A sharp slap echoed through the room.

The bodyguard staggered backward, his face rapidly swelling.

Five crimson finger marks stood out vividly under the light.

Ethan's eyes darkened with a terrifying storm, his voice icy. "I paid top dollar for your services so you could fail at protecting her?"

The air in the room grew heavy with tension.

The bodyguard immediately dropped to his knees, slapping himself repeatedly.

"Mr. Sullivan, I deserve this! I shouldn't have left my post for cigarettes, and I definitely shouldn't have lied to you!"

Sophia spoke softly, watching Ethan's stormy expression. "Everyone out."

The bodyguard scrambled away like a pardoned criminal.

Ethan pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "Find everything on a repeat offender named Bruno Dimucci. I want to know if someone put him up to this."

After hanging up, he yanked Sophia into his arms.

His long fingers traced every inch of her skin.

"Are you hurt?" His voice held a barely detectable tremor.

She shook her head.

Ethan gripped her chin, forcing eye contact. "The truth."

"Really, I'm fine."

Suddenly he crushed her against him, the force nearly stealing her breath.

"I flew here overnight only to see you return with Kyle Grant." His voice turned hoarse. "Do you have any idea how that felt?"

Sophia finally remembered her dead phone battery.

She pushed away and punched his chest. "How dare you say that to me?"

The punch held real strength.

Ethan actually smiled.

He caught her wrist, thumb stroking her delicate skin. "Good hit."

Sophia turned her face away.

He leaned in, lips brushing her ear. "I apologize."

Warm breath made her earlobe tingle.

"Sleep. You have an early flight." She tried to leave.

Ethan locked an arm around her waist. "Still angry?"

She pecked his chin dismissively. "Forgiven."

In the bathroom, Ethan frowned at the modest facilities.

Her pink electric toothbrush looked tiny in his large hand.

As he brushed before the mirror, his lips curved unconsciously.

Back in bed, he turned Sophia to face him.

"I used your toothbrush." He nipped her earlobe.

Her eyes widened.

He kissed her deeply. "See how sweet it tastes."

The minty freshness of toothpaste gave way to burning heat.

Sophia melted, fingers clutching his shirt.

"Why come tonight?" she asked breathlessly.

Ethan tightened his hold, voice low. "Because I couldn't sleep missing you."

Moonlight slipped through the curtains.

His intense features looked uncharacteristically tender in the dim light.

Suddenly Sophia's anger evaporated.

She lifted her face, meeting his lips.

The kiss spoke louder than any words.