yes seemed to pierce

tly, putting a fraction m

the coffee table. Av

ly a heartbeat. Then she pressed the tip down a

Benn

on. No seco

't realized how tense he'd been at the thought of her r

uptly. She leaned forward, closing the spac

e than a whisper of cont

elt it like

felt like dolphins were breaching

ing things. It had been so long since he'd let any wom

most businesslike, as if the kiss had been nothing

aid quietly. "I will

kiss. But outwardly, he kept

u will, Mis

artment and hadn't even offered him a drink. She turned to

r is

the edge of something dark on her arm. He

to

ha

eeve of her cardigan,

htened. "Wh

kly, trying to pull her arm b

loosen. His voice

mon, I do

. Do

ut his voice was firm enough.

and returned with the first

the kit on the coffee table and

Ava protested. "It's just a br

t her, his silver

ed care or not, you'

d her ar

e, then closed it again. The

pressed it to a scrape on her arm. His ha

hurt?"

lit

apped the gauze around her arm

away. His thumb brushed over the edge o

irred in her chest. She quietly slipped her

ath. He stood and glanced

said. "You're moving

night? Isn't tha

e contract. Shared living arrangement

ly, staying in this apartment felt suffocat

ht," she

d a moment later, leaning against the doorfr

d pulling out clothes. Damon glanc

man's dress shirt. Ex

ver and pointe

m folding a sweate

but his voice took on a faintly

r, folded it neatly in half, and walked over to the trash c

with a s

rned bac

d, "you shouldn't keep

ed to move on. But still, six years of her life had ju

t was just... everything. The good

ment, then stepped closer.

d. "It's not that. It's

ny h

me." Ava's laugh was soft and bitter. "

to her suitcase

e, in a frame, was a photo of Ava and Victor

flipped the frame face-

ed to bring t

d flatly, "You've broken

pressed into a tight line. His brow was slig

th stirred i

on," she s

mm

ou...

nced at h

her head.

hings in his wife's home, and knows that man once spent

blin

sb

t only minutes ago and he was a

between them. Not when they

stand, picked up the photo,

eting Damon's eyes. "I'm not the kind

torn pieces in

en. But his shoulders eased a

the northern edge of the city. Wrought-iron gates swung open

breath

and stone, surrounded by gardens and forest. Lights glowed warmly

sked, unable to keep t

pack business. I don't spend as much time here as I should."

heart

often. Tha

tugging at his mouth. "Your room is

ingers tightening arou

ught the

most gentle. "I won't ask you to fulfill the physica