arely

n the nightstand, its words etc

re hiding, Lena.

d all night, heart racing, memories sh

was

know anything

ng undertone, did part of he

amien was already there. Standing by the window, silhouetted by sunlight, a coffee in one han

tely, but when he did, hi

idn't

he said

t expect

t had the first time. Something about him, how he moved, how he looked at her like

et coming ba

ook he

t?" he

sh I

of her face with shocking tenderness. Her body reacted before her mind could catch

mbling," he

afraid

" he said. "But I do wan

oser until their bodies nearly touched. He didn'

r face up, he

y, his mout

n. When she didn't pull away he couldn't deepen the kiss, and heat bloomed low in

his shirt, desperate for

her waist, drawing

s," she whispered when th

you

so ar

"You're different from eve

she said softly, but her

kened. "You

ressing closer to him, craving more. She didn't know h

ing her jaw, then her throat, ea

p," he m

he di

whispered,

together

His mouth found the hollow of her collarbone, his hands slipping beneath the hem of her thin dress.

her in layers, not

de of her wrist, as though that simple

he whispered, "but you wear

yes b

hat happen

"You said this was

id. "Until I fo

and in that sudden distan

w who I'm hold

old me," she replied, ha

"No. But I think you want to

ch she did want that. Someone to see her, not ju

," she said, her voice shaking. "You

Then he walked to a small cabi

out to her, he

name typed on the f

en

now. N

open. There it was. A photo. A record. The one she tho

stigated?" she a

s I know who they really are. You're not just some struggling artis

lurred. The

ad no

my world. I put you in a vulnerable pos

ething flickered in his eye

the folder,

anted anyo

. "And now that I do... you

er eyes, but she refu

rust you,"

gain, hands at his

e said. "I won't let

fr

he's still

s jaw t

wasn't just researching her.

elling me?" she as

pocket and pulled out a p

s a p

illance

er, rougher bu

mp was from

ew Y

knees b

her before she

king for