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Kiara’s eyes seemed brighter than before, and she looked a little better. She pursed her lips, her wet hair clung to her wet skin.

She smiled at me, not at all bothered by my presence. “It’s alright, Ethan. I loved the bath and found it too relaxing to get out of it. I’m sorry, I lost the track of time.” Kiara blushed, the water in the bath splashing when she moved. It took all the control in me not to avert my eyes from her face.

“It’s fine, I’ll leave you to it,” I said, my voice deep and husky.

“Oh, no. I am done with the bath, I was about to get out, anyway.”

My eyebrows raised when I noticed the subtle change in her tone, and my lips fell open when Kiara stood up from the bath. Her naked body dripped wet with water as she stepped out of it and walked toward me. I couldn't help but watch her perky breasts pouting toward me with her hard nipples as they bounced a little with each soft step she took. Her stomach was taut, and her body was toned and curvy in all the right places. I wanted to touch and lick every part of her golden, soft skin.

“Kiara,” I warned, my voice heavy with arousal.

I clenched and unclenched my fists while I watched her dry her naked body with a towel. If I could, I would get rid of the useless towel and eat her out against the wall while she writhed in my arms, moaning my name and begging me to make her come in my mouth. But I wouldn’t for her teasing me like that.

“What, Ethan?” she asked in her sultry, mischievous voice, teasing me with a dirty glint in her eyes. “It’s not like you haven’t seen this before.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to control myself from pouncing on her like a wild beast. God, this woman made me lose the ability to think straight.

Shaking my head, I pinned her with my gaze and gritted out, “Dinner is ready.”

I turned and left her in the bathroom. In the kitchen, I gulped down a glass of cold water. The images of her wet naked body flashed in my mind. If she kept teasing me like that, then I would have no choice but to give in. I shook my head. No, she thinks she has the upper hand here, but not again. I have much more self-control than she thinks I do.

Kiara had dinner with me, and she was much more sober than before. She tried her best not to meet my eyes or even look at my face, hiding hers with the curtain of her damp hair.

Did she regret pulling that stunt in the bathroom?

“Kiara, what happened back there?” I asked when she loaded our empty plates in the dishwasher.

She pursed her lips and her shoulders tensed. “I am sorry I flirted with you like that. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

I would have accepted her statement, but her voice was too firm and sounded too robotic.

Holding her elbow, I made her face me, her eyes guarded. “What happened back there?”

She parted her lips to reply, but I said, “Be honest.”

Kiara paused and gazed up at me, her dark eyes softening. “I am sorry, Ethan. I can’t play being your best friend or even have a platonic relationship with you.”

My face must have shown how hurt I was after she said that. I took a step back, but she shook her head, taking my palm in her hand. “No, Ethan, listen to me. I am apologizing to you because as much as I want to be your friend or go back to how we were, I can’t do it. I loved you. You were my first . . .everything.”

“What are you trying to say, Bella?” I whispered, pulling her closer, the pulse on her neck beating faster. “Why can’t you be my friend?”

“Because I am still attracted to you.”

Time slowed down, and my ears rang with her confession.Because I am still attracted to you.Kiara Sharma, my Bella, was attracted to me.

I could see her brain turning, her dark brown eyes looking up at me and waiting for my reply. I released the breath I was holding and said, “Come visit my parents.”

“What?”

“Yes, Bella. Come visit my parents. Eveline. Tomorrow.”

“Ethan, I just told you I am—”

“I heard you, Kiara.” Pushing her back on the island, I caged her with my body and made her feel the bulge in my sweatpants. Her rosy lips parted, my muscles clenching and fighting the urgent need to kiss her and take her on the kitchen floor.

“I am attracted to you as well, Kiara.”

Before I could go any further, I pulled away. “But I want to take this slow. Come meet my parents and Eveline with me tomorrow.”