rasped, low, the promise of

in the back of her throat. "I don't usually

, more than the lips that came over hers a second time, the honest adm

em. Sophia stared down at the joined hands, her mind screaming this was a huge mistake.

ait. He led her inside; the click of the door shu

shadow, Adrian had a strong bone structure, which was accentuated. On the cheek, barely a dent there was a dimple, quite visible only whenever he relaxed him

of his fingers a little rough on her cheek. A flicker in his gaze so

up. "Adrian," she whispered. Before she could get

, firm yet gentle, slipped to her waist, tugging her closer into him. Sophia's finger

cologne, somehow inactively perfumed: all warm and of wood. One thing different was the powerful body pressed into hers,

ir, his voice was low and rough. "S

ith her caught breath. Her lips, now slightly swollen and pinker than before,

was huge, yet subdued-a combination of dark woods and sleek grays. T

, but Adrian turned to her, his gray eyes with an u

a nodded, her vo

ck, hands tracing her slender body. Sophia's long chestnut brown hair fanned onto

e for them both. Adrian handled her as though she would shatter if the press of his hand was not cautious. Sh

, as if she were the only one in the world. And for a second, Sophia let h

at the ceiling while her heart was still pounding. Adria

ght creeping in through the curtains made her squint. She blinked, th

ll beside her, relaxed, the sharp edges of his

r like a kick in the st

s possible. Her dress lay crumpled on the floor, and she

take. A monume

r dress, guilt clawing at her. He had been

he door, her heart pounding in her chest with every step she took. It was just

ing a

rned to find Adrian sitting up in bed, the sheet pooling arou

red, her voice

avered. "You don't ha

," she lied, her

de of the bed. He stood and somehow made the movement so fluid, so grac

she said finally, h

eyes searching hers. "Do wha

at contract, her chest ache. "I don't have time f

voice quiet now. "But don't preten

open without looking backward and went onto the marble flo

rse beeped. She retrieved her

tification; it was

line: "Urgent: We Need To