Chapter 9 #3
As the firelight flickered around them, casting their shadows on the walls of the ancient library, they lost themselves completely in each other, the intensity of their connection burning brighter than the flames.
*****
The dining room was bustling with the hum of conversation, the long table filled with their guests from the night before.
The grand windows let in a cascade of morning light, illuminating the ornate space and the spread of decadent breakfast dishes laid out like a feast. Yet for Evie, it all felt muted, like she was observing the scene from a distance.
She sat beside James, their chairs just close enough that his presence was an unrelenting distraction. She nodded occasionally, responding politely as someone across the table made a comment, but her mind was far away.
She couldn’t stop replaying the night in the library—the way his hands had roamed her body, the way his voice had sounded rough and reverent as he whispered her name.
Her fork hovered over her plate, untouched, as her gaze drifted to him. He was impossibly composed, sipping his coffee and engaging in polite conversation, but there was a tension in his posture, a tightness in his jaw that betrayed him.
Their eyes met, and it was like the room faded away entirely. For a heartbeat, it was just them, the heat of last night simmering between them, fragile and undeniable.
Evie quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing as she tried to focus on anything else. But then she felt it—a warm, steady weight on her thigh.
Her breath hitched as James’s hand slid beneath the edge of the table, his touch was deliberate and unyielding against her bare skin. The boundaries they had so carefully constructed had been erected again this morning, but now, they felt impossibly thin, as though they might shatter at any moment.
Her heart raced as he leaned in, his lips so close to her ear that his breath sent a shiver down her spine.
“This,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with frustration, “is exactly why I wanted to avoid last night. I can’t stop thinking about you sprawled on that table.”
Her breath caught, her hand gripping the edge of her plate as his words settled over her. Heat flushed her cheeks, spreading down her neck as her mind conjured the vivid memory of his body against hers, his hands, his lips, the way he had unraveled her.
Evie’s cheeks were still burning, her pulse quickening from James’s earlier words and the heat of his hand on her thigh.
The tension between them was palpable, simmering just below the surface.
She tried to focus on the lively conversation around the table, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night before and the way his touch lingered now.
Across the table, Sam leaned back in his chair with an easy grin, his sharp eyes flicking between his brother and Evie.
“Evie,” he said casually, drawing her attention, “I meant to tell you—one of my director friends was asking about you.”
Evie blinked, startled, her focus snapping to him. “Me?” she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
Sam nodded, his grin widening. “Yeah. He saw some of your photos from the charity campaign last year and thought you’d be perfect for a role he’s working on. He’s dying to meet you when we’re back in the States.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting in surprise. “Really?”
“Really,” Sam confirmed, his tone light but sincere. “He said you’ve got the exact look and presence he’s been searching for. Trust me, he’s not the type to throw compliments around lightly.”
A soft giggle escaped her lips, her cheeks flushing even deeper. “Wow, I… that’s incredible.” She laughed again, a light, giddy sound as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I don’t even know what to say.”
Sam chuckled, clearly pleased with her reaction. “Say you’ll meet him. He’s already putting together a pitch for you.”
“I’d love to,” Evie said quickly, her voice still filled with disbelief and excitement. “I mean, that’s amazing. Thank you, Sam!”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said with a wink. “Wait until you see the script. But I think it could be a game-changer for you.”
Evie’s smile widened, her earlier tension momentarily forgotten as she basked in the unexpected compliment.
Her excitement was so infectious that even James, who had been silent beside her, couldn’t help but glance her way.
The flicker of pride in her eyes, the genuine happiness lighting up her face—it was captivating.
“You’ll do great,” Sam added, his grin softening slightly. “I have a good feeling about this.”
Evie laughed again, her giggle bubbling up as she shook her head in disbelief. “You’re making me blush, Sam.”
From his seat, James shifted slightly, his lips curving into the faintest smirk as he watched her. “You’ll more than impress him,” he said, his tone quieter but sure. “You always do.”
Evie glanced at him, her cheeks still flushed, and her heart skipped for an entirely different reason as she caught the sincerity in his words. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only his gaze and the warmth it brought with it.