Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 235

Eloise was taken aback. Then she smiled faintly. "Having a child changes everything. We can't be as reckless as we once were."

Her face was gentle as she spoke, a serene glow about her.

Harvey had always loved this side of her, and in the late night, with just the two of them and their child sleeping in the next room, he couldn't help but feel a pull.

His gaze was pure and unadulterated, the way a man looked at a woman he desired. Eloise noticed. Without missing a beat, she steered the conversation back. "You should talk to Linda over the next few days. It's getting late..." Her implication was clear. He should return in the morning to pick up their child.

Harvey glanced at his watch. He wished she would ask him to stay, but she made no such invitation. He wanted to, so he muttered, "I'm pretty tired and I have an important meeting tomorrow morning. I can sleep in the guest room. I won't disturb you."

Eloise agreed. She led him to the guest room but did not enter.

Harvey tossed his jacket onto the end of the bed, noticing she hadn't followed him in. He smirked, "What, are you afraid of me?"

Eloise sidestepped the question. "I’ll get you some toiletries."

Harvey remained silent, his gaze fixed on her.

Once Eloise left the room, he sat on the edge of the bed, loosening his tie. His mind was in turmoil, his hand reaching into his jacket pocket for a smoke. Instead, he found a small, hard box. The gift he'd bought her from a trip to New York.

Eloise hadn't accepted it.

Holding the small box, Harvey's expression was unreadable.

When Eloise returned, Harvey was sitting on the edge of the bed, smoking, one hand supporting him on the bed, the other holding his cigarette. His sharp profile was highlighted in the soft light. He looked up as Eloise entered, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you have a razor?"

Eloise replied softly, "I don't have one."

He exhaled a cloud of smoke and extended his hand, "Give me the things."

Eloise, without suspicion, handed him the toiletries. But Harvey didn't take them. Instead, he gently grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto the bed. Then, a warm body was pressing down on hers.

"Harvey!" Eloise was annoyed, but she kept her voice low, careful not to wake Linda next door.

Harvey held her restless hands, pinning them to the edge of the bed. His other hand snuffed out the cigarette, leaving him free to handle something else.

Eloise lay helpless on the bed, her chestnut hair fanned out around her, her face pale. Harvey released her hands, but pinned her down even more firmly with his body. Their bodies were so close, Eloise didn't dare to move.

In his hand, he held a pair of pearl earrings, clumsily trying to put them on her. These were the ones he bought for her.

Harvey was clumsy, accidentally poking her ear, causing her to wince, "Ouch! Harvey, do you even know how to do this?"

His gaze darkened at her words. If he weren't so concerned about her feelings, he would have given in to his desire and taken her then and there.

Carefully, he put the earrings on her. Once he was done, he spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "Remember that time in the hotel? After we finished, you left first, but you left one of your earrings behind. They were the same style as these. Eloise, you look especially beautiful with these on."

Eloise was speechless. Even recalling the past, he was able to spin it into something sensual.

Harvey wanted her. Though impatient, he didn't want to miss the opportunity tonight. He was too busy usually, and he didn't dare to push too far. Now, with her under him, he had to be careful. He lowered his body, his face buried in her neck, murmuring, "Eloise, after all this time, have I not won even a sliver of your affection?"

Eloise tried to push him off, to no avail. She bit her lip, turning her face away, her voice soft. "Harvey, I won't play games with you. Yes, you're the best choice. We have a past, and now we have Linda. But... I just want to take care of Linda now. I really don't want to think about anything else."

As she spoke, her eyes glistened, and the faint blue mark on her brow seemed more prominent. Harvey couldn't resist, his fingers tracing over it gently, causing Eloise to whimper in a weak voice, "Harvey..."

He chuckled softly. "Your voice is really nice."

It took Eloise a moment to understand what he meant. She couldn't help but kick him. "Let me go!"

To her surprise, Harvey did.

He rolled onto his side, his jaw tight, his Adam's apple bobbing. His voice was husky. "Go to sleep."

Eloise fled the room. Just as her fingers brushed the doorknob, Harvey spoke again, his voice low, "All these years, I've missed you."