ave pushed

have sc

anything except

he did everything else-with ab

y where he wanted it. His body pinned mine to the w

do jacket, holding on becaus

emanding, claiming. I heard a whi

nd left my hair, sliding down to

" I gasped when

d to my jaw, my thro

to

dn't

ulder, and my knees buckled. Dominic caught me, pressing me

min

teeth grazed my pulse point.

ack, giving hi

I

s skimming the curve of my b

into th

, triumphant. He pulled back just enough to

cut throug

his chest. "

, hands raised. But his eye

, trying to ignore the way

ree

ser

raightened his jacket

's what you're c

told me to. If you want to pretend you weren't ki

I hated that

ou stop th

s hair. "Because you slapped me, and I should have been angry. Sh

not an

l, pressed a button. The elevator humm

elevator descended. My lips sti

id quietly, "we're going to walk ou

in

ng to be my

awa

estured between

rfe

dinged. The d

ut without

teps before a han

ai

till held me, his g

sorry,"

aid it was

But I'm n

d me and w

pty corridor, my entire

eeded to find Mom, m

found mysel

stairs without counting, followi

ed through

quartet. Some

then pushed t

splattered the floor. And in the center, a man stood b

he

ce me. His foc

ld hav

uldn't l

le body. Every stroke w

a step

fr

pain

was

ct, dreamlike. But unmistakably me-the curve of m

you going to

r still hadn't

I didn't mea

e." He added another

my brain could object

ou-" I coul

Three weeks ago.

thers. Where Julian was charming and Dominic was commanding, Asher was raw

een follo

top thinking about you." His gaze dropped t

at'

I'm getting tha

most smiled. "Does that

it before." He set down his brush

er. My soon-to-

ed in his express

idn't

personal life." He moved closer, studying me like I was ano

ee-thousand-d

u look

tightened.

ing near my face but not quite t

I tell you

I knew yo

rld st

ha

usinessman. Terrible judge of character. He t

in a car

t your mothe

veins. "What

an accident. And the man responsible is

re ly

verything I've gathered over the past three years. Your father was inv

er. Inside were photocopies, news

ou showing

oice was gentle. "And because I thin

older slipped from my fi

ht my arms. "Brea

My father-my kind, bri

sob tore fr

d me agains

shat

my mother's lies. For the l

oking my hair, the other firm on my back.

ly passed, I pulled

y. I

apolo

from mine. Paint smudged on his jaw, e

u care?" I

protected him." His thumb brushed my cheek, catching a stray tear. "And

etween us

should

e on my toes a