Chapter 96

Ethan Roscente finally opened his eyes and lazily glanced at her.

"Come closer." His voice was hoarse, laced with an unyielding command. "I can't hear you from that far away."

Sophia Lowell clenched her fists.

This man’s ability to lie through his teeth had reached new heights. Two meters apart, and he claimed he couldn’t hear her?

She was absolutely certain Ethan was deliberately making things difficult.

But for Vivian Ashcroft’s sake, she had to swallow her pride. Just as she stepped forward to move to the opposite sofa, his hand suddenly shot out, gripping her wrist and yanking her toward him.

"Ah!"

The world spun as she tumbled straight into his lap.

"Ethan Roscente!"

She struggled to push herself up, but a large, warm hand pressed firmly against the small of her back, holding her in place.

"Move again," his voice rumbled above her, "and the deal’s off."

Sophia trembled with fury. "You’re doing this on purpose!"

Ethan looked down at her, his lips curling into a wicked smirk. "So what if I am?"

His long fingers traced the flushed heat of her cheeks. "If you want to save your best friend, behave."

Sophia bit her lower lip hard.

This bastard knew exactly where to press.

His arms tightened around her as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Warm breath fanned across her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"Let me hold you for a while," he murmured, voice muffled. "If I’m in a good mood, I might consider letting her go."

"Disgusting!" she spat through gritted teeth.

Ethan chuckled darkly. "Only realizing that now?"

Sophia was too furious to speak.

Silence stretched between them. Stiff in his embrace, she could hear the steady rhythm of their heartbeats.

"Had enough?" She shoved against his unyielding chest. "Don’t push your luck."

His breathing grew heavier. The faint scent of gardenias clinging to her was strangely lulling.

What had started as a fleeting impulse now made him reluctant to let go. His arms tightened, pulling her even closer.

"You’re as thin as a twig," he muttered, brows furrowing in displeasure. "You’re practically poking me."

Sophia pried at his fingers. "Then why are you still holding me?"

Ethan cracked one eye open lazily. "Being my personal pillow is an honor you should be grateful for."

She scoffed. "Want me to pass this honor to you instead?"

"Gladly." His lips curved into a rare, genuine smile, softening his sharp features under the warm glow of the lamplight. "I’ll take anything you give me."

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat.

She hastily turned her face away, ears burning. "You’re insane!"

Ethan adjusted his position, eyes closed, missing the blush staining her cheeks. "Quiet," he murmured, voice growing drowsy. "Or tonight’s efforts will be wasted."

Sophia gritted her teeth.

This man kept redefining shamelessness.

The soft lighting and the steady tick of the clock filled the quiet room. Drowsiness crept over her, eyelids growing heavier by the second.

The exhaustion from days of nonstop design work, compounded by pregnancy-induced sleepiness, finally overwhelmed her in the stillness of his embrace.