And yet, each time he touched me, my traitorous body responded, heart quickening, skin warming. And each time, I hated myself for it.


    This wasn’t real. None of it was real. Alexander didn’t love me, didn’t want me. He was only using me to salvage his reputation so his campaign could go on without a hitch. And I was only going along with it because I needed him to reject me eventually if I wanted to live.


    By the time we finished dessert, my face was sore from smiling and my head was throbbing from the strain of maintaining the facade. All I wanted was to go home, wash off this fake mark, and copse into bed for about a week straight.


    Alexander must have noticed my fatigue because he signaled for the check earlier than I expected. “You look tired,” he said, and for once, it seemed like he meant it.


    ???


    am,’


    I admitted. “It’s been a long week.” I hadn’t even had a full day at home after being discharged from the hospital before we had to do this. But we had to act quickly before the media shitstorm got worse, after all.


    The drive home was mercifully silent. Alexander didn’t try to continue our performance, for which I was grateful. I leaned my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes for most of the ride, too tired to keep them open for long.


    When we finally arrived home, I kicked off my heels the moment we stepped through the door.


    “I’m going to take a bath and then go to bed,” I said, already heading for the stairs.


    Alexander nodded. “I’ll be in my office for a while. I have some emails to answer.”


    Upstairs, I peeled off my dress and removed my jewelry, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I’d deal with them tomorrow. Right now, all I wanted was thefort of hot water to soothe my aching muscles.


    I ran the bath as hot as I could stand it, adding a generous amount of cherry vani bath oil that Lilith had given me as a wee-home gift. As the tub filled, I caught sight of myself in the mirror-pale skin, tired eyes, and that damned fake mark on my neck


    With a frustrated huff, I grabbed a makeup wipe and began violently removing it, scrubbing until my skin was pink and raw. Then I pinned up my hair and sank into the steaming water with a groan.


    The heat immediately began to work its magic, loosening the knots in my shoulders and back. I tilted my head against the edge of the tub and closed my eyes, just for a moment.


    The next thing I knew, a hand was on my shoulder, gently shaking me.


    “E? E, wake up.”


    I jerked awake, cold water sloshing around me as sat up with a gasp. My eyes flew open to find Alexander kneeling beside the tub, his hand still on my bare shoulder and his face close to


    mine.


    For a disoriented moment, I just stared at him in shock. Why was Alexander in the bathroom? Why was he touching me? And why was I…


    skin.


    Oh, Goddess. I was naked. Completely naked in the bathtub with Alexander’s hand on my


    Before I could stop it, that familiar fucking heat surged through me. My nipples hardened instantly, and I felt a throb between my legs that made me have to press my thighs together to quell it.


    Alexander’s eyes dropped for just a second, taking in my exposed body before quickly returning to my face. But that one nce was enough. I’d seen that look in his eyes.


    Lust. And…


    He’d scented my arousal.