Chapter 35

A look of confusion washed over Rob’s face.

“Explain.”

“What’s to explain?” Rob asked. “You’re not my first boyfriend. Second.”

“So you’ve been in monogamous relationships before? You have a history?” Mum interrupted.

Rob’s eyes narrowed, and the bottle—raised to his lips—dropped slowly. “Yes,” he said, even more slowly.

“Mum.”

“I’m just asking, dear.”

Rob leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, and stared at Mum through those focused, calculating eyes. The intense stare made Eli shiver with totally inappropriate desire, the way those pale eyes just bored into her, like they were stripping back the layers and exposing her very bones and soul.

God, he wanted to fuck Rob when he wore that expression. Eli took a hasty swig of his drink to cool his burning face.

“I had a boyfriend when I was nineteen,” Rob said in a quiet, almost dangerous tone. “Michael. We were together about a year.”

“What happened?”