---- Chapter 8 Erin Calhoun POV: Harvey gently pushed my wet hair back from my face, his fingers still linked with mine. His chest was heaving, his voice a low, ragged whisper. "Let's go to the bedroom. It's more comfortable." | got a proper look at him then, his shirt plastered to his skin, revealing the perfect lines of his torso. Eight-pack abs. | was stunned. For a man who spent his days in boardrooms and his nights in medical journals, he was in incredible shape. A new wave of heat washed over me. | reached out, my fingers tracing the hard ridges of his abdomen. "Wow," | breathed. A corner of his mouth lifted in a ghost of a smile. "You like it?" "| love it," | said, pressing my palm flat against him, feeling the muscles contract under my touch. "It's all yours now," he said, his voice low and serious | didn't answer. My mind was reeling. | remembered him in college, the brilliant, untouchable upperclassman who was always surrounded by an aura of cool indifference. | had never dared to dream that | could have him, that he could be mine. ---- There had been a flicker of a crush, a secret, girlish fantasy, but it was nothing more. And now, here he was. Real. And he was telling me he was mine. Could you really own something just because you liked it? The thought felt absurd. And what about Carlton? They were cousins, family. The mess of it all was too much to untangle. My thoughts were cut short as his mouth found mine again. He pressed me down onto the cool sheets of the bed, his hands still linked with mine above my head. The master bedroom was dim, lit only by a single floor lamp and the sliver of moonlight filtering through the curtains. The air was cool and smelled of sandalwood and clean linen. Outside, the night was a canvas of black and silver. Inside, the view was just as breathtaking. | could see the faint red marks on my waist where his hands had gripped me earlier. His strength was astonishing. The memory of it, of his hands branding me as his, made my cheeks flush and my heart pound. Our first time together was a blur of frantic energy and suppressed desire, ending almost as quickly as it began. He propped himself up on one elbow, his body still covering mine. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my damp ---- temple. "Do you want some water?" My throat was raw. | managed a small nod, too exhausted to speak, and gestured weakly toward the glass on the nightstand. He lifted me into a sitting position, holding me against his chest as he held the glass to my lips, letting me drink until it was empty. "More," | whispered. He put the glass down and chuckled, a low, warm sound. "I'll give you all of me," he promised. Before | could process his words, he was pressing me back into the mattress. The composed, disciplined man | knew was gone, replaced by a creature of pure, unrestrained passion. The second time was slower, more deliberate. He was a quick study, learning the rhythm of my body, discovering every sensitive spot with an unnerving precision. | was completely at his mercy, tears of pleasure and release leaking from the corners of my eyes. He coaxed my voice from my throat, making me whisper his name over and over until it was the only sound in the room. Time melted away, leaving only the two of us in the moonlit dark. ---- When | woke, the room was bright with morning sun. Harvey was gone. My mouth was dry, and as | tried to sit up to get the water, a sharp pain shot through my entire body. Every muscle ached with a deep, satisfying soreness. | finally managed to swing my legs over the side of the bed. On the nightstand, next to the empty glass, was a folded piece of hotel stationery. His handwriting was neat, precise, just like him There was a massive pile-up on the interstate. The hospital is short-staffed. Had to leave early. Will call you when this is over. -H Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!