He Knew She Was Doing It on Purpose

The next morning dawned bright. Sophia stirred, slowly opening her eyes and reaching for the spot beside her. Her hand met cold sheets—he’d been gone a while.

Well, talk about a quick exit!

Her plan had been simple: tease him a little, nudge their “relationship” along. With Anna under the same roof, Ethan probably wouldn’t touch her anyway. Yet, she’d underestimated the raw instinct in men. Love or not, it didn’t dictate action. Last night, Ethan had gone at it like a guy who’d been pent up for years, wearing her out.

As her mind wandered, Ethan stepped out of the bathroom, a towel slung low around his hips, steam rising off his skin, his hair damp. Sophia couldn’t help but take him in. The man was tall and built, with broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, every muscle taut and powerful, exuding a rugged masculinity. Back in the day, he’d been pale, his eight-pack a picture of refined elegance—and cold detachment. Now, years at sea had darkened his skin, adding a wild edge, especially down there.

“Drooling yet?” His deep voice broke her trance.

Ethan’s words hit him oddly, and he quickly looked away, puzzled at his own flirty tone. On Sunset Island, folks called him “silent Jack,” a regular stoic. But around Sophia, he turned into someone else entirely. Was this his pre-amnesia self?

Sophia snapped back, realizing she’d been staring at his impressive frame. No blush crossed her face, though. “I’ve got to say, you’ve got way more swagger now.”

Ethan cleared his throat, shifting gears. “Time to get up for breakfast. We’ve got a trip to Grandma’s later.”

Sophia stretched her arms wide, tilting her head back with a pout. “Only if you carry me, pretty please~”

Ethan froze, locked on her gorgeous, teasing face.

“Mm~” she purred with a sultry edge, “Ethan~, my legs are killing me—I can’t walk.”

His breath hitched, and almost against his better judgment, he stepped forward, scooping her up. Sophia looped her arms around his neck, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. “You’re the best~”

Ethan glanced down at the sly fox in his arms, his throat tightening. “So, can we head out now…”

His words cut off as Sophia rubbed her nose against his throat, tilting her head with slightly puckered lips.

“Carry me to freshen up,” she murmured, her voice laced with allure.

“Alright.” Like a man under a spell, he carried her into the bathroom.

**

In the spacious, lavish walk-in closet, Sophia lounged in a silk robe, the tie loosely knotted, offering tantalizing glimpses. “We’re meeting the elders soon,” she mused aloud, her slender fingers gliding over a row of shirts. “Dark gray feels solid, white’s more sweet and innocent.”

She picked out two, turning to Ethan. “Which one do you like?”

Ethan eyed the shirts—identical save for color—and his mouth twitched. On Sunset Island, he’d lived in tank tops, tees, and shorts all summer, carefree and casual. These high-end, restrictive pieces? His first instinct was to balk.

“Ethan?” Sophia asked softly, noting his silence. “Neither doing it for you?”

Snapping back, his gaze lingered on her delicate features. “You pick.”

“Gray it is, then.” She hung the white shirt back, moving to the accessories. “The tie… nah, let’s keep it casual for family. Oh, and a watch—”

She paused at a glass case of luxury timepieces, settling on a Patek Philippe after a moment. “This one, and a belt…”

Ethan stood by, quietly watching her chatter—endless, even to herself.

“Usually, you pick my outfits, huh?” he asked.

Sophia paused, turning to him. “Yep, ever since we got together, I’ve handled your wardrobe.”

“You even said my taste was spot-on, totally your style.”

Her eyes glowed with feigned bliss.

Ethan took in her happy act, feeling nothing inside. He scanned the endless closet. “These clothes look brand-new, not worn.”

Sophia gave a light laugh and nodded. “Most of this stuff’s from the last three years—never touched.”

Ethan frowned. “You bought new clothes for me while I was gone?”

Her smile faltered, her gaze turning wistful. “I couldn’t accept you were gone, so I kept up the pretense you were still here.”

“Whenever your favorite brands dropped new lines, I had them sent over.”

“Eventually, this place couldn’t hold it all.”

Truth was, she’d been spending Blackwood money, indirectly treating herself to luxury. Now that Ethan was back, it all belonged to him—her heart sank at the thought.

Ethan, aiming to change the subject, found himself drawn back in.

“Mm,” he grunted, grabbing the chosen outfit and heading to the dressing room.

Standing before the full-length mirror, he cut an imposing figure, his natural elegance shining through. Sophia stood half a meter behind, admiring her handiwork via the reflection. No denying it—he was striking, with chiseled features and a perfect build.

“Like this look?” she asked gently.

Ethan eyed himself. “Fits great. Your eye’s spot-on.”

“As long as you like it.”

A tender smile curved her lips as she stepped up to adjust his collar. Ethan watched her focused profile, catching a whiff of her subtle perfume. From his angle, he glimpsed the teasing reveal of her robe.

He knew she was doing it on purpose.

But if they’d truly been in love, why was she working so hard to seduce him now?