In the hallway, Cody Aberton checked his watch—barely eleven o'clock. He coughed slightly, adjusting his collar. As a professional, he understood the intensity of newlyweds, especially when one of them was as formidable as Ashton Heath. If he had a partner as striking as Joanna, he reflected, perhaps his own focus would be equally difficult to maintain.
Joanna, catching the subtle, knowing look on Cody’s face as she took the garment bag, felt a wave of heat rise to her cheeks. She knew exactly what he was assuming, and no amount of explanation would clarify that their reality was far more complex than a simple romantic encounter.
Ten minutes later.
The sound of the shower ceased. Joanna was hanging the last of the formal wear in the wardrobe when Ashton’s voice drifted from the steam-filled bathroom—sexy, resonant, and carrying a slightly hoarse, magnetic edge.
“Joanna, come here for a moment.”
Assuming he simply needed the fresh change of clothes, Joanna approached the door and knocked softly. “Ashton, the clothes are here. Open the door slightly and I’ll hand them to you.”
With a decisive click, the door swung open. A cloud of warm, scented steam billowed out, carrying the crisp fragrance of mint and sandalwood. Joanna instinctively looked away, extending the bag toward the opening. “Here. You should get dressed.”
“What are you so cautious of?” Ashton’s voice was a low, husky vibration near her ear. “I thought we had moved past these barriers.”
Before she could respond, his hand—warm and firm—settled around her wrist. With a gentle but unyielding movement, he guided her into the room. Joanna gasped as she found herself within the intimate, humid atmosphere of the bathroom, her shoulder brushing against the solid, radiating warmth of his chest.
The air was thick with pheromones and the lingering scent of his shower gel. Joanna felt a fleeting sense of dizziness, though whether from the heat or his sudden proximity, she couldn't be sure. Beneath her hand, which had landed defensively on his chest, she could feel the powerful, rhythmic thrum of his heart. It was a fast, steady beat that seemed to mirror her own quickened pulse.
Ashton’s arm circled her waist, drawing her into a firm embrace. He used his other hand to gently tilt her chin upward, forcing her to meet a gaze that was dark, burning, and filled with an undisguised focus.
“You seem remarkably tense, Joanna,” he murmured, his voice dropping to an intimate register. “What is it that truly concerns you?”
Joanna felt like a creature caught in a sudden light, her eyes wide and tensed against the intensity of his focus. She didn't realize that in her wariness, she possessed a vulnerability that was far more captivating than any calculated charm. It stirred a protective, almost possessive instinct in him—one that threatened to overwhelm his usual iron discipline.