completely, and her silk

d every curve of her s

til she seemed as fragile

t his expression revealed nothing. Without

s her chest and caught her l

ried back to her throu

disappointment in Nicole's

y against the car while Nico

er and heated seats before

houlders, and warmth soon s

him, she stole a look

el. The open collar of his wet shir

"Why did you give me that pin earlier? Weren't

smile slowly appeared. "

ertainty remained clear. "But

muttered as one corner of

sed admiration. "Why wouldn't I? You've achieved so much at such a y

or him to ta

answered with nothing more than

but she must have touched a sensitive

sed to enjoy talking about their best years? Sh

, an expensive residential communi

than and watched the floor numbers l

beyond the doors. Ethan's home was a large pe

pened the door. The faint antiseptic smell

Everything sat exactly where it belonged, includ

she needed to know. Nothing suggested that

ong that hallway," Ethan

wn and nervously played with

anything I could wear? Staying in the

but kept his back to h

d the closet and found several fres

at the thought of show

ess, entered the bathroom, and

shirts. The soft, oversized fabr

et's clothes had to

ow warmed her skin, while the bottom of the shi

nd shifted the collar aside, revealing par

ent with just en

until her gaze seemed soft

she opene

ow wore tidy, dark loungewear. H

the door ma

e cold floor, and her toes

shirt, she walked acros

sweet, flirtatious voice. "Dr. Cart

e said nothing as he slo

t his fresh, cle

g as her fingers tighte

an actuall

ounded out

lt before her and

r lips and shut

things were happening much

ng, darkness

the rack and tossed it over he

ed through the fabri

truggling to pull the

he understood his message and wrapped

ized shirt slid farther down her sh

ank. He walked to the shoe cabinet, took out an unused pair of slippers, and

s felt warm and dry, and that simple comfort dra

if you don't nee

nt that even a chatbot wo

Carter. Then.

away. A mild sense of failure fol

ainly knew how to

e air no longer smelled only of antiseptic.

belonged t

er into Ethan's senses unti

ottle of ice water and drank half of it without stopping. On

own. Darkness seemed to sharpen his sens

eping just bey

closed his eyes,

edy and gentle. Her misty eyes gazed up at him.

twisted the scene i

rose onto her toes, slipped her arms around hi

ftness drew him in with a

his body wouldn't respond. It simply

ainst his neck. Then she whispered with dange

ith only a single brea

ur shirt is way