t. Chloe's bare feet sank into the thick wool carpet, silencing her steps. The antique sconces

rds from her past life. He's a monster, Chloe. H

d it all. She h

legs for laying a hand on her. She had felt his thumb on her cheek, feather-light, wiping away blood that wasn't hers. A monster didn't touch his

door she had never willingly approached before. Taking a deep, shuddering b

knocked, the sound muf

silence stretched

rumbled from within,

pen, stepping into the room she had always avoided. It w

corner. It cast a golden glow on Jax, who was slumped in a leather

ow furrowed. The hand holding the glass

his voice cold and clipped. "Your r

she reached back, closed the h

k echoed in th

t his glass down on the small table beside him, his body tensin

g directly in front of his chair. She looke

wrong people. I let them poison my mind against you. I believed every lie they tol

this a new game, Chloe? A new strategy? What do yo

k her he

up her silk nightgown and settled herself onto his l

tle between instinct and restraint. He started to raise his hands, t

a breath away from his. "I don't want an allowan

k, to erect his walls again. She closed the

ocked resistance. Then, a low groan rumbled in his ch

ot roughly. There was a carefulness to his grip, a restraint that spoke of years of wanting and never being allowed to touch.

lips, and her body tremb

oke the kiss abruptly, his chest heaving. His eyes, now blazing wit

let you go. There will be no turning back. So please-" his voice cracked "-if this is a game, if you'

her not to break his heart again-undid something inside her. She looked into his

she reached for the silk ti

und her waist, exposing the pale, smooth skin of her colla

wer was

er across the room. He laid her down on the vast, soft expanse of his bed with a gentleness that made her eyes sting. His body co

id, his voice hoarse. "T

his face in her hands. "

years building. He lowered himself to her, his lips finding hers again,

ng to his back, her fingers digging into his skin.

I will no