r time with Julian, he had certainly hinted at

ars ago: her first time would be on her wedding night. Th

d only just met. Tonight, they were supposed to

couples do," Damian said, his gaze

, his expression unreadable. "Unl

word out, a flicker of self

d have thought this through. No one w

on't think that at all." T

ss into her voice. "We're married. Sha

close to a man so soon sent a ner

t have to get

ong moment before finally speaking. "It's getting late. I keep ear

tcase," Evelina said, the word c

but since you're here now, I'd rather not bother him,

Evelin

and looked back at her.

?" Her mind went

fted. "Start by helpin

rlier words pressed in on her. Swallowing her

nto her head: this man, this near-stranger,

t with trembling fingers and touch

at, her fingers sliding uselessly against the smooth surface. She

ly watched her, his express

in his condition. He was just waiting to see how long it wo

eadied. She set her jaw and worked through it, one

ealing the hard lines of

soap and something deeper, something entirely male. She had never been this close to

Her hands, traitorously,

flicker of her reaction, ce

brushed against the bare skin of his a

m, crashing through every defense he had. It pooled low and