ately assaulted by a wave of sound and scent. The thudding bass of some generic house music vibrated th

without a glance. Underneath, she wore a simple severe black silk slip d

n she f

im: a beautiful disaster. His tie was loosened, his top button undone. He was flanked by a pair of interchangeable, glossy-haired socialites who were laugh

an drowning in his own pr

ath. She started walking and cut a

her shadow falling over him, blocking

nnoyance. "Excuse me, do you mind? This is a private.

f it were a great weight. His eyes, a startlingly dark blue, tried to focus on her. A

ovements deceptively fast for someone who looke

hand was shocking, a stark contrast to his lang

e booth, landing hard against his chest. Her body was flush against his, a collision of cold

arm snaked around her waist, a band of steel locking her in place. He shift

was hot, thick with the scent of alcohol. "Well, hello," he murmured, his voice

ber that. She tilted her head back, forcing herself to meet his eyes. She searched the hazy

adier than she felt. "Someone who can cause a scene. Someone whos

r what?" he asked, his eyes roaming over her face, her neck, the line of her collarbone. H

settling on the bare skin of her thigh just below the hem of

his grasp. But the image of her mother's face, of Tristan in her be

stance between them. She could feel the hard, steady beat

keen and intelligent flashed in their depths, there and gone so quic

Thirsty work, war," he said, his voice slurring

test. He was watching her, waiting to s

he bar lights shimmering on its surface. She didn't hesitat

. She choked, a violent, full-body cough that brought tears t

g her, the grin on his face widening. He looked p

his other side. "Scram," he said. The women, looking offended

rough, yet he somehow kept her from stumbling. He was a par

he draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side, and began to steer her

pace. The scent of him was overwhelming, filling her senses, clouding her th

The polished bronze doors slid shut,

doors closed, t

ll. The impact knocked the wind out of her. B

announcing their arri

ithout a word, he bent down, hooked an arm under her kne

e kicked it open with his foot and strod