suite swung open, revealing a breathtaking panorama o

d, half-tossed the barely conscious Aleah onto t

fog in her head cleared slightly, and she struggled

red himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the ligh

hrough the quiet room. "We can tal

e of dizziness. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mum

s down with a soft clink and advanced on her, moving

ers. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. "Is it for money? Fame? O

ense was useless now. He had her trapped. A

defiance in her eyes. "What

ace, quickly replaced by a look of

chin, forcing her to look directly at him. "But

e didn't look away. "Because you need me," she said, each word precise. "You need

this. He hadn't expected this seemingly harm

ew thick with a danger

hands on the sofa on either side of he

en them. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. "Yo

tion in the dark gray of his eyes. She f

red, the words carrying a raw vulner

chord in him. The aggressive advance paused,

its breaking point, Aleah'

ved him

He stared, momentarily stunned, as she scrambl

t retching echoed f

gust. He stood frozen for a

the toilet, her body wracked with spasms. The defiant, challenging wo

lence as she finished, slumping weakly against

returned from the kitchen area with a bottle of

saw the bottle, then his impassive face,

, just stared at h

o her hand. "Drink it. Then go to the guest room a

eaving her with the cold bot