cluded in suff

ing pulse. She needed to avoid the rest of the family. More importantly, she needed to

dimly lit hallway, head

ed. A tall, broad silhouette stood in the shadows. The glowing che

djusted her posture and stepped

ould thank you," she said, keeping her tone polite

e exhaled a thick cloud of wh

, his voice colder than the wind. "It

flaring. She took a half-step forward, trying to rea

of his eyes caught the moonlight, flash

thal whisper. "If you ever try to sell those cheap, fake tears

washed over her. She had gotten arrogant, thinking she could play the ent

ly dry. She lowered her eyes, unable

practically ran

xhausted, but her mind was spinning out of control. Carlton's cold, threatening eyes burned in her memory. The pr

her nightstand, swallowed two pills d

ged her un

kness quick

iry bedroom. She was in a dimly lit, enclosed space. The air was thick

he oversized black French-cuff shirt

She couldn't. Her wrists were bound together above her he

stepped out

s Car

dark, dilated, and burning with a raw, pred

out. His rough, calloused fingers traced a burning path up

ands free, but her body betrayed her. Her muscles

h fanned across her neck. He pressed his lips against the exact spot

ve of pure electricity straight to her core. Joanna let out a soft, de

hirt and ripped it open. The buttons

owled against her skin, his vo

ashed violently with the overwhelming physical pleasure. Driven b

eeth hard into the thick muscle of

he tasted the hot, m

t a deep, guttural groan of pleasure. H

eyes snap

owning. Her heart was hammering against her ribs so hard

e was no tie. She looked down at her chest

g the edges of the sink. She stared at her reflection. Her

trembling hands, a wave of sic

ut her fiancé's uncle. The stress of her rebirth was