emical fire that completely bypassed his rational mind. He grabbed the zipper of Adaline's

e, searching for anything to defend herself. Her hand closed around

rard's face. He was covered in a cold sweat. His facial muscles twitched. A low,

rashed into her chest. She could not hurt him. Even now, when he was

the floor. The as

ed down on her collarbone and shoulders. He was complete

ingertips brushed against the skin of her lower back, tracing the delicate,

raction of a second. His raspy voice whis

e tear slipped down her cheek and soaked into the carpet. S

e sounds inside the room. The night dissolved into a

t of Gerard's system, leaving him completely exhausted. He c

d herself to sit up. The movement triggered a violent cramp in her stomach. The cancer was a br

e zipper was completely ruined. She could not wear it. She walked into the ma

The skin on her neck and chest was

. She stepped under the freezing water, scrubbing her skin until it

ked her ruined dress into her bag. She walked b

features were relaxed. Adaline reached out

and saw her here, he would never believe she saved him. He would think she orchest

he had touched. She wiped the doorknobs. She scanned the white sheets and picked up three l

sical trace of her e

he door and gra

n't

ce mumbled f

turned to ice. She stood frozen b

over and his breathing returned to a slow, s

d the handle and sli

levator down to the garage, got into her Porsche, an

tem. It was Clara. "Where were you last night?

ew mirror. Her voice was completely flat. "I drank

er head against the steering wheel. The tears she had held back all night finally broke free. She