazes tight. We have nothing in common but the tension between us. It’s proven strong enough to pull us together once more.

Strong enough to break one of us.

He lets me go.

I hold my breath all the way to the elevator, mashing the button with too much force. The doors open, and I face the back of the elevator as I enter, letting the doors close softly behind me before I turn.

My words are a whisper in the silent elevator. “I can’t believe I let myself make such a stupid mistake.”

Once I step outside the hotel, I take a huge breath of fresh, cool air. My comfy teacher clogs thump against the sidewalk as I hurry from the hotel back to Seraphina’s place. My head is spinning, flashes of the kiss playing repeatedly in my mind.

My lips are still tingling.

I lift my fingertips to my mouth, lightly brushing them over my skin. A small smile creeps onto my lips. My phone goes off, startling me out of my thoughts of Blaze.

I reach into my skirt pocket and pull out my phone. Seraphina texted me to hurry home for a snacky dinner and a strong drink. I quickly reply, thanks for knowing what I need, and rush the last three blocks to her building.

Back at her place, I change into comfy clothes and flop onto the sofa. Seraphina has donned stunning matching luxury loungewear in ivory. When she sits down, her arm brushes against mine; the soft material—must be cashmere—makes me wonder about the cost. I'm still in my pink elephant onesie pajamas, the ones that offended her earlier today.

“I totally embarrassed myself,” I tell her, gratefully accepting the pink Cosmo she hands me after. I’m careful not to spill on the freshly dry-cleaned throw pillows I just returned. “Seriously. I have no self-respect.”

She shoots me a look of reassurance. “Please. Don’t be hard on yourself. That man is a snack. No, a dessert. A three-layer salted caramel cake.” She sips her drink, then gives her lips a seductive lick. “Tasty.”

“Blaze or the drink?” I laugh.

“Both.” She sinks back into the pillows, pulling a colorful throw over her from the back of the sofa. “But he more than the drink, even though I make a mean Cosmo.”

“You do.” I take a big sip.

She’s made us a charcuterie board for dinner, one worthy of a picture from her professional camera. I grab a fig, layer it with a piece of sharp cheese, and then add a rosemary cracker underneath. I take a bite, enjoying the crunch, the bite of the cheese, and the sweetness of the fruit.

My eyes roll into the back of my head. “Oh, my gawd! This is delicious!”

“Tastier than that kiss you had earlier?” she teases.

Ignoring the comment, I pop the rest in my mouth, chewing delicately while I make her an identically layered cracker, handing it to her. “Try it.”

“Attempting to distract me from getting every single detail of your make-out with your older stepbrother? Not going to happen.” She bites into the food, nodding in agreement. “This combo is a damn good concoction, though. Nice work.” She finishes eating, brushes her fingers together, sips her drink, and says, “Spill the tea. Now, cutie.”

I should not have told her he called me that.

“Listen to this. I got to his hotel room, and it um… had recently used sheets?”

“He had another woman in there?” Seraphina screeches, almost spilling her drink as she sits up straight.

His skin still smelled of her perfume. I nod. “I saw the woman who left. She could have been here modeling for New York Fashion Week, but he didn’t even remember her name.”

I would never admit it was a turn-on for me.

He wants… me.

And the only thing exotic about me is my name.

I’m perfectly normal. Regular. Average. Possibly below average in a few departments.

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