A dab of blusher to my cheekbones, along with a brush of natural mascara, and a lip balm that gives a faint wash of pinky-brown to my mouth. I dab my lips with a tissue and smack them together again. Finally, I fluff my hair out and place the scrunchie on the vanity.

Now. What to wear?

I could put my same clothes back on, but he's going to know I've had a shower. Why even bother pretending that I'm not going to any effort? I stroll into my bedroom and open my top drawer. I rifle through the contents until I find what I'm looking for. It's a pure silk, black nightdress. It has thin straps and a sweetheart neckline and falls to just above my knee. I've worn it out as a dress during the summer before. It’s simple but sexy. I hesitate and wonder whether or not to put panties on. Then I decide against. What's the point if they're only going to be taken off? I’m beyond playing games tonight, and I hope he is too.

We really shouldn't do this, and I wonder if he gets found out if it will mean he’s moved on to a new assignment. Part of me welcomes the idea. This man has come into my life and turned it upside down. His presence is at once both an irritation and a permanent turn-on. The other half of me would hate to see him leave.

Nervous and unsure, I exit my room and close the door behind me so Brutus won’t go wandering around, setting any alarms off. I knock on Samuel’s door. Or rather my door, in my house.

God, this is a head-fuck.

I hesitate and turn back to my room. I could go to bed, back out now and everything goes back to normal. Samuel will guard me, keep me safe, and perhaps in a few weeks when this is all over, we will say goodbye, and I can start my life again.

The internal war rages for all of two seconds. Then the door opens and Samuel grins at me, and my stomach does this flip flop thing, and I’m lost. Stepping over the threshold, I give in to the pull.

10. Carolina

Chapter 10

Carolina

Samuel walks slowly back to the bed and takes a seat. He’s wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. He’s clearly taken a quick shower too. His skin still looks damp in places. The crisp white of the towel contrasts beautifully with his tan skin and the blues and blacks of his ink. I try to take it in, but there’s so much. One arm has only a little, but the other has a lot. His chest too. At one side of his chest it goes right over his shoulder and snakes up his throat and neck.