staircase. The silence of the hallway pressed against he

ballroom. She couldn't face

a narrow side corridor, pushing op

tings. The air smelled of dust and old varnish. Gisele leaned her bac

r clutch. The screen lit up

by tomorrow, we have to mov

her hand hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. She wa

over the dial button, the

forward onto the hardwood floor. Her

knees, her heart le

. Constantine stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him with a soft, ominous click. He stood there for a second, one hand c

cedar and bergamot filled

shoulder blades hit the heavy, gilded frame of a

m with slow, predatory steps. He stopped ju

sper in the quiet room. "Tell me. What is your exact price? How mu

eath hitche

you are. I've watched you cling to him for two years. You tolerate his cheating, his temper, his absolute

st ruthless Wall Street vocabulary to dissect her life, reducing

a mixture of fear and pure rage. She lifted her chin, refusing to look away fr

m? My brother doesn't have the spine to stand up straight, let alo

it up there in your ivory tower, judging people who are act

eaned in closer, his tall frame c

ever marry you, Gisele. You are a placeholder. A toy he uses to piss off our father. T

e knew Channing didn't love her. She knew it was a transaction. But heari

it down until the metallic taste of blood flooded her mout

ed, her voice thic

her eyes to her mouth. He saw the tiny bead o

elf-inflicted wound. He fought it, his body rigid with the effort. But the sight of her pain, caused by his own cruel words, was a magnetic pull he couldn't resist. With a motion that was both swift and filled

pected touch of the rough silk against her raw lip

and down. "Don't touch me!" she hissed,

ow. The momentary lapse in his control vanished,

is fingers digging into her soft skin. He pulled her face u

s breath ghosting over her lips. "It's a dangero

feel the rapid, heavy thud of his heartbeat through his sui

rill ringtone of a phon

shot. He dropped his hand from her ja

ate phone. He looked at the screen, then looked at

ndkerchief he had just used on her from his breast pocket and began to wipe

ever experienced. The tears she had been fighting fi

voice instantly returning to the c

is assistant on the other end, he looked at Gisele,

av

clutch from the floor and bolted out of the room, the

down at the silk handkerchief in his hand, now stained with a tiny speck of her blood and the phantom

e threw the expensive s