Chapter 12
Six months were up. That was it—the end of their fake marriage.
Evie woke up in the quiet warmth of their shared bed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. Her heart gave a strange little twist as she blinked against the light, her gaze drifting to the man lying beside her.
James was still asleep, his breathing steady, his features relaxed in a way that made him look softer, almost vulnerable. She had woken up next to him every day since that night he’d confessed he was falling in love with her, but today felt different.
She glanced down at him, his face relaxed in sleep, his hair a tousled mess against the pillow.
For a moment, she let herself enjoy the quiet intimacy of the moment, the way his presence seemed to fill the space around her. But then her eyes shifted to the clock on the nightstand, the reminder of what today meant settling like a heavy weight on her chest.
As if sensing her unease, James shifted again, his arm tightening around her. He opened his eyes slowly, a sleepy smile spreading across his face as he looked at her. Without a word, he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a kiss that was soft and unhurried.
She kissed him back, her hand resting lightly on his chest, but the warmth of the moment couldn’t quite chase away the ache in her heart. She smiled as she pulled back, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
James frowned slightly, his thumb brushing over her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.
Evie turned her gaze away, staring at the sliver of light creeping through the curtains.
“Nothing,” she said softly, but they both knew it wasn’t true.
They’d been avoiding this conversation for weeks, dancing around the inevitable like it wasn’t looming closer with every passing day. But now that the time had finally come, Evie knew there was no avoiding it any longer.
Still, she wanted to delay it just a little longer. The thought of facing it now felt like too much.
“Do you want to take a shower before I leave for the set?” she asked, her voice light, almost casual.
James groaned, burying his face in her neck with an exaggerated sigh. “Ugh, I still hate the fact that you’re working with that man,” he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.
Evie pulled back, shooting him a sharp glare. “James—”
He smirked before she could finish, his hand sliding up her side as he leaned in closer.
“Which is exactly why I’m going to fuck you in that shower,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “so you have no time to think about him—too busy thinking about me.”
Her cheeks became hot instantly, the crimson red of her blush masked under the rich pigment of her skin, her lips parting in shock before a laugh bubbled out of her. Her heart thudded against her ribs, each beat louder than the last.
She tried to muster a witty comeback, something sharp and dismissive to cut through the tension, but nothing came. Instead, her mind replayed his words, each syllable sending a wave of heat through her body that made her pulse race.
“You’re impossible,” she said, shaking her head even as a grin spread across her face.
“Maybe,” he said, stepping closer, the space between them evaporating as his hand trailed lightly along her arm, sending shivers up her spine. “But you like it.”
Evie giggled as James tugged her out of bed, his hand firm but playful around her wrist as he guided her toward the bathroom. The laughter bubbled up again when he turned on the shower, the steam quickly filling the small space, blurring the mirrors, and warming the air.
She stood there, watching him with a mixture of anticipation and amusement as he reached for the tie of her robe.
Slowly, deliberately, he pulled it loose, his eyes locked on hers, daring her to protest. When she didn’t, he slipped the robe off her shoulders, letting it fall to the tiled floor in a soft heap.
She was completely bare beneath it, her skin glowing in the diffused light of the bathroom. James’s breath hitched as his gaze traveled over her, taking in every curve, every line, every mark that made her her.
He didn’t rush. His eyes lingered, tracing the soft swell of her hips, the curve of her thighs, and the delicate stretch marks that ran like faint silver rivers over her skin.
His hand came up, his fingertips brushing lightly against her waist as though he were memorizing her, the feel of her, the reality of her.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with reverence.
Evie’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her hands instinctively moving to cover herself, but he caught them gently, bringing her arms back to her sides.
“Don’t,” he said softly, his eyes meeting hers. “Let me see you.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest, her vulnerability mixing with the intense heat of his gaze. She nodded slightly, her lips parting as he stepped closer, his hands sliding around her waist.
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder, then another along her collarbone. His lips lingered there for a moment before trailing lower, each kiss deliberate, sending shivers through her body.
“James,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the shower.
He didn’t reply, his actions speaking louder than any words could. He guided her into the warm spray of water, the heat cascading over their bodies as his hands explored her curves with a tenderness that made her knees weak.
This wasn’t just about desire. It was something deeper, something unspoken but impossible to ignore. And as he kissed her again, the water streaming around them, Evie felt completely undone, completely his.
The warm water cascaded over them as they stepped under the shower’s spray, the droplets sliding over James’s body, tracing the lines of his muscles.
Evie’s breath hitched as she watched the water collect on his skin, dripping from his collarbone and running down his chest. He looked impossibly beautiful, his tousled hair damp and darkening under the steady stream.
James caught her staring, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smirk. He stepped closer, the heat of his body mingling with the warmth of the water and backed her gently against the cool tile wall. Her breath hitched as the contrast between the heat and the chill sent a shiver through her.
Their eyes locked for a moment, the intensity in his gaze making her chest tighten. Then he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was deep and consuming, his hands bracing against the wall on either side of her.
The steam rose around them, blurring the rest of the world until there was nothing but the feel of his mouth on hers.
Evie moaned softly against his lips as his hands moved to her body, one sliding down her waist, the other brushing against the inside of her thigh. Her pulse raced as his fingers pressed against her, teasing, deliberate, and unrelenting.
“James,” she gasped, her hands reaching for his shoulders, her nails digging into his wet skin as the sensations overwhelmed her.
He didn’t answer, his lips trailing down her neck, kissing and nibbling at the sensitive skin just below her ear. The warm water poured over them, the droplets mingling with her ragged breaths as his fingers moved with skillful precision, sending waves of pleasure rippling through her.
Her head fell back against the wall, her hands clutching at him as he pressed his body closer to hers, his heat and strength grounding her.
Their kiss broke, but his lips didn’t stray far, brushing over her cheek and jaw as his hand worked between her thighs, making her gasp again.
“You’re amazing,” he murmured against her skin, his voice low and rough, the words vibrating through her.
Evie felt like she was coming undone, her body responding to every touch, every kiss, every whispered word as the water washed over them, blurring the lines between passion and surrender.
James’s lips pressed firmly against hers again, their kisses growing hungrier, more desperate as the steam surrounded them.
The water cascaded over their bodies, a soothing contrast to the fire igniting between them.
His hands slid down her sides, firm and sure, before one of them gripped her thigh.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her leg, wrapping it around his torso, bringing her even closer to him. The shift pressed her against him in a way that made her gasp, her hands gripping his shoulders for balance.
His lips brushed against her ear, his voice rough and low.
“I need you,” he murmured, the raw honesty in his tone sending a shiver through her.
And then, in one smooth motion, he slid inside her, the sensation so sudden and overwhelming that she cried out softly, her nails digging into his wet skin. The heat of him, the fullness of him, made the world tilt, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
“James,” she whispered, her voice trembling as her body adjusted to him, her other leg instinctively wrapping around his waist. The connection between them felt impossibly raw.
He groaned against her neck, his hands gripping her thighs to hold her steady as he began to move. Each thrust was deliberate and powerful, his body pressing her firmly against the cool tiles.
The contrast of the warmth from the shower, the chill of the wall, and the heat between them was almost too much.
Evie’s head fell back, her lips parting as she surrendered completely, her body responding to him in perfect rhythm. His mouth sucked on her throat, his groans dying on her skin.
The sound of water hitting the floor mixed with their gasps and moans, the steam curling around them like a veil, hiding them from the rest of the world.
He kissed her again, his lips claiming hers, the movements of their bodies so in sync it felt like they were made for this moment—for each other.
Then he slipped out of her, and his mouth dropped from her neck to her breast. He sucked it in, tongue teasing her nipple.
Then he turned her around, pressing her face to the tiles. She felt him spread her ass, revealing her needy wetness.