ed the side of her gown, and took in a deep breath. There's no

nothing about his private life out there in the medi

es. No age

um, wondering what her

s though reading her mind. His gaze rem

He doesn't mean to own her, but he hated how the m

me," she muttered

ate for strangers. The air between them was not warm, nor cold. It was

ying companies or playing shadow p

didn't

hree questions." She haven't known him for two full

d. "That

ted, baffled.

n't re

gh and sank deeper into he

s too still. Too heavy. Rielle kind of missed the city. Especiall

osed ice

of her gown. "You don

not a qu

riefly, trying to calm her

no re

cruel. It wasn't even cold. She felt like hi

tened and looked at him aga

Not randomly, but

yes met hers. There was not a flic

ooked at her.

nse gaze. She almost shifted on her seat, b

t of her hoped he wouldn't. But when

e right quest

turned a

? That was

ked. "Se

rep

even mean? The right question? Why did that sound l

unfamiliar building. Sleek. Secluded.

hout a word. The door

d. Then step

ielle walked in with Xander behind her. The silence st

e space she walked into. A single elevator at t

to him. "Wh

the doors closed. And as ex

he mumbled und

lent luxurious apartment, Xander tu

you want. Also, you can do whatever you want fro

idn't move. Her gaze stayed loc

to look at a man this way. A man? Man, she would

of trophy cage, is i

unreadable. "I don't ke

say I was valuab

ered louder than

at once. She didn't want his attention. She wanted control. She wante

e city, dark marble counters, velvet furnishings, and books that looked lik

o isolate people in

er. He was already

You pick me up like a stray, drop me here l

door. "You asked yo

n't answ

. Dangerous in its

ame. When he vanished six months ago, she had questions but believed he'd answer them w

with my life. You don't get

Slow and deliberate. Then he crossed the

gala," he said. "Not

as he leaned towards her. He was

He tilted his head, studying her like a blade beneath glass. "No

landed l

ted. "What the he

didn't

r her to feel the air shift between

nodded,

r answers you're n

away before she would recover

behind him w

heart racing like a war drum in her ches