and mother. I cooked, I cleaned, I smiled. But Hunter' s gaze grew colder

air heavy with the scent of cigars and old books. He stood by the window, several cigarette b

pression was unexpecte

ice low. "I think it' s tim

the back of a leather armchair, trembl

He walked towards me, his movements unhurried,

firmed, his touch strangely te

olished floorboards. I couldn' t show him the surge of unexpected hope that

s to escape. I had run away countless times, only to be dragge

stal?" he would purr, his voice

ng there lightly, a silent threat. "Stay by my side

a dark reel of fear and submission. I co

lity of it, was like a fragile sprout pushing thr

let me go?" I dared to as

from his eyes. They became cold, hard. I

iet room. My body flinched. He seized my arm, dragging me roughly towa

r." His grip tightened, a physical man