Page 28

EVE

The door clicked shut behind me as I fumbled with the lock, my fingers sluggish and clumsy. Xander’s truck engine rumbled faintly as he drove away, leaving me swaying unsteadily on my feet. I let out a breath and leaned against the door, the cool wood grounding me for a moment.

Too many drinks. I should’ve known better. Even an unmovable force like Xander hadn’t been able to resist her persistence.

I kicked off my shoes, stumbling toward the kitchen for water. Lila’s words replayed, her laughter mixing with Darcy’s insistent tone. “Just give him a push, Eve. Make the first move.”

The idea made me cringe and shiver all at once. Orion didn’t need a push—he’d made that clear enough with his ridiculous charm and those stupid, offhanded comments. My stomach fluttered again.

But… was it really such a bad idea?

The thought came so quickly it almost knocked me from my feet. I didn’t need to chase him—Lila was wrong about that. But the idea of taking control, of being the one to drive him just a little crazy for a change… I couldn’t deny there was a certain appeal to that.

I took a sip of water, the cool liquid sobering me slightly as my earlier bravado began to fizzle. The excitement I’d felt at the bar started to twist into something else. Nervousness. Doubt.

I was out of my depth, wasn’t I?

With a sigh, I set the glass down and padded toward my room. If I was really going to entertain Lila’s harebrained plan, I at least needed to know what I was working with.

My wardrobe wasn’t exactly inspiring. I rummaged through my drawers with little enthusiasm until my fingers brushed against something soft. I pulled out the matching red bra and underwear, the only nice set I owned.

“Well,” I muttered to myself, “better than nothing.”

I stripped off my uniform and jeans, almost stumbling in the process, and slipped into the lace panties and bra. I smoothed my hands over my stomach as I turned to face the mirror.

My reflection stared back, unkind in the dim light.

I wasn’t unhappy with how I looked—slim but strong, my arms and legs toned from years of kitchen work.

But there was nothing extraordinary about me, nothing that screamed seductive.

My hips weren’t curvy like Darcy’s, and I didn’t have the full chest Lila always bragged about.

My hair was a little messy in my braids, my cheeks still flushed from the alcohol.

I shifted uncomfortably, hugging my arms to my chest as the doubts swarmed. What was I even thinking?

Before I could peel the bra off and bury the entire idea completely, the doorbell rang.

My heart leapt into my throat as I scrambled for my robe, quickly wrapping it around me before creeping toward the sound. It was way too late for visitors.

I hesitated for only a second before cracking the door open, my heart hammering as I peered through the gap.

Orion.

Of course.

He stood there, one hand braced on the door frame, his eyes sweeping over me like he was drinking me in—but something in them flickered. Like he wasn’t sure if he should be here at all.

“Evening, firefly,” he said, his voice low and warm.

I tightened the robe instinctively, my pulse pounding as I opened the door fully to let him in. “What are you doing here?”

Orion stepped inside without hesitation, his gaze lingering just a little too long on my bare legs before meeting my eyes. His smirk was slow and infuriating.

“Came to check on you. I’m on guard duty tonight.”

“I’m fine,” I said, closing the door behind him.

“Are you?” he asked, his tone teasing as he took a step closer. “Because you look a little… flushed.”

His smile was crooked, but there was tension in the way his shoulders stayed stiff, like his body hadn’t caught up to his words.

I swallowed hard, my earlier bravado crumbling completely under his gaze.

“It’s just warm in here,” I muttered, which earned me a low chuckle.

He leaned in, one hand braced against the wall beside my head. His scent—leather and something smoky—made my head spin.

“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were expecting someone.”

My breath hitched as his other hand rose, fingers grazing the knot of my hastily tied robe, his eyes locked on mine.

“I wasn’t,” I whispered, barely audible.

“Damn, guess I’ve got to up my game,” he murmured, his fingers toying with the fabric.

Heat spread through me, my pulse roaring in my ears as he gently tugged the robe open, his gaze dropping to the red lace beneath. His sharp inhale sent a shiver through me—and for a split second, his expression changed. Like awe and guilt collided behind his eyes.

“Eve,” he said, his voice tight, “you’re clearly trying to kill me.”

My knees felt weak, but I managed to hold his gaze, even as my face burned.

Orion exhaled, the sound almost a groan as he pulled the robe closed again, his hands lingering on my arms.

His fingers stayed longer than they needed to, warm and steady against my skin—but his eyes…

his eyes were somewhere else. Like he was caught between staying and running, between kissing me again or confessing something that might unravel it all.

The smirk was still there, but softer now.

Strained. And underneath it, something else flickered—longing, maybe. Regret.

I let out a breath, quickly tying the robe. “What’s going on?” I asked, suddenly uneasy.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you out,” he said simply. “Properly this time.”

My mouth fell open.

Of all the things I thought he might say, that wasn’t one of them.

His tone was light—casual even—but something about the way he said it felt… deliberate. Like he’d rehearsed it. Like it mattered more than he wanted me to know.

“I called Louise,” he continued, smirking. “She’s an old-school romantic, apparently. Didn’t even hesitate when I asked for the day off to surprise you tomorrow.”

“Orion!” I gasped, horrified.

“Relax,” he said, laughing softly, already heading for the door. “She practically begged me to take you off her hands. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll pick you up around lunchtime. Give you plenty of time to sleep off the drinks, Red .”

I followed him to the door, still dazed.

He turned, pausing just before the door. “Oh, before I forget,” he said, as a wicked smile overtook his face.

Before I could respond, he closed the distance between us in a single stride, his grin wicked as he pulled me flush against his chest. One arm wrapped firmly around my back, the other lifting to cup my face, tilting it at just the right angle.

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t tentative or questioning—it was deliberate, commanding. His lips moved against mine with a confidence that sent a shiver down my spine, my hands instinctively gripping his shoulders to steady myself. It was all-consuming and over far too quickly.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine for the briefest of moments.

His voice was soft but no less devastating as he murmured, “Don’t tempt me like this again, Eve. Next time, I won’t stop.”

For the briefest second, his breath hitched like he was about to say something else. But he didn’t.

He was out the door in a flash, leaving me breathless and utterly undone. I leaned my forehead against the closed door, my legs barely holding me up as the echo of his kiss lingered on my lips.

I didn’t understand the look in his eyes. The tension. The hunger. The fear?

Something was shifting. I just didn’t know what.

But, I did know one thing. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to sleep after that.