live wire. She hadn't touched it since Damien had placed it in her hands hours ago. The surveillance

In New York. L

wouldn't s

t even she couldn't reach it anymore. But Damien had unearthed it effortlessly,

d she tr

ust another f

she saw Damien step inside. He didn't wear a suit now. Just a soft black sw

ome in?"

not trusti

ng one down beside her, he sat in the chair across

into this to hurt yo

fter a beat. "But you d

f my systems. Background checks are automatic for e

m. "So this was nev

that way. It stopped being j

t that life years ago. Changed my name. Star

n't. No

he's

you. I've already put surveillance on the buil

him. "You had a

ectly. "I never leav

man who planned for threats before they appeared. But still, it was jarring and uns

ant from me no

. "Nothing you're n

knowing everything about

id. "I want the real you. The one be

an't give t

. "But Lena... you don

oat tig

he room like her nerves were

e," she said. "I've trained myself not

d on me," Damien said. "

s low. Stead

omposure, the patience that masked hunger, an

n logic. She stopped in front of him, searching his eyes for any hin

roken," sh

kno

not y

greed. "But I want

th caugh

nt a master

. "I want something real. Even if it

. The air betwe

then curling her fingers into his. Hi

r, towering over her, but

ss you?"

nod

her jaw with one hand and slid the other around her waist, pulling her against him

lls tr

hollow beneath her ear. His breath was warm, his body

ike fire,"

. "You feel

e whispered, "and I'll ta

st when he led

lowly, his lips tracing the newly exposed skin. When she reached for

et aside, not torn or tossed. It made her feel like she ma

n to skin, heart to heart, it w

a con

t every gasp with a kiss. Every hesitation with a reassuring to

just physical it was emotional. She sobbed sof

n't as

held her

nd her waist, her head on his chest. For once, her body didn't

be this gentle," s

for you either," he s

tly. "This is m

metimes speed is the only

rms, lulled by the stead

ark when

ll warm beside her,

around her. A strange tension fi

r phone

ess

own

sweetheart. Yo

blood r

followed, this ti

s a p

bed together, taken

amp: ten m

rd me

your protecto

caught in