r in the corner of the room. He poured two generous mea

e glass. "To appearances," s

dy humming through her veins. When had she last eaten? Breakfast, perhaps. T

Kaiden said suddenly, studying

row, emboldened by whisk

" His lips curled in distaste. "Cold

" She took another si

close enough that she could smell his cologne mingli

h her? No, impossible. He'd made his feelin

he said, abruptly turning

pointed in equal measure. "Could you.

odded once, sharp

ing down her spine. His fingers brushed against her skin as he worked, each

he'd finished, his v

n, afraid of what her face

shoulders, warm and une

ling her heart to slow i

k at

nd her shoulders. His eyes were dark, pupils dilated, wh

carefully enunciated as if he were fighting to maintain cont

meaning, he lowered his head

e'd given her at the altar. This was hungry, demanding, as if he were trying to devour her. His arms wrapped

drunk. This wasn't real. He didn't want her, he'd said

ought fled. This was Kaiden Walton, the man she'd dreamed of

in a whisper of silk and lace. Beneath it, she wore a white corset, gossamer stockings secured

" he muttered, his gaze raking over her. For the first time since she'

by a man before, but the desire in his eyes emboldened her.

then his jacket and shirt. His chest was sculpted, athletic, with a dustin

, swaying slightly, hand

I've wanted you for years, and tomorrow you'll remember th

lcohol giving her fals

carried her to the bed. They tumbled onto it together, a tangle of limbs a

murmured against her throat,

ed, embarrassment burning

as if trying to clear his

unable to me

in recognized the significance of what she was telling him. Then he lowered hi

e promised, his voic

g what made her gasp, what made her arch against him. When he finally removed the last barriers between them, she f

ositioned himself above her, hi

d, his eyes struggling to focus on

ection. Esme clung to him as he moved within her, each stroke binding them mor

lly coordinate their movements, but there was a raw honesty to their co

g as waves of pleasure crashed through her. Kaiden followed moments later, his cont

room spinning lazily around them. Esme waited for him to pull away, t

slack against hers as alcohol and exhaustion claimed him. Within mi

in slumber. In sleep, the hard lines of his face relaxed, making him look younger, more vulnerable. She