hum of the fluorescent lights. Everything about it screamed control: the roughness of the paper, the crisp

mple act of signing the contract would permanently bind her to this guy, this stranger who controlled her future in his hands. His

sper but with the force of a command. Melissa,

truly her only choice? Every word on the page ridiculing her, she looked at the document. It was her ticket to

l in his eyes nearly challenging her t

over the page. Sh

His lips curled into the tiniest of grins. "Good choice," he mu

a death sentence for the life she

the room appeared to shrink closer to him. His presenc

f anxiety to go down her body. His lips were a hair's breadth from hers. His gaze

pushing her to look into his eyes. His stare was terrifying in its severity; there was no

e. He was marking her as his property, claiming her in every way he could. Anger and something she couldn't quite identify knotted in her c

away, his breath hot against her skin. "It

ship. But something about it knotted inside her, unable to be untangled. In that split second, her body let he

not. She was

was dense with tension none

ngers curled into fists. The kiss stayed with her. It was not only the physicality of it; it was also t

adow under the terms of the deal. But she never thought it would feel like th

ck at her from the window. Always strong and self-sufficient, but now?

want to acknowledge broke her heart. Though he was harsh and controlling, there was something about

eel an unexplainable draw toward him? Why did she feel as like

. "This can't be happening," she said, looking up

o option. Not any more. And much more terrible? S

od and the bed groaned under her. She had entered Alex Bl

hted the awkwardness, the table was set exactly with crystal glasses, silver silverware, and excellent china. Sitting at the head of the table, Alex Blackwood straig

e flat and sharp, "

d power; he appeared like a man used to control, flawlessly composed. But the way he sat there, fing

putting her fork down. Not tonight

his lips, Alex reclined in his c

I'm simply not into your games. N

ck fast. Melissa, you understood precisely what you were entering w

he was getting into, but that didn't mean she had to enjoy i

uiet became dens

, "I'm not here to play nice." You be

s her heart raced. "I don't have to follow you,

rip way too firm before she could speak again. His fingers

" he said, his voice icy and deadly. His eye

felt the gravity of his rem

st incident, Alex didn't say much, but the quiet between them seemed like a never-ending push and pull. Every second she sat ther

space. Caught between two opposing feelings, Melissa stayed sitting unsure whether to stand

rossing the room and standing by the big windows, his back to

t several days had depleted her more than she cared to acknowledge, and all she really wanted wa

e icy as she slowly rose. We are not done

ords halted her. Melissa, don't confuse my c

h. With her back to him and her hand

ing down. Alex, I'm not scared of you," she respon

ex's smile showed no war