Under the Veil I Rule novel Chapter 24

Finnian's Adam's apple bobbed, his body's reaction impossible to ignore.

Even through the fabric of his clothes, it was so striking that Amara couldn't help but notice, prompting her to swiftly pull the covers over her eyes. She was both embarrassed and uncomfortable.

She considered asking Finnian to leave, but then remembered this was his home. It seemed a bit rude to do so, so she mumbled from beneath the covers, "Maybe I should step out for a bit, and you can have some space to yourself."

By now, both adults were well aware of what was happening. Something in their dinner or drinks must have been spiked, leaving them with an overwhelming urge they couldn't control.

But who was responsible for this?

Finnian's attractive brows furrowed instinctively. "Where would you go?"

His first thought was that Amara was, after all, his wife. Her alluring appearance was something he didn't want other men to see.

Amara bit her lip and whispered, "Maybe you could use the bathroom?"

It was a delicate way of suggesting he might want to take care of things privately in the bathroom. But Finnian's mind was elsewhere. Who had tampered with their dinner or drinks?

His aunts and uncles wouldn't dare, and they had no reason to. Was it his grandfather? He pulled out his phone to call Kevin, but it went straight to voicemail.

For Kevin to be unreachable at such a crucial moment was suspiciously convenient. Finnian's expression turned dark. "Grandpa's got some nerve!"

As the sound of running water filled the bathroom, Amara lay staring at the dark ceiling, her mind adrift. Despite Finnian's discomfort earlier, he had resisted touching her. Was it because he found her unattractive or was he staying faithful to Liliana?

Under the shower head, Finnian felt the chilling water scour his scorching body as images kept flooding back.

He remembered his father bringing home woman after woman during his childhood. The sight of tangled bodies, pale and sticky, was something he sometimes stumbled upon unwittingly.

And then, the memory shifted to that recent moment in the villa, when he accidentally saw Amara emerging from the bathroom, unclothed.

That brief encounter had left a lasting impression. He could vividly recall lying on the cold floor, eyes shut tight, while Amara's warm, gentle hands set his skin ablaze.