est, but it was like trying to move a mountain. "You promised y

his chin on the top of her head, and when he spoke, his voice was a low rumble against her hair, laced with

opped struggling, her body slumping against his. The car moved on in silence, gliding through the New

k them directly to the penthouse. The doors opened into the vast living room s

But he was faster. His foot blocked the door before it could close, and then his body was filling the doorway. He followed her in,

ng," he murmured, his

urn," she said, her voice stiff.

belonged to

lm was a ring. A large, square-cut emerald of breathtaking clarity, set in a simp

mother's favorite ring. It had disappeared after she died, along wi

find it?" Her voic

his eyes never leaving hers. "It

from his palm. It felt cool and heavy, a solid piece of her past return

. She looked up at him, all the fight, all the

entirely. It was a reclaiming, a desperate affirmation. He lifted her effortlessly, setting

he emerald ring on her finger. The soft light from the city below filled the room. B

were brilliant tonight," he said, his voice a low murmur. "A true fo

casually, made her e

ly. "Blackburn, we talked about this. What

t her, his expre

r voice gaining a defensive edge. "We're good in b

," he said, his voice quiet but intense, gesturing to the emerald. "You sleep in my

uestion hung between the

eyes softened. "Fine. We'll wait." He leaned in, his lips brushin