Night had fully fallen by the time Rowan entered the Carven estate.
As he walked toward the staircase, the house staff offered quiet greetings, which he acknowledged with a silent nod.
Navigating the quiet hallway, he pulled his phone from his trouser pocket, pausing directly in front of his bedroom door.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket slowly, his eyes dropping to the handle with quiet suspicion before shifting back to the dark wood.
He turned the knob and pushed the door open, slipping inside and shutting it gently behind him.
Flicking on the light, he turned and tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Seated on his bed with her arms crossed tightly over her chest was Esme, staring back at him with pure disdain.
“Mrs.
Carven,” Rowan said softly, stepping into the room.
“To what do I owe this intrusion into my personal space?” He unbuttoned his suit jacket, slid it off his shoulders, and tossed it onto the edge of the mattress.
Esme stood up abruptly, thrusting her phone screen toward his face.
“What is this?” Rowan leaned in slightly to glance at the display.
“Oh,” he chuckled, his smirk widening.
“She took a picture.
Funny, I didn’t even notice.” His eyes traveled down to her bandaged arm.
“Why are you out of your room?
Did you pull out the line again?” “No, I didn’t,” she snapped.
“The nurse said I could walk around for a bit.
I was getting restless.” Rowan smiled at her defensive tone, but Esme only grew more furious.
“What is the problem?” he asked quietly.
“I thought you said you were going to a meeting,” she said, her voice sharp with accusation.
Rowan nodded smoothly, turning toward his dresser to unbuckle his watch and lay it on the polished surface.
“I did go to multiple meetings today.
I happened to run into her at a bar, and she did her absolute best to get my attention.” Esme closed the distance between them.
“So you did meet her.
Did you talk to her?
Did you have sex with her?” Rowan turned around, his expression steady.
“No, I didn’t, Esme.” He paused, studying her heated expression, the smirk returning to his face.
“Are you jealous?” “You have to be utterly delusional to think that,” Esme scoffed, though her fingers tightened around her phone.
She looked down at the image on the screen again.
“Then how on earth did she manage to take a picture of the two of you together?” Rowan reached up, lightly pressing his fingers to his forehead in mild amusement.
“I wasn’t paying any attention to her.
Do you see me looking at the camera?
Or at her?” “How come she was even standing right next to you?” Esme demanded.
Rowan walked back toward the bed, keeping his posture relaxed.
“It’s a bar, Esme.
Anyone is allowed to walk in.” Esme followed him step for step.
“Then why did she approach you?” “She was operating under the assumption that I’d let her have sex with me,” Rowan replied flatly, tilting his head.
“And did you?” Esme raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with suspicion.
Rowan looked at her, his dark eyes holding hers.
“What do you think?” Esme looked away with a harsh groan.
“Ugh, you’re disgusting.” Rowan let out a soft chuckle, stepping closer.
“Why do you care so much, Esme?” “Because…” Esme started, her voice faltering briefly before coming back stronger.
“Because she is my ex-best friend who slept with my ex.
And…” She paused, looking down before snapping her eyes back up to meet his.
“And you are married to me.
I can’t be expected to stay loyal to you while you’re out there putting your dick into another woman’s pussy.” Rowan raised an eyebrow, taking another deliberate step forward.
“Well…
do you want it to be yours?” Esme’s eyebrows shot up, and she took an instinctive step backward.
Rowan chuckled softly at her reaction, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of the day.
“I am incredibly tired and need to freshen up.
Or…” He offered a slow smile as he unbuttoned his shirt, slipping the fabric off his shoulders to reveal his broad chest.
“…did you wish to come with me?” Esme’s glance flicked down to his chest for a fraction of a second before darting back to his face.
She glared at him intensely.
“Go fuck yourself, Rowan.
Or better yet, go fuck Layla,” she scoffed, turning her back to him.
“I bet you already have…
liar.” She turned to walk away, but before she could take a single step, Rowan caught her wrist, holding it carefully to avoid her injury, and pulled her back.
Esme gasped as she collided against his chest.
His free arm wrapped around her waist, locking her in place.
She immediately struggled against his grip.
“Let go of me!” Rowan tilted his head slightly, holding her gaze despite her thrashing.
“Why are you so convinced I had sex with her?” “Because you’re a man!” Esme scoffed, glaring up at him.
“And like a dog, you follow whoever offers you a treat.” Rowan smiled softly, his arm tightening around her waist to pull her flush against him.
“I’m not just any dog.
I’m your dog.” His voice dropped, low and heavy with absolute conviction.
“I will only ever accept treats from you.
No matter how long you hold back, you are the only one I will ever chase, and the only one I will ever follow.” Esme’s posture froze.
Her features softened against her will, her breath catching as she stared up at him.
For a long, suspended moment, neither of them moved or broke eye contact, the silence in the room growing heavy between them.
The sudden, sharp ring of Rowan’s phone broke the spell.
Rowan let out a low, irritated groan.
The sound snapped Esme back to reality; she immediately placed her hands against his chest and shoved him back.
Rowan let her go with a faint smirk, pulling his phone from his pocket and pressing it to his ear as he answered the call.
Esme hurried toward the door, her fingers grasping the handle.
She paused, casting a quick look over her shoulder, only to find Rowan already watching her with that same knowing smirk.
Flustered, she turned her face away, yanked the door open, and stepped out into the hallway, pulling it shut behind her.
She walked down the dimly lit corridor, her mind spinning.
Raising a trembling hand to her chest, she felt her heart hammering against her ribs.
“What is wrong with me?” she whispered to herself.
Back inside the bedroom, Rowan watched the closed door for a moment longer before speaking into the phone, his tone instantly shifting back to cold, calculating authority.
“okay then…
oh and I need you to track down a woman’s phone number for me.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Jael123 Ouuuu!
A man who proudly calls himself a loyal dog!!!