N'S

's g

I whip around, the room already empty-her scent

om. Their eyes go wide as I tear through the hall like a storm. A flash of

I bark before anyone

he-" one of

" Marco whee

narl, muscles coi

ss the sky. She leaps over a low wall, skirt

ither she doesn't see the pool in time, or

next second, she's gone, submerged

ing goe

st imp

ny

not caring that I'm dressed in a suit, not carin

c. The pool is deeper than I remember, the water knife-c

inking like a

g limp. Her skin is bone white, lips tinged bl

o, no

collapse to my knees beside her

ng two fingers to her thr

r her to wake up, but she's

think and

, I tilt her head back an

r lips to touch for the first time.

est. Again. And again. Water sputter

t me like you've been

e. Her hands claw at my shirt. Her lips are cold but hungry, like she's gasping for life through me. The kiss

ng up water. Her chest heaves. H

of a sudden

my left

have a near death experie

e screams, cough

r, stunned. "

kisse

aved

idnapp

were

ompletely

ce is low, a rasp of adrenaline

skin. Water drips from her chin down her chest. I can see the shape of her breast, how they jiggle and m

ches pneumonia out here. Without say

t my chest with fists that barely s

catch

eeze to death

her back toward the open doors,

" I murmur. "The dres

but she's no match for my grip. Her bare legs kick against my hip, and the s

down,

o,'" I mutter, t

beat weakly at my chest. I ignore them. She's cold and shaking, her lips tinged

too stunned or smart to intervene. Good. She's still trembling a

like she might break. She hits the cushions with a wet plop, t

yes could burn Ro

me like I'm about to explode,"

r and give the order, an

tte

ound herself. Her teeth chatter slightly

eren't such a raging asshole, I

an eyebr

she says smugly. "Except

ed. I'll take this as your formal

shoulders in tangled ribbons. Her chest rises and falls under the towel, and

just... ask me out? Bought me a drink? Said, 'H

ou have

ll

at. "Kidnapping is a little

. We do ever

the most perfect soun

ns the ego.

ike th

e the

i

g wet strands from her ch

ne second you're pulling me out of a pool like Baywatch, the next you're

I say, crouching besid

You're someth

l from her cheek. She freezes. Her bre

urning from her. I know my men

of feet. T

arm clothes

. I pull out one of the outfits I had prepare

ing the bundle onto t

ipping in fr

. If you promise

t tem

the floor with a splat, followed by the slick sound of buttons slipping free. My shirt clings

me, s

low, low

earsal?" she teases, voice

g me, wide-eyed, the towel still wrapped

ng. Her breath stuttersand I see her

with heat, "and I'll cuff you to my bed and make sure y

retort but winces, clutching her

hi

against my chest. She's so c

s the last thing I'll see be

. She's trying to be funny. Trying to pretend she's not falling apart in my arms

I growl, too harsh.

matic," she murmur

en I s

red against the white tow

full second

y hear

oo

er t

rything inside me turns to glass.

no

e bed, her head rolling to the side, hair fanned out like a ha

so hard I can

ce rips out like