Sophia's vision blurred, but she recognized Ethan Sullivan from his familiar tone.
Only he would speak to her with that mix of adoration and exasperation.
She wanted to argue but lacked even the strength to open her mouth.
Her body melted against his as her arms weakly draped around his neck.
Ethan frowned at her flushed cheeks before scooping her into his arms.
He strode toward the exit where Lillian Yates hastily opened the door. "Safe travels."
"Was this Kyle Grant's doing?" Ethan's gaze turned razor-sharp. "I treated him like a man, yet he acts worse than an animal!"
"Not Kyle!" Lillian stomped her foot in panic. "I spiked the wine with absinthe..."
Her voice shrank to a whisper: "I love him..."
The ice in Ethan's eyes thawed slightly. "Keep your precious Kyle in check," he spat before carrying Sophia away.
Inside the car, Sophia curled up on the backseat, skin burning.
The absinthe's delayed effects tormented her worse than drunkenness.
Every inch of her body screamed with desperate need.
Fingers fumbling at Ethan's shirt buttons, she resembled a greedy kitten.
His throat tightened as he activated the privacy partition.
The enclosed space grew feverish.
Sophia tilted her face up, lips seeking his—only for Ethan to grip her chin. "Do you know who I am?"
"Ethan..." she slurred, straining toward him again.
He dodged her advance, voice rough. "Why were you drinking at his place?"
Unable to answer, she pouted.
A sudden brake slammed them forward.
"Gack—"
Vomit splattered across Ethan's pristine suit.
Though his OCD flared, he first wiped Sophia's mouth clean.
At home, Ethan efficiently stripped off her soiled dress.
In the bathtub, Sophia hugged her knees, wet eyes watching him.
That innocent yet alluring look dissolved most of his anger.
After securing a swim ring around her, he fetched hangover medicine.
"Drink this, sweetheart."
She clamped down on the straw—and his fingers.
The warm contact froze Ethan's breath.
Eyes darkening, he warned against her chin: "You'll pay for this when you're sober."