Naomi's body stiffened instinctively, every muscle locking tight as the harsh vibrations of the encrypted handset hummed against her ribs.
The lingering shadow of her marriage, the suffocating weight of the Mercer family, and the ghost of her former life threatened to drag her back into paralyzing dread.
Yet Alex's grip on the curve of her hip only tightened, his fingers pressing into her flesh with quiet, absolute possession that anchored her firmly against his lap.
"Answer it," Alex ordered softly. His voice was a low, velvet murmur against the shell of her ear, laced with an edge of dangerous amusement.
"Put it on speaker, Naomi. Let us hear what your devoted husband has to say."
Swallowing the parched dryness in her throat, Naomi reached into the inner pocket of her blazer with trembling fingers.
