ola

ouder this time, sending a cold spike of

er face. If Chloe walked in right now-if she saw her sister pinned against the counter with my arms wrapped around her waist and my eyes glowing red-e

the thick panel again, light and inn

throat locked up. She couldn't s

fix this

ack under control, burying the demon deep inside my chest until my vision cleared. Then, before Chloe could tr

A

ide the small room, echoing

high gasp and stumbled

t, I unlocked the deadbolt with a sha

her sweet face pale with shock. Her eyes went huge as she looked at me-sweaty, barefo

back another inch. "What... what ar

weat off my forehead with the back of my arm, stepping out into the hall to block her view of Bella completely. "Water wa

her head tilting in co

t question it. "I was down in the rink trying to train, and I heard the water run

lously calm, though I could hear her heart h

, but she kept her posture straight as an arrow. "The pipe gave out while I was washing my hands. Nikolai happened to be n

seconds, she just stood there in silence, processing the scene. My muscles stayed

ulders. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought something bad hap

for the pipe," I lied smoothly, extendi

ithout a second thought. "Right. I brought these from the place down the street.

," I said, my voice dropping an octave as

fear and lingering heat. The kiss we shared seconds ago was still

smooth and businesslike, though her fingers twitched at her

ter home. The cleaning crew can deal with the pipes in the morning

arm through Bella's. "You look completely exhausted. Come

face, resting on my mouth for a fraction of a moment before

ing toward the stairs. She looked back at me over her shoulder with

," I m

clicking against the floor until her f

gone, the hallway

hest rising and falling fast as she leaned back against the frame for support. The br

e whispered, her voice s

thing," I said, taki

nd up, stopping me in my tra

face. The heat between us was still hanging heavy in the narrow hallway, bu

oftly, looking straight into my eyes.

my throat feeling dry.

he pulled herself together. She reached out and took one of the coffee cups from my hand, her co

down the hall toward her offi

emon was pacing back and forth inside my chest, angry that I let her walk away, but I knew she wa