for a few seconds

ave you al

st, unsettling and strangel

ay or pull him closer. She did neither. She just looked up at him, searching for some

y, her voice soft but ste

shifted. "Nothing ab

erstand what's going on, and you're telling me you can

tly. "I expect you to

someone who moved through life with control stitched into every step

much a part of h

just trying to breathe properly. She walked toward the window, pulling the cur

erythi

as, giving her space but

sively pro

she said without turning around. "No

She felt it more

d. "Doesn't matter if he gets it throu

pau

hinks you

un. "I'm n

his jaw. "I know th

ng the sudden wave of heat rushing to h

gentled. "Tha

y n

rward. Then anoth

" he said quietly. "The harder I deny it,

limbed. "So eithe

said. "But not

her life on her own, every responsibility, every bill, every quiet battle. But this wasn't a late

man-was the only shield standing be

said, taking one m

idn't

se I'm some billionaire with resources. Not becaus

ice so

cause I'm ch

made her b

asn't closer than before, but the space

't want to be chos

arm flickered in his eyes. "Then I'll step back. B

ng moment. His honesty unsettl

her voice steadying. "Then

slightly-as if her words gave

"I move you in

s widened. "A

calmly. "Victor doesn't know which units belong to

credulous, "I'm not mo

d at the corner of his mouth

she sh

you

lutel

a firmness that sent a quiet tremor through h

eyes l

ing sh

eal realized something s

used to being ob

with

her to let h

more dangerous

ady herself, partly because she needed a barrier-anything-to ke

cide where I live,

enough to make her aware of every breath

red. "Maybe not inten

nd regretful. "I j

ike my life is still

ade hi

-only slightly, but enough for her to see it. He ran a hand throug

to do this," he

asked, thrown off b

"The one that requires control..

est ti

ria

choosing my words." He inhaled sharply. "I am used to being in char

ice dr

you make me

didn't like-something warm, some

k," she

ser-slow, deli

you?" Adrian asked. "Not because I

om wen

hing felt

ghts too

ity. Constant proximity. His presence. His intensity.

ger-but it meant

ng manipulative, anything hidden. But Adrian's g

you safe," he

oosened. "Adrian... I don't

it to you," he pro

th shook

said. "Give

e-slow, like he w

ak, a sharp, insistent

. Adrian's entire

silence stretched

gain-slower this

jaw tightened, shoulders squared, and somet

tly, stepping in front

idn't

third time-deep,

enough for his bre

ns," he murmured, "do

swallo

t?" she w

es never le

ldn't know where

broke into

it

e dropped into a col

Victor

er d

hadn't seen before: calm, cold, and lethal around the edges. The air in the apartment

ck came

w, delibe

ompletely from the doorway. "Stay behi

ven. Adrian reached for the handle, pausing only long enough to g

opened t

d there like he o

was polite-too polite-but his eyes moved with the sharpness of

mooth as polished glass. "You an

ile. "You're on

but enough to send heat rushing up Racheal's spine. He knew someone els

," Adrian sai

unctuality is a strength

ion between them stretched so tig

dmire the interior beyond Adrian's stance. "Interest

r concern," A

my concern," Victor

ers curled aga

ght, you know. Pretty girl. Seemed... startled." His gaze sharp

htened. "Leave h

is head. "So yo

forcing Victor a half-

ed amused-like he'd been wait

ighed. "You know I don't

d cold. Leverage. That was all

the doorway with his body, lowering his voice so o

oice dangerously soft, "I will ruin

widened. "Ah. S

n his eyes-like he'd just

ink. "This is yo

and, Adrian." He leaned in, his voice dropping. "This isn't about warning me. It's

ilent. A storm

low step back, and smiled like a ma

hbor I said hel

door before the las

wallowed

ully-too carefully-in a way that to

ed. "He... he k

burning with a fury he wa

"And that chan

trembled. "Wha

etween them, gripping the sides of her arms

said, voice low and unwaver

him, her pulse thu

something dark, protective, and dangerously sincere.

d. "And what if moving in

k his head.

his forehead alm

wants a fight... he