s Car-M

hield, matching the tempo of Damien's pulse-st

't play

't need

he city's late-night hush. Everything about him radiated control: his composed silence, the stoic

ld him to

ears, Damien didn't know wh

apologies. She was the kind of woman who had been tied up for years, weighed down by expectations,

e last link i

ched so tight it ached. What the hell wa

t someone

someone y

, he didn't want

ante

e woman who stormed into his life half-naked and sarcas

exhaled

wouldn'

empire by walking away

Apartment

t was trying to comfort her. Vani

d them. The water barely moved now. The candles on the ledge flickered aga

ated

d shuddering inhales. Hated that after all her strength, all her d

whispered into the void, "Why

every person who ever expected her to be perfect. She h

d

she

d a

her contract, a

wasn't her father

Damien

e wors

ands. The way her chest ached at how gently he had loo

es shut, pressing her

you," sh

rt hadn't b

omple

d her more tha

___

– Selene

hythm that told Cassandra everything she needed to know-Sel

quared, and a deep calm that only comes after a sleepl

tly, her gaze lifting to Cassandra, who

" Selene said simply

ht off guard. "You're a

ing. I'm tired. I just want peace." Her lips twitched, not quite a sm

re she could speak, Selene stepped closer, pausi

iefly, then back up with reluctant amusem

y. She looked down at the sleek

ange moment of normal

s out of line yesterday. You d

gave a slight tilt of her

idn't

didn'

ething

ing so

____

Damien'

he few people allowed such liberties. Damien looke

andra said. "Marri

't relax. "S

peace. That fighting

back slightl

ith a flicker of dry amusement, "Also, she co

on. Damien's brow

y survive this arrangement. She's got

s quiet. "She's g

nodded onc

ed at the c

re. Preferred her rage. Th

tired, qu

work harder

ow... he

____

aurant – Ear

in the city, minimalist in design, silent in class. The kind of

arrived

ne straight, dress crisp, mouth set. A

not enough to be rude. He was in charcoal grey, tailored within an inch of it

t sit ri

aking in the fitted navy dress, the clean

" he said finally, sliding

eplied, lifting the menu wit

ked. "S

r n

d their orders, two glasses

s folding on the table. "This isn't

. "We make appearances, we smile for the ca

live in y

u w

e sti

ed. "Shared residence. At least for the

after

ever the hell we

urge to roll her eyes. "I won't cook. I w

need to. That would m

And you? What do you

ath lower. "Access. Stability. An untou

his gaze.

"Then we'll b

rrived. Forks

at the greens. "You know," he said, "m

ok up. "Then mar

be

he la

Surpr

this because I'm tired of fighting. That doesn't

. "Noted. And when I inevi

, effortless. "Then I'll f

her

lass in salute. "He

nked hers

atrim

_____

erence Hall

ns, and whispers of scandal. Every major outlet was here. Every eye w

shoulders and slicked hair. She looked untouchable, which only fueled the questions. Damien

poken much si

they stepped into the blinding lig

le if you

rupted the mome

why the sud

ow long have you

control over the

h the practiced ease of a

e cool and commanding. "But this time, I'll make an exception. My wife

blinked

ifferently in f

rned to her then-hand settling at her wais

r like she was the o

r so briefly, f

said under her breath, smilin

moved. "You're p

urn me,

like th

d into something deeper. His hand slid around her waist, gripping firmly. Selene's fin

. Shutters click

ien did

ss dee

at first. T

ssive precision. His free hand cupped her jaw, anchoring

let

or a s

he kiss beca

irst, breath caught,

ad gone si

ilted her chin. Slipped h