The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 545

Ronan stood up and sauntered over to the couch on the other side of the room, pulling out a cigarette and flicking a lighter to life.

Cordelia's brow furrowed slightly, waving away the smoke that drifted toward her. "How many times have I told you not to smoke in here, Ronan? You never listen."

"Am I getting an earful now?" Ronan squinted at her, a playful smirk on his lips.

Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed, slowly slipping into her jeans. "Suit yourself. But you know, lots of smokers end up with lung cancer. Plus, it yellows your teeth."

Ronan set the cigarette down, looking almost indifferent, but Cordelia knew better. Kicking a smoking habit wasn't easy. Most folks got as fidgety as a junkyard dog, craving that nicotine hit. But not Ronan. He acted as if he could quit without a second thought, as if the cigarette had no hold over him, but he was the one in control.

They say the real bosses aren't owned by their vices, and clearly, Ronan was one of them. But why couldn't he control his other appetites?

"So, you can quit smoking just like that, but you can't shake your sex addiction?" Cordelia propped herself up on her elbows, and her curiosity piqued as she gazed at him from the bed.

"Why quit something so delightful?"

"But..." Cordelia squinted, a hint of mischief in her voice. "During the three years I was gone, you didn't quit that, did you?"

Ronan's gaze sharpened, predatory, as he locked eyes with Cordelia. "What's this? A bed check? I quit, okay? Satisfied?"

Cordelia felt a shiver run through her. "I thought you couldn't quit."

"Turns out, I had to. Are we done with the interrogation?"

She lay back down, pulling the duvet over her head, her heart pounding inexplicably. She knew he never lied; deception simply wasn't his style.

When Cordelia felt stifled under the covers and pulled them down, she shuddered to find Ronan sitting beside her.

His hand caressed her face, his thumb tracing her features tenderly. "Can't indulge you this time, can I?"