Chapter 710
Charlotte pressed her lips together and kept quiet, snuggling deeper into his arms to find a spot that felt just right.
“In Solenia, you really have to pay attention to everything,” Anthony said as he switched off the hair dryer. One hand rested on her waist, the other gently combed through her hair. “And also
He was about to keep lecturing her when Charlotte suddenly tipped her chin up and kissed him.
His mind went totally blank. His hands tightened around her waist and he instinctively pulled back a little, his breath coming faster.
“Stop it,” he murmured. “Your flight’s tomorrow afternoon. You need a good night’s sleep.”
He pushed her away gently. Charlotte frowned, her cheeks tinged pink. “I’m not messing around.”
She kissed him again, this time with more insistence.
Anthony tried to keep it together, fighting the urge to give in. He tapped her nose with his fingertip, a soft laugh escaping. “You want a repeat of last time?”
She loved causing trouble and then pretending it was nothing.
Such a little troublemaker.
If he wasn’t worried about her ten-hour flight tomorrow, if he didn’t feel so protective of her…
Charlotte stretched her neck, arms winding around his shoulders, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Anthony tensed up. With a swift move, he spun them around, switching their positions.
“Are you doing this on purpose?” he asked, voice low.
Before things ever happened, she was always so bold. Afterward… well. He remembered last time, how she’d buried her face in his chest and cried until her eyes were red and puffy. The memory softened him.
“Be good. Get some sleep.” Anthony sighed and ran his hand through her hair. He was just about to get up when Charlotte grabbed his collar and yanked him back down.
“Lottie, you’re going to regret teasing me,” he warned, eyes darkening as he caught her hand. Whatever self-control he had left, it snapped in that moment.
***
The next day.
Charlotte woke up parched, her throat dry.
Sunlight was streaming through the window, so bright it was hard to tell what time it
was.
She threw back the covers, caught sight of the bruises on her legs, and frowned.
She took a steadying breath and was about to sit up when the bedroom door opened.
Anthony walked in, looking fresh and put-together in a clean robe, a glass of milk in his hand.
He spotted her sitting on the bed, looking like she’d just been through
the
wringer, and the corner of his
mouth lifted in a smile.
“Have some milk.”
Charlotte was really thirsty. She grabbed the glass and drained it, then asked, “What time is it?”
Her voice was rough, barely more than a whisper.
“Two,” Anthony said. He scooped her up, helped her change into clean clothes, and wrapped an arm around her as they made their way downstairs, matching his steps to hers. Your flight’s, at five Jackson, and Adonis are downstairs too. No
rush. Let’s get you something to eat first.”
Charlotte nodded. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, she looked up and locked eyes with Adonis.
“Charlotte!” Adonis called out, waving. Then he noticed how stiffly she was moving and asked, “What happened to your leg?”
Anthony’s lips curled into an easy smile. “Charlotte insisted on sparring with me last night. Didn’t end well for her.”
Charlotte shot him a glare and muttered, “Shut up.”