But a long pause passed, and he never answered. When she glanced up, she caught the look on his face. There was an unmistakable fire in his eyes, and it was clear he was struggling to keep himself in check. She recognized that expression all too well. Whenever he was overcome with desire, he always looked at her that way. There was no need for her to wonder what was on his mind.
Overwhelmed with irritation, embarrassment, and fury, she slammed her foot into his shin and snapped, “You filthy pervert!”
A sharp kick and harsh scolding jolted Cole back to reality. He cleared his throat, the sound catching awkwardly in his throat. He couldn’t control himself—Elliana’s proximity and the warmth radiating from her body stirred desires he thought he’d buried.
Elliana pressed down hard on Cole’s needle mark, her touch deliberate and commanding. She wanted him to hold the cotton swab himself.
The pressure sent pain shooting through his arm, and he finally grasped her intention. He reached for the cotton swab, his fingers brushing against hers in the exchange. The contact wasn’t accidental—it was pure instinct.
Her hands captivated him completely. Small and delicate, they moved with an elegance that made his chest tighten. The smooth skin seemed to glow under the harsh fluorescent lights.
He had always cherished her hands above everything else. During their marriage, he would capture those slender fingers in his palms, tracing patterns across her knuckles and memorizing every curve. The sensation had burned itself into his memory, and now seeing them again made his body react without permission.
His larger hand enveloped hers, fingers intertwining as he squeezed gently. Once, twice, then again. The feeling consumed him, and he craved more than just this fleeting touch. If she hadn’t yanked her hand away in fury, he would have continued. He wanted to lift those precious fingers to his lips and taste the sweetness he remembered.
Her angry withdrawal snapped him back to the present. He was no longer her husband—he had forfeited that right. The cotton swab nearly slipped from his grip as reality crashed over him. After securing the swab, he lifted his gaze to meet her blazing eyes.
“Sorry.” Cole coughed, the word scraping against his throat. “I didn’t mean to overstep.” He couldn’t confess that his body had betrayed his mind completely.
Elliana’s stare could have melted steel. Then, a cold laugh escaped her lips. “Tell me, Mr. Evans, are you trying to win me back?”
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Cole held her gaze without flinching. “If I said yes, would you consider giving me another chance?”
Elliana raised her fingers, counting deliberately as her expression shifted to pure disdain. “Mr. Evans, we signed those divorce papers three days ago. You threw me away, and now you want me back? Are you seeking cheap thrills, or is this just how you operate?”
Her sarcasm hit its mark. Cole’s face burned with embarrassment, and he could only manage to touch his nose.
Elliana’s features hardened to ice as she began packing her medical supplies with sharp, efficient movements. “The men who want to court me could form a line stretching across this entire city. You’ll wait your turn like everyone else.”
“How long would that take?” Cole asked.
She glanced up from her kit. “Three years, perhaps. After I’ve explored what other men have to offer, I might find your particular brand of charm appealing again.”
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