e gap in the heavy curtains, strik

velvet sofa. Her neck was stiff, and

er neck. The sound of running wat

e had a white towel wrapped low around his waist. Droplets of water

. She quickly averted her eyes, staring hard at the

sounded at the

rly from the hallway. "The elder Mr

the door. Panic flashed in his

e massive strides and grabb

elped as he haule

of the king-sized bed. She bounced agai

k duvet and yanked it up, covering them both up to their sho

rs of the bedr

eaned heavily on a silver-headed cane, his

on's face vanished instantly. It was r

zbeth's waist, pulling her even closer.

ody went rigid. Her

t under the covers, pinching her ha

She forced the corners of her mouth up in

ndfather," she sai

angled bodies. The tight lines around

he bed. "How did you both sleep?" he

his warm lips against Elizbeth's f

ather," Carlton murmured, his v

ent shiver down Elizbeth's spine. A bitter,

et. He pulled out a small, square velvet

instructed. He tapped his cane on the floor on

he loud click of the lock

n's face in a fraction of a sec

He threw the duvet off his body and rolled out of the

a lie, and the cold that replaced it felt more honest, yet somehow more brutal. A bi

and aggressively rubbed hi

ipping with disdain. "And don't get used to t

o her chest, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the fab

es later wearing a perfectly tailored Armani suit. He

strapped it to his wrist, and walked

the velvet box, her chest heavy with a suffocating weight. She knew she couldn't stay in this hostile room without t