Chapter 412

The mattress dipped slightly as Evelyn curled into the sheets, surrendering to exhaustion.

"Cassandra?" Liam's fingertips grazed her forehead, carefully sweeping aside the tousled strands of hair. He tucked them behind her ear with unexpected tenderness.

His brow furrowed. "Cassandra, wake up," he murmured in that dangerously smooth baritone. "You can't sleep like this." The blanket slipped from her shoulders again. "You'll freeze without covers."

A faint buzzing filled Evelyn's ears. She swatted at the air irritably before rolling onto her side with a huff.

Liam exhaled through his nose. He pulled the duvet back over her trembling form.

The tension in his jaw was visible as he dragged an air mattress onto the floor. Better to put distance between them tonight.

Sleep came in fits. He found himself waking every hour to check if she'd kicked off the blankets again.

Dawn found him bleary-eyed, having spent the night in silent vigil.

Golden sunlight streamed through the balcony doors when Evelyn finally stirred. She blinked against the brightness, disoriented.

Fragmented memories surfaced. The argument with Liam. Rosalind dragging her to that speakeasy. Too many tequila shots.

Her eyes flew open.

Flashes of strong arms carrying her. Cool glass pressed to her lips. The scent of bergamot and something distinctly masculine as warm hands guided her under a shower spray.

Evelyn's breath hitched. She yanked the covers higher.

Her fingers encountered bare skin beneath the silk sheets.

"Oh god." She squeezed her eyes shut. What had she done last night?

The blanket became a shield as she peeked beneath it. A strangled gasp escaped her. "No. No no no."

She burrowed under the covers completely. Heat flooded her cheeks.

This couldn't be happening. Her first time - lost to a drunken blackout? She pounded the mattress in frustration.

Anger warred with embarrassment. At herself for drinking recklessly. At Liam for taking advantage.

Yesterday's argument still burned fresh. How dare he cross that line when she was vulnerable?

If he wanted her, why not wait until she could actually remember it? Until she could feel every—

Her teeth ground together. That insufferable man.

All those times she'd flirted, he'd played the stoic soldier. Yet the moment her defenses were down...

"Absolute bastard," she muttered, clutching the sheet to her chest. Her gaze landed on neatly folded clothes at the foot of the bed.

She dressed mechanically, mind racing. The bathroom offered temporary refuge.

No soreness. No telltale stiffness between her thighs. Wasn't the first time supposed to...?

Her phone became a frantic research tool. Search results varied wildly - some women bled, some didn't. Pain levels differed. A few reported no discomfort at all.

An hour later, she emerged no wiser.

The living room revealed Liam bent over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. Morning light sculpted his profile in gold.

Her pulse skyrocketed. Every inch of skin prickled with awareness. She pressed a hand to her suddenly racing heart.