Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209

David’s POV

I stepped out onto the quiet section of the deck, the cool morning air brushing against my heated skin.

I found him exactly where I expected. Aaron was leaning his elbows on the railing, staring out at the white wake we were cutting into the Mediterranean.

He looked far too relaxed for a man who had just committed a borderline federal offense against his own blood.

“I know you slid some shit into our drinks,” I accused.

I stopped a few feet away from him. It took every ounce of my self-control not to grab him by the collar and find out exactly how well he could swim.

Aaron didn’t jump. He didn’t even flinch. He just slowly looked over his shoulder, a lazy, irritating smirk curling the corner of his mouth.

“False accusations can get you in prison for what… five years?” he mused, turning back to the sea.

“You don’t want to lose your freedom, little one. You have a bright future, after all.”

I ground my teeth together, the sound audible in the quiet of the morning. I stepped up beside him, glaring at his profile.

‘Apparently, it isn’t a false accusation. And you might want to refrain from calling me ‘little one’ before I forget we share a

last name.”

‘Else?” He challenged. He straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest and fixing me with that calm, analytical stare that usually made people crumble.

I looked away for a second, torn between irritation and something closer to reluctant appreciation.

Aaron had a way of getting under my skin like no one else.

Usually, I was the one pulling the strings, the one who teased him until he lost his temper.

Aaron was usually the calm, collected one. The quiet cousin who observed more than he spoke, but on the rare days he :hose mischief, he made sure it left a mark.

This time, the mark was scorched into my brain..

Though, I found myself leaning toward gratitude. His little plan had pushed something forward that I hadn’t even realized needed pushing.

Daphne.

The memory hit me hard. The way she had moaned softly against my car, the way her body had moved under my hands. he way her amber eyes had looked up at me with pure, unguarded want as she….

You might want to go back and continue from where you left off,” Aaron’s voice slid in, slicing through my trance

I snapped my head toward him, my face heating up. He wasn’t looking at my eyes anymore. His gaze had dropped significantly.

I followed his look and cursed under my breath as I realized the visible bulge in my trousers was betraying exactly where my

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Chapter 209

thoughts had traveled.

“Fuck,” I hissed, turning my body away from him to hide the evidence.

‘Don’t thank me all at once,” Aaron said, his voice dripping with mock-sincerity. “I just thought you two looked like you needed a little help getting past the ‘business’ part of the arrangement.”

You’re a menace,” I muttered, trying to find my cold mask again.

Aaron chuckled quietly, clearly pleased with himself. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Before I could fire back, footsteps sounded behind us. A voice I knew too well drifted over, smooth and overly polite.

‘Greetings, my dearest cousins.”

The new voice made both Aaron and I stiffen.

We turned in sync to find Eric strolling toward us, his arms spread wide as if he were expecting a hug.

His smile was far too bright for this hour of the morning, and the glint in his eyes told me he had something sinister up his leeves.

Aaron and I didn’t speak. We just stood there, jaws clenched, glaring at him with identical expressions of cold dislike.

Oh, come now,” Eric laughed, leaning against the rail beside us. “Don’t look so miserable. It’s a beautiful day for a cruise, sn’t it, David? You look especially… refreshed.”

didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response.

Daphne’s POV

The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of the communal lounge area on the ship. I sat beside Quinn, David’s nother, threading a needle for her.

Sewing was one of her quiet hobbies, and she had invited me to help with a small embroidery project she was working on.

You’re very good at this,” Quinn said gently, her voice pulling me back. “Most young people don’t have the patience for handwork anymore.”

smiled, hoping she couldn’t see the flush on my face. “My grandmother taught me when I was little. I haven’t done it in rears, but it feels nice to pick it up again.”

We worked in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Quinn hummed softly under her breath while I concentrated on the delicate stitches.

The repetitive motion should have been calming, but I kept drifting back to last night.

And this morning.

It was as if my brain was a hall of mirrors, reflecting every touch, every gasp, and every scaring moment.

I could still feel the phantom sensation of David’s hands on my waist, the way his hair had felt between my fingers, and the heavy, intoxicating scent of him.

My heart gave a little skip every time I remembered the way the ‘fake’ part of us had simply evaporated in the heat.

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Chapter 209

What have I done? I wondered, my fingers fumbling with a piece of crimson silk thread.

I was so lost in the memory of his mouth against mine that I didn’t notice how close my hand was to the sharp end of the needle Quinn was holding out.

“Ouch!”

A sharp, stinging pain flared in my index finger. I jerked my hand back, a small cry escaping my lips as I saw a bright bead of blood bloom on my skin.

“Oh, goodness! Daphne, are you alright?”

I squeezed my finger, nodding quickly even though the spot was throbbing.

“I’m fine, really. Just a clumsy mistake. I wasn’t paying attention.”

Quinn wasn’t convinced. She stood, concern clear in her eyes.

“That looks deep,” Quinn said, reaching for my hand. She wasn’t having it. “Come with me to the bathroom, we need to clean that and find a bandage. We don’t want silk dye getting into a puncture wound.”

“No, honestly, Quinn, stay,” I insisted, offering her a strained smile. “I’m fine. I’ll just go wash it off myself. It’s just a tiny prick.”

I stood up before she could argue further, clutching my hand to my chest. I needed to get out of that room.

I needed five minutes away from the Tyrones and their watchful eyes.

I felt like I was wearing my secrets on my skin, and every time someone looked at me, I was sure they could see the marks David had left.

I walked quickly down the long, carpeted hallway toward the public restrooms near the observation deck.

My eyes were focused on my finger, watching the crimson liquid drip slowly down my palm. It was such a vivid, startling red.

I was so preoccupied with the sight of the blood and the dizzying loop of my own thoughts that I didn’t notice the person urning the corner until I walked straight into them.

Oh! I’m so sorry-

I apologize, I wasn’t-”

We spoke in perfect sync, both of us stumbling back from the impact. I looked up, an apology sitting on the tip of my congue, but the words died before they could escape.

The air seemed to leave the hallway. My heart didn’t just skip-it stopped.

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