Page 17 of Sinfully Yours

Ava's smile is polite. "That does tend to happen with time."

Langley chuckles. "I suppose it does. Though I admit, I never thought I'd see you on Liam's arm. You always struck me as the independent sort." He glances at me, eyes gleaming with something just shy of amusement. "Or have you finally been tamed, Carter?"

Ava stiffens slightly, her fingers twitching in my grasp.

Not tonight, Langley.

I let out a slow, lazy chuckle, sliding my arm fully around Ava's waist. "Oh, I wouldn't say tamed." I glance down at her, letting a smirk tug at my lips. "She keeps me on my toes, don't you, sweetheart?"

Ava tilts her head, her green eyes flashing with something I can't quite name. And then, to my complete and utter shock, she leans in.

Her body presses against mine, warm and soft, her lips just brushing my jaw as she murmurs, "Always."

Langley raises a brow, mildly surprised, but he's got nothing left to say.

Ava pulls back with a saccharine smile. "If you'll excuse us, James, I believe we're needed elsewhere."

I don't bother to hide my smirk as she guides us away, her hand still looped around my arm.

"That was?—"

"Don't," she interrupts, tossing me a warning look. "Just let me have that moment."

I chuckle. "Oh, I am. Trust me."

For the next hour, we play our roles flawlessly. I keep a hand on her waist, whisper teases into her ear, brush my fingers along the bare skin of her back just to feel her breath hitch. She elbows me once, mutters something about how I'm enjoying this too much, but she doesn't pull away.

She doesn't stop leaning into it.

And neither do I.

At some point, we find ourselves by the grand piano in the corner of the room, where a string quartet plays something soft and romantic. The champagne has loosened her up, and I can see the way she's finally breathing a little easier.

Ava's laughing at something, her head tilted back, and it's… something.

Damn.

It's a problem, how much I want to kiss her.

Not for the act. Not for the show.

Just for me.

I shove the thought away as she glances up at me, still smiling.

"You're staring," she murmurs.

I lift a brow. "Maybe."

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Careful, Carter. Someone might think you actually like this."

Its crazy how much I want to smile like an insufferable idiot. "And that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?"

She doesn't answer.

But she doesn't look away, either.

And I have a feeling that's going to be a problem.

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