Chapter 42

They were barely a breath apart, making it impossible for her to see his expression. Their proximity was wine intoxicating, heady, seeping past her skin to surge through her veins.

“No”

He kissed her again before she could say anything else — the barest brush of his lips, the warmth of his breath grazing her face. “What about this?”

She managed a shake of her head.

“You like me”, his voice was rough, “You know that, don’t you, Jane?”

“I do?”

“Have you ever been in love?”

Again, Jane shook her head. All she had wanted to do was to study hard so she could leave the Harrison household — not a relationship.

A laugh escaped Ethan.

“You said you didn’t want to divorce me”, he said.

“But not out of duty — you want to be my wife because you fell for me. You like it when I kiss and hug you… and you kissed me back… that means you have feelings for me”.

“Oh”, she was stunned; he seemed to understand her better than herself. Initially, staying by his side had been a matter of responsibility and se