Serena stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, wrapped tightly in her silk robe. O

billowed out, carrying the scent

lean muscle and scars-faint white lines across his ribs, a jagged mark on his should

canter on the dresser and poured two fingers of amber liquid.

he tu

k. He just cro

d toward the bed. Her legs felt heavy, like she was wading through

reached out and untied the sash of her robe. He di

ms over her chest, a reflex of shame. She felt exp

her arms down to her sides. His gr

de," he c

ft words. No gentle caresses to warm her up. He moved over he

soft Egyptian cotton sheets. Even in the dim light, she wouldn't risk him seeing the in

n. It was a claiming. His lips were hard, his t

Her mind drifted, unbidden, to the restaurant. To Harris

n sto

elbows. His eyes were black holes in the di

me," he

used her e

He shifted, his hips pressing harder agai

," she

iction that dragged a gasp f

ve him that satisfaction. Not when

ess was worse. He waited. He had all the pat

warned. Low

tear escaped the corner of her eye and tracked

tion of a second. He lowered his head and kissed the tear away. His lips lingered

the edge of the bed, his back to her, broad and impenetrab

ing into a ball on the far side of the massi

nto the night air. She watched the silhouette of him lighting a ciga

as lead. Within minutes, the emotional toll of

.

he slow rhythm of deep sleep. He stubbed out the ci

ed down at her. In sleep, the tension had

oming on her upper arm-where she ha

, his jaw

ica salve. He sat on the edge of the bed, moving with a ghost-

omething in her s

ering in mid-air. He waite

s thumb circled the dark mark, his touch infinitely lighter than it had been

back up, tucking it

ed up his phone. A message from Gavi

vy have been purchased. Exclusive rights transferre

a single word

in the darkness. He didn't touch her. He just lay there,