Inhaling deeply, losing himself in the warmth of her presence.Olivia blinked, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks like delicate feathers. "Excuse me?" Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the slightest hint of uncertainty.Ethan smiled, a lazy grin that made his brown eyes sparkle."A quieter, huh? I would've never guessed." He nodded towards her lips that were between her teeth. "You seem like the type who can handle whatever gets thrown at her." Ethan's fingers grazed her jaw, and Olivia leaned into his touch. The way his eyes held hers, intense, stirred a warmth within her she hadn't experienced in quite some time.Olivia's cheeks flushed as she met Ethan's gaze, a mix of surprise and admiration evident in her eyes. "I've learned to adapt," she murmured softly, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But sometimes, even the strongest need a moment of quiet."Olivia's fingers danced along the curve of Ethan's chest, feeling the muscles tense and ripple under he

Olivia and Mia stood outside the neon lit entrance of the nightclub, music thumping from within. Olivia fidgeted nervously."Mia, I really need to talk to you about this whole charade we've gotten ourselves into," she said, raising her voice to be heard over the pulsing bass.But Mia waved her off dismissively. "Oh, forget about that tonight, Liv! We're here to have fun and let loose, remember?" She linked her arm through Olivia's and started pulling her towards the entrance.Olivia dug in her heels, resisting Mia's insistent tugging. "No, Mia, you don't understand. This has gone too far. I need to come clean about everything before it blows up in our faces."The worried crease between Olivia's eyebrows deepened as she tried to get her friend to listen to reason. But Mia was having none of it, too caught up in the thrill of their secret games."Seriously, Olivia, you need to relax!" Mia shouted over the music, giving her friend's arm an impatient yank. "One night of fun, that's all I'

"Whoa, Ethan! Didn't know you had it in you!" One called out. "Looks like someone just got daring!" Another joked. "He's going to regret drinking tonight," a third added with a laugh. "We might have to investigate his homicide tomorrow morning with a hangover!"Mia's expression was a mix of disbelief and hurt, a stark contrast to the carefree atmosphere around them. Olivia felt a pang of guilt, but the overwhelming emotions stirred by Ethan’s unexpected display of affection overshadowed it. As she clung to him, the reality of their situation settled in, and she knew that whatever happened next would change everything.Despite the weight of his marriage to Mia and the complexities of their situation, there was an undeniable comfort in having Olivia close. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt for her at this moment, nor could he ignore the electric energy that pulsed between them.Caught between his desire to do what was right and the undeniable pull of his feelings for Mia, Ethan he