ra

ungs, a suffocating mix of power and possession. His hands began to move, not with the t

seless tattoo against his chest. "Get off me

ion streamed down my face,

is dark eyes unreadable behind the glint of his glasses. For a fleeting second

e doorbe

that cut through the ch

fted from possessive hunger to sharp

frantic, impatient rhythm. Whoev

efore I could scream it, Cain's hand clamped

ed, his eyes fla

the bedroom door, peering into the hallway, then to the front door

s face a thundercloud. H

li

re, in my bedroom... The consequences were

r at me, then at the

n't. I couldn't face Julian, not now, not with Ca

bed, then to himself, his meaning bru

ce. It was one de

short,

ep inside the walk-in closet. He slipped into the darkness of the closet

mpled clothes straight. I scrubbed the tears from my cheeks with the

the door a

n. "Elara, darling! You didn't answer your ph

nstinctively. "I was sleeping," I said

"I have the most wonderful surprise! The claiming ceremony, it's all

ead whispered. The location.

"Really? Oh, Julia

ut his chest. He tried to move past me, towards

e. "I mean, I just want to rest. Please. You sh

nds sold the story. He leaned in to kiss me, and

mbling under

egs gave out. I sagged against it, my body t

t door cr

he doorframe, an unreadable, mo