Chapter 2

My legs actually went weak.

I froze in his arms like a cat being grabbed by the scruff of its neck, not daring to move a muscle.

My scalp prickled, and all the blood in my body seemed to rush straight to my head.

[She's done for. The lamb pissed off the big bad wolf, and now she's gonna get eaten alive.]

[I'm betting a bag of chips Claire won't be able to get out of bed tonight.]

[Girl, you're thinking too small. I'm betting three days!]

Stop it, all of you!

I wanted to cry, but no tears would come.

Ethan's arms tightened around me, and I felt the scorching heat radiating from his body. His heartbeat pounded against my back like thunder.

He wasn't incompetent. He was working perfectly fine.

So perfectly that I might actually melt under all that heat.

I explained, "I didn't mean to. You've been working so hard lately, and I wanted to help you recover."

[Wow, that excuse gets a zero. Absolutely pathetic.]

[Ethan: Yeah, right. Like I'm buying that.]

As expected, Ethan wasn't convinced.

He let out a low chuckle, and the rumble vibrated straight through my chest. He murmured, "Help me recover?"

He turned me around to face him. Something dark and unreadable burned in his eyes.

He asked, "Do you know what that remedy actually does?"

I shook my head frantically.

[Sure, keep pretending. You're the one who tracked down the recipe.]

I wanted to claw these stupid comments off the screen.

Tears welled up in my eyes. "I don't know! Someone told me it was good for your health!"

Ethan gripped my chin and tilted my face up toward his. He said, "Claire, do you know what happens to people who lie to me?"

His thumb traced along my jaw, and the touch sent shivers racing down my spine.

The tears spilled over. The novel described him as ruthless. Anyone who crossed him ended up destroyed.

Was I really going to get killed off on my first night here?

I caved immediately. "I was wrong, Honey. I'm so sorry. Let me run you a cold bath. I'll help you cool down!"

I tried to wriggle free and bolt for the bathroom.

But he swept me up into his arms instead.

A scream tore from my throat, and my arms flew around his neck instinctively.

[Wow! Bridal carry!]

[He's done waiting! Going straight for it!]

"Put me down, Ethan!" I thrashed against his hold. "I need to get you some cold water."

Ethan stopped mid-stride and looked down at me. His eyes were deep, unreadable. "Cold water?"

He smiled.

That smile sent ice down my spine.

"Won't need it." He carried me toward the bedroom in long, purposeful strides. "You're the only cure I need."

The moment the words left his mouth, he tossed me onto the bed.

The world spun, and when my vision cleared, I watched him yank his tie loose and stalk toward me.

The comments exploded. [Oh my god. The tie. He's loosening the tie. This man knows exactly what he's doing!]

[Warning! High-intensity scene ahead. All non-combatants evacuate immediately.]

I scrambled backward into the corner of the bed and pressed myself against the headboard.

[Wait, why'd he stop?]

[Is he fighting it?]

Ethan stood at the edge of the bed. A vein pulsed at his temple, and his hands were clenched into white-knuckled fists. He looked like he was wrestling something massive inside himself.

His chest heaved with labored breaths. When his eyes met mine, they held two warring forces: raw hunger and desperate restraint.

"Get in the shower." He ground out the words through his teeth.

I froze.

"Now!" It came out as a roar.

I bolted for the bathroom and slammed the door behind me, fumbling with shaking hands to lock it.

I leaned against the door and could still hear his ragged breathing on the other side.

[Oh my god, he actually stopped himself? What kind of saint is this man?]

[The way he looked at Claire just now was like he was terrified of hurting her.]

[I'm literally crying. He's too good.]

I slid down the door until I hit the floor, and my heart was still pounding.

So the comments were right.

He wasn't unable to. He was holding back because he was afraid of hurting me.

And I had just lit the fuse on a powder keg.

I stayed in the bathroom for nearly an hour, waiting until the sounds outside disappeared completely. Only then did I dare crack the door open.

The bedroom was empty.

Had Ethan left?

I exhaled in relief and tiptoed out.

The balcony door stood open, and the night breeze stirred the curtains.

I walked over and saw Ethan standing on the balcony in nothing but pants, his torso bare.

He held a cigarette between his fingers, the tip of the cigarette glowing bright and fading in the darkness.

[He took a half-hour cold shower.]

[Poor guy. His brand-new wife is right there, but he can't touch her.]

[Claire, go comfort him!]

I stared at his broad back, taking in the smooth, powerful lines of muscle that still glistened with water droplets.

Guilt twisted in my chest, sharp and impossible to ignore.

I had really messed up.