mari

r. As he moved the cloth away from my neck, the pads of his fingers brushed against the s

e door. "I can do it," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I r

ty. I tried to focus on drying my hair, but I was acutely aware of him

fumbling for the zipper. It was a long, delicate line of tiny buttons and a hidden zip. My cold, numb fingers couldn't get a grip. I

lips. I was trapped in the s

from beside me.

turning toward me. His chest was a solid wall behind my back, hi

air aside, his touch sending a fresh wave of shivers down my spine. I could feel hi

ew it down. Slowly. Deliberately. The sound was deafening

of the gown slid from my shoulders, pooling around my waist, leaving me in the thin, si

ir. I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart hammering again

d a glance at him. He was staring out the window, his jaw tight, his hand gripping the leather armrest

system shattered the tense silence. The caller ID

ssed a button on the console. "Wha

was a voice accustomed to being obeyed. "You were supposed to be at the pack coun

oel said, his voic

now you're ignoring your duties. It's time you settled down. The agreement with the Crawford family s

ical alliance. It was a worl

"I don't take orders from you anymore

d. "I can still strip you of your control o

idea began to form in my mind. It was insane. It was

father wouldn't dare to touch me or my family's company. And the man sitting next to m

ing. The words tumbled out of m

rry

solute. Even Gustaf on the ot

lpha bellowed. "Who is tha

He looked... intrigued. He reached over and ended the

ed space, his presence was almost suffocating.

grandfather off your back. A shield. I need a partner with enough power to protect me and help me rec

rength and clarity with each word. It w

shed, he leaned in, his face just inches from mine. He

what you're offering, little girl," he murmured, his voice

down. I clutched the cashmere blank

e with his thumb, his touch both a caress and a brand. I saw a flash of triumph in

, giving me ro

voice a low rumble

had done it. I had a lifeline. "

said, his voice crisp and commanding. "Change of

n's voice came back,

reek," Joel

plunging deeper into the rain-swept countryside. I stared out the window at

the devil. And he was taki

feel his presence beside me, a constant, powerful hum. I was his now. And