ifted between them. The rules were clearer now, colder, sharper, and the truth of what

e wasn't

by a magnetism she couldn't deny. The danger he embodie

-

nd that belonged to someone important, someone with power. A chill raced down her spine as she

she asked, he

, his eyes unreadable. He didn't give her th

here was something sharp about her beauty. Dark hair, eyes like ice. She wore

oman said, her voice as smoo

, feeling a sense of un

unreadable expression. "I'm Valentina. You

ned. "I didn't realize L

h, he doesn't. But when you run a world like h

swer. She didn't

th possessiveness but something darker, more dangerous. He was allowing this-this m

ing Emilia. "You're smart, aren't you? I can s

wed hard. "Wha

t like a purr. "I want you to leave him. Because if you d

hest, but she didn't back down. S

a smile full of venom an

-

onsumed with something she didn't understand. He had crossed a line with Valentina, and no

, her mind racing. She needed sp

ed behind her, his foot

here was something dangerous in his tone. "She's.

rn to face him. "

stepped closer, his presence enveloping her like a storm. "She'll never be able

hand was on her wrist, pulling her back against him. Her breat

"You think you can walk out that door and pretend this never happened? This wi

nd something far more primal. "What if I don't want t

rm on her hips, pulling her closer. "And

-

s to come. The taste of danger was on his lips, and she drank it in greedily, feeling the weight of h

t, her breath was ragg

fire, Lucien," she w

," he said, his eyes dark, his grip