Page 42 of The Silent Hour

I handled business, wincing at the tender ache between my thighs as I cleaned up. I didn’t have to worry about his swimmers. Ethan had gotten a vasectomy after the twins were born. I still remembered driving him home afterward, his face pale as he clutched an ice pack between his legs, insisting it was nothing compared to what I'd endured.

I adored my girls with every fiber of my being, their smiles and contagious giggles that filled our home, but two miracles were enough for me right now. I would have a complete breakdown if I had to start over from conception.

I washed up, splashed ice-cold water on my burning cheeks, and smoothed the fabric of my dress over my still-trembling thighs. Crouching, I opened the cabinet beneath the marble sink, and retrieved the emergency cosmetics bag I'd stashed there forever ago, my little secret insurance policy against looking freshly fucked on the days we played in his office. Much like this one.

My fingers worked quickly, detangling the wild mess of auburn waves that tumbled past my shoulders and down my back, wincing as the brush caught on a knot where Ethan's fingers had twisted and pulled. The mirror reflected lips swollen from his bruising kisses, and a flush that spread from my cheeks down my neck to disappear beneath my neckline.

The door swung open without warning and Ethan's reflection appeared behind mine, his eyes raking over my body like physical touch, desire still smoldering beneath the surface of his composed exterior. He had put himself back together as best he could, now stepping forward to use the sink to finish up.

I didn't move when he stepped up behind me, his expensive cologne wrapping around me like a second embrace.

"You're perfect," he said simply, a muscled arm around my waist, his dark eyed gaze locking on mine in the mirror. "Most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

I rolled my eyes, but warmth curled through my chest anyway. "You're full of it."

His mouth brushed my temple. "Full of you, bella. There's a difference."

I smiled and shook my head. "Okay, Romeo, calm down. Where are my underwear?"

"You were wearing some?" The corner of his mouth quirked up in an infuriating half-smile that still made my heart stutter after all these years. He pulled off looking genuinely confused.

"Ethan," I stated his name with feigned exasperation.

"I will get them if you insist." He sighed dramatically and released his hold, fingers trailing reluctantly across my hip. "And here I was thinking of framing them in a Murano glass display case. It would be the perfect conversation piece whenever new clients drop by from now on."

"Get out." I laughed the sound echoing against the marble tiles as I shooed him with fluttering fingers.

He caught my wrist mid-air, his thumb pressing gently against my racing pulse before he brought my palm to his mouth. His lips, still warm and slightly rough, lingered there a moment too long, dark eyes never leaving mine before he let go, flashing me a smile.

When he finally backed away to retrieve my missing garment, I returned to the task at hand, making myself look presentable again.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

JULIA

I STEPPED OUT OF ETHAN'S office with his hand wrapped around mine.

The first thing I noticed was that Laurel was gone. In her place sat Serena, perched on the edge of the desk like it was a chaise lounge. Ethan's sister was his twin in nearly every way, only two years younger and decidedly more feminine. She had the same strong jaw softened by delicate curves, the same dark eyes, though hers usually sparkled with amusement, and long dark hair pulled into a loose twist that looked effortless but probably wasn't.

Her skin carried a warm golden glow that made her look like she'd just returned from Capri, even though she hadn't left Miami in weeks. Slim but curvy in all the right places, she wore black cigarette pants and a silk blouse that screamed polished professional if you ignored the way she was currently lounging.

She plucked one earbud out, then the other, dropping both into their glossy case before setting her phone aside as a grin spread across her face.

"Well, look who decided to grace me with her presence."

"How could I not?" I matched her teasing tone. "I knew you'd die without me."

"True," she agreed flippantly.

Ethan released a long-suffering sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his spotless leather dress shoes. "Can you at least try to look professional, Serena?"

"Oh, you've got some nerve." She pointed at him. "Laurel had to evacuate before she was traumatized. Poor thing scurried out of here as fast as her kitten heels would carry her. Took an early lunch and everything. Something you two were supposed to be doing, I heard."

"What do you think we're doing now?" Ethan countered smoothly, his thumb still tracing absent circles over the back of my hand.

Her dark eyes swept over the two of us. "After all that, you're still hungry?"

Ethan stared at her blankly. Completely unfazed, Serena laughed and slid off the desk.