slid around her waist, lifting her effortlessly. The kiss turned from her desperate attempt at silence into

owed by his mouth. His scent, his heat, was everywhere, and the ra

able behind them. He scooped her into his arms as if she weighed

gged on something. On the low marble coffee table sat a large, glossy book. The cover showe

ragile, noble swan. The words from

the massive bed. The silk duvet was cool against her skin

ine of her jaw, but her body was suddenly

mmediately.

intense blue eyes search

. She couldn't look at him. "Just..

ek, a rare, tender gesture that was completely at odds with the

o the practiced way his hands moved over her. She tried to use the physical s

. Clemente was propped against the headboard, a cigarette between his finge

k sheet clutched in her hand. She traced the embroide

nd. Clemente's personal phone. The screen lit up, sho

s expression went smooth again. He reached over, picked up the phone, and flipp

m bell in Kaelyn's head. The cloud of suspicion she'd

ound casual. "

ette. "Family trust lawyer," he sa

sed a dedicated, encrypted line that showed up with a

t. The knowledge sat lik

aising goosebumps on her skin. She walked into t

he edges of the marble vanity, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess,

ror. Why are you letting yourself be a secret for

d. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to her, talking on the phone

I know it's hard.

heard him use. It was patient. Gentle. Soo

felt like it was being squeezed by

hen he turned around, the mask was back in pla

his wallet. It was a sleek, black credit card

t out to her. "For this we

A payment for services rendered and a down payment for her silen

dn't t

since he'd lied about the phone call. The question she'd been swallo