Oliv

e sound of the

gue that went deeper than my bones. Groaning softly, I

old. Cedric hadn'

chair by the window, fully clothed, with his gun

t was slightly ajar. Steam billowed out, ca

his head bowed against the tiles. The water sluiced ov

dri

e red-rimmed and haunte

," he said, h

soaked through the fabric instantly, plastering it to my skin like a secon

bruising force. He kissed me, hard. It wasn't gentle. It was

is hands roaming over my body. "Later. When things settle d

wanted to believe him. I wanted to be the mother of h

ing back slightly. "We n

ne. The passion evaporated ins

now,

door last night. I heard her fo

e water and stepped out, snatching a towel. "She's

d, wringing out my robe as water pooled at my feet. "Transfer h

eyes flashing. "She is fa

edric. And she doesn't lo

snapped. "Jealousy doesn't sui

thing I couldn

e, but by evening, the tension had

e turned off the lights, and the ceiling filled

A small one, but

lying beside me on the bed, staring up at

stening to the steady thrum of hi

ke it up

rang. The harsh, jarring

my cheek. He didn't even look a

? What

y chest. I could hear her frant

.. they're saying I staged the ambush. T

. The air in the roo

saying

l comms. Kacie is leaking secrets, C

he tenderness was gone. In its place was

you do?"

said, my voice shaking.

op. Did you send messages?

's lying. She's

was tight, bordering on painful. "Get

hy

You're going to tell the men that you respect

ng against his grip. "I

our husband and I am your Don,

. I stared out the window, watching

d, looking perfectly manicured for someone who had just survived

ric, she burst i

tepped between us, his broad back blocking my view o

asting the bitterness

otects wha

sn't prot