ing doors of the Four Seasons,

rystal chandeliers overhead. Elisa stood there, dripping water onto the pristine stone. Her co

He started to come around the counter, a look of polite alarm on

. The adrenaline that had carried her from the club

ees bu

't hit t

elding. One arm hooked around her waist, the

back. Through the haze of wet h

s, a jawline that could cut glass. His eyes were dark, almost black, and t

arwood, and something e

an in his arms. He recognized her instan

uld hand her over to the manager. He sho

hands clutched the lapels of his suit

. His voice was deep, a low rumbl

re." She looked back up at him. Her eyes w

d his eyes. "Do y

't care who you are. I just

tiptoes, bringing her face inches from

challenge

w feet away, uncertain. Gallagher gave a single, shar

n her finger. He saw the pain in her eyes. It mir

et this," he

else," Elisa replie

nt down and scooped her up into his arms

ling his scent. It masked the smell of

s. He pulled a black card from his poc

man in an impeccable suit holding a woman w

o his shoulder, hidden from the security camera in the corner. His hand came

the pressure buildi

dark. Lightning flashed outside the floor-to-ceiling wind

console table in the entryway.

Her hands were cold on

f salt and

groaned, a guttural sound, and kissed her back. His hands tangled in her wet hair,

ding. He kissed her like he want

tly what she want