n still flushed, heart still fluttering from something t

your

if trying to decode a

t of her bed, bare-c

t is my uncle,

the woman wh

came out. Her brain was racing

hat's not

t

r mentio

woul

enly felt sma

w tight with tension. Not angry.

ything-her racing pulse, her bare skin, an

murmured, eyes locked on

dn't h

as if each button was a confession. Rain tapped against

already... fragile. I didn't understand it then, just knew that sometimes she

hard, heart achi

olished and perfect. He didn't come around much. When he did, he'd flash money like

hardened, ju

t. Every time. Said he

an who, minutes ago, had whispered

u?" she

kid in the corner. The one who talked t

You stayed silent

.. and you neve

for

u kissed me? After I made you

d sharp. A punc

ooked

ining almost instantly.

didn't

leaned forward, face hidde

wasn't what I inte

you were... you. Not at fir

wanted you to want me. Me

rying to recon

d. The man who'd tried to de

ipulator. Brill

restorm of a bo

know," she

his head.

felt

"But now I'm sleeping with his ex-wife and spiraling in a s

him. Placed her pa

was war

t him," sh

u s

es

ast. And kis

sperate. Not lik

about c

man in a world that had

he studio was

ed in corners. There was a charge i

the door, eyes wide. "Eli

ind of

ng a story. They want quotes. Ba

urned to slush.

stant he

ise

y i

rie

like

. Br

d of contract about teaching conduct. I

l trail

se it w

asn't

hat he did best-destroyi

g without a word. Rage

utside the library. Ho

coming an

she said, ou

rie

hing. He's coming

dn't f

igur

do w

-not a smile, bu

hing

something w

Elise post

glamorous. Not

t r

Her smile hidden against his throat. S

pt

't reg

rnet cra

ts exp

. Threats. Applau

. Anonym

ised her

ed her a

wanted m

e back corner of all that nois

it

phone and tossed

ked th

his arms like the

ve done?" he whispe

es

on't st

her onto

es fit aga

this time-

about sham

about c

e

i

h

ld came crashin

dy aching in the best way. Her eyes w

-her pho

n

ost ign

screen s

ate me

n

pic

seven

ly don't kno

flicker of r

fr

roat c

hand, hitting the carpet

Sat up. "Elis

ed at hi

hink

ice cr

was never ju