f the water was

r her skin. For a split second, the cold was a relief, a bapti

ping uselessly at the surface. Water splashed into her mouth, and she

ol, her fingers scraping against smo

uite's main livin

ments in his hand. He'd come back for the quarterly reports he'd for

ooke

ol indifference, instantly furrowed. There w

Eleanora saw the tall, dark silhouette on the deck. Kason. He'

k away, pushing herself deeper into the pool, away fro

hadow falling over her. He looke

es, the way her pupils were blown wide in the dim light. Th

boardrooms and back alleys, screamed at him. She was on som

and crouched, stripping off his suit jac

fueled nightmare, didn't see a

ter, sending a weak s

ed. "Leave me alone, you... you cheatin

his lips. Old pervert. The insult, so juvenile, only seemed to

said, his voice droppin

f his presence. Sobbing, she tried to swim away, toward

cramp seized her right

ent rigid,

nd terrifying. A desperate, burning need for air consumed her. Her eyes were wide wi

Horace didn

he splash was a violent explosion in the quiet room. He was on

of steel locking her against him. He hauled

from his hair, dripping from his sharp jawline onto her

ng, shameful sense of security. His body was a warm, solid anchor in her spinni

uggles

r wet, trembling arms came up, wrapping around his neck. Sh

resting against his chest. Her lips, swol

y a pliant, desperate clinging. He felt the heat of her body through

id, every muscle tensing

ce was a low, guttural snarl, laced with

hell did