[EVE]

Cole was still in the shower, and I was left pacing the room like a caged animal. My heart raced, and no amount of deep breaths could calm me.

Alone in a room with him, at night—it felt like the setup to something out of a romance novel.

Idiot!

I knocked myself lightly on the head, trying to banish the ridiculous thoughts swirling in my mind. Even the idea that something might happen between us was absurd.

But the more I tried to push the notion away, the more my mind betrayed me, drifting back to earlier glimpses of him—the way his eyes narrowed with desire, the sharp definition of his abs, and the teasing line of his waistband.

My face burned, and I covered it with my hands, groaning softly. Why wouldn't these thoughts leave me alone? They circled like vultures, preying on my weakness.

"It's all Cole's fault," I muttered under my breath. "He's too . . . too much."

"And what fault are we talking about here?"

His smooth voice startled me, cutting through the quiet like a warm blade. I whipped around, and there he was—standing in the bathroom, dripping wet.

My gaze faltered immediately, but not before I registered everything. Water glistened on his broad chest, tracing the dips and ridges of his muscles, and a towel hung precariously low on his hips. It wasn't fair. The man might as well have been sculpted out of marble.

He had the decency to cover himself, but the towel did little to hide the unmistakable outline beneath. It clung in a way that left very little to the imagination—he might as well have been naked.

I swallowed hard, my voice coming out sharp and panicked. "N-nothing! And for heaven's sake, cover yourself!"

He chuckled, the sound low and teasing, as he grabbed another towel to dry his hair. "So tense. You should really learn to relax."

I didn't dare respond. Instead, I turned on my heel and bolted past him into the bathroom, closing the door with a loud snap. Leaning against it, I pressed a hand to my chest, as if that would steady the wild thumping of my heart.

What was wrong with me? This wasn't normal. I wasn't normal.

The image of him standing there, casual yet so impossibly attractive, wouldn't leave my mind. Worse, I felt like it had seared itself into my memory forever.

I turned on the shower, letting the water run before stepping in. The cool stream hit my skin, but it did little to douse the lingering heat. As the water cascaded down, I exhaled slowly, letting the tension ebb away.

Yet even as I stood there, I couldn't fully escape. His teasing words echoed in my ears, his smirk, the way his towel clung to him. I gritted my teeth, frustrated with myself.

This wasn't just about Cole being attractive—it was about what he did to me. The way he invaded my thoughts without even trying. The way he made me feel flustered, vulnerable, and completely unguarded.

I placed my forehead against the cool tiles, letting the water stream down my back. It wasn't helping.

"Damn him," I whispered to no one. "Damn him for making me feel this way."

And yet, as I tried to push the thoughts away, I knew they'd find their way back the moment I left this bathroom.

Taking a full, deep breath, I forced all thoughts of Cole and his barely-there towel out of my mind. I focused entirely on the luxurious features of the bathroom, determined to take my time and distract myself.

I sank into the wooden hot spring tub, letting the warmth ease the tension in my muscles. The soothing bath salts and fizzing bath bombs surrounded me with calming scents, but no amount of lavender or eucalyptus could quiet my racing heart.

Moving to the shower, I experimented with its cascading rainfall feature and mood-enhancing disco lights, chuckling softly at the sheer extravagance. Even the bidet in the corner caught my attention, and I found myself testing its functions just to kill more time.

I finished with my nightly skincare routine, taking an unnecessarily long time at the mirror to dab creams and serums on my face in precise, measured strokes.

It didn't matter how long I delayed. When I emerged, the sight that greeted me stole every ounce of composure I had painstakingly built.

Cole was lounging casually on the couch, his phone in hand and a smug, knowing look on his face. His robe was loosely tied, revealing a tempting amount of his chest and the strong line of his collarbone. His damp hair fell messily over his forehead, the slight sheen of water on his skin catching the light.

It was then that I realized my grave mistake.

In my haste, I had forgotten to bring my pajamas into the bathroom. I stood frozen in place, clad in nothing but a thin hotel robe. My damp hair clung to my shoulders, and the soft material barely covered me, revealing more than I'd like.

Cole's gaze lifted from his phone, his dark eyes locking onto mine. A flicker of something dangerous passed through them—something that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Is that your way of seducing me?" His voice was low, velvety, and far too calm.

"W-what?" I stammered, my cheeks burning. "I'm just trying to get my clothes!"

He stood slowly, his movements fast. His gaze traveled down my figure, lingering at the hem of my robe. "Parading out here like this, hair dripping, skin flushed—you expect me to believe you're not doing this on purpose?"

I gawked at him, my indignation flaring. "Of course I'm wet—I just took a bath! And this is all I have to wear right now until I get my damn clothes!"

Wait, why was I explaining to him again?

Cole's grin deepened as he took a step closer, his presence suffocating. His arms braced on either side of me, caging me against the wall. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his scent—a mix of clean soap and something inherently masculine—clouding my senses.