Amara''s cheeks flushed a deep crimson in an instant.


    How could Finnian, who always seemed so proper during the day, turn around and say such risqué things at night?


    "But you already agreed to the divorce," Amara reasoned as she tried to push Finnian away. "You shouldn''t be doing this."


    Finnian lifted his head slightly, his eyes a shade of red, though it was too dark for Amara to notice.


    "I agreed to the divorce on the condition that you''d spend a night with me. Last time, we were just interrupted. Now we have the chance to finish what we started, don''t we?"


    At first hearing, his words seemed logical, but something about them felt off to Amara. She was too flustered to think it through, though, as she pressed against his shoulder. "But I really don''t want to right now."


    "I do."


    Finnian buried his face into the warmth of her neck, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Amara, I want you."


    Amara was on the verge of tears. She could feel his desire, but why did his wants mean she had toply?


    "Mr. Everly, don''t, please don''t do this."


    Amara thought, if only she wasn''t such a coward, she might have jumped up and pped Finnian across the face. After all, he was injured and couldn''t fight back.


    But she was too timid, too scared to do such a thing. Tears slipped silently onto the pillow as Amara bit her lip, crying quietly.


    Finnian lifted a hand, brushing her eyes with his thumb, freezing in ce. Was she crying?


    "You loathe me that much?"


    When he spoke again, his voice was void of any earlier desire, reced with a sharp coldness.


    Amara shook her head, unable to directly admit her resistance, mumbling, "I just really don''t want to."


    "Then who do you want to do it with, Keith?"


    His tone was ostensibly calm, yet a dangerous, maniacal undercurrent hidden behind, and it frightened her.


    Finnian''s logic was baffling. Sure, she didn''t want to do anything with Keith, but from Finnian''s perspective, since she and Keith were a couple, it would make sense. Why even ask?


    Finnian was smart, with an IQ way above average. How could he not figure this


    out? Was his brain malfunctioning?


    Of course, Amara couldn''t voice


    these thoughts. Instead, she bit her lip and said, "Mr. Everly, you agreed to the divorce today, and whether we do that or not, we''re still getting divorced. You can''t go back on your word, can you?"


    "And why can''t I go back on my word?"


    Finnian lifted her chin, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    Amara was stunned by his rascality, her mouth slightly agape as she struggled to find words. After a few seconds, she mumbled, "You''re so unreasonable."


    Finnian hadn''t expected her to say that. He lowered his head, resting his forehead against her shoulder, and let out a low chuckle.


    "Fine," he said, "if you don''t want to, we won''t."


    For some reason, Finnian felt a bit better than before. He didn''t press Amara any further, rolling off the bed and returning to his own, lying down.


    Amara was somewhat in disbelief at how easily Finnian had retreated. His behavior tonight had been odd from the start-first demanding her body, then leaving abruptly.


    They said women were hard to understand, but now she felt men were just as mysterious.


    At least the ordeal was over. Finnian didn''t seempletely


    unreasonable. After waiting a bit and seeing him drift off to sleep


    peacefully, Amara presumed nating


    drastic would probably happen, so she closed her eyes and managed to fall asleep herself.