raped over a chair and slipping it on. Her eyes then fell on a sleek smartphone left on a side table. Without thinking, she snatched it up, clutching it as she tried to step back, but her bare should

insides were a knot of terror. "I can pay you. W

life. "Sir," Cole's voice whispered from a world away, "the Fo

ptible shake of his head. Th

es echoed from the hallway, closer now. "Ch

he man's shadowed face, her desperation overriding her fear. "Please," she be

ire of her own slander. "The man I'm supposed to marry... the Blackburn heir...

jolt of cold fury through Damien. He masked it perfectly,

sound vibrating through her. "Th

ng about money. The only thing her family had

atch on her arm with his thumb. The touch was electric, a spark of danger that made her flinc

rd body. The breath was knocked from her lungs. He was all muscle and heat, an immovable wall o

, piercing sound that made h

arm. He shifted his body, partially shielding her from the d

red from the other side. "We're looking fo

blocking the view into the room. He scowled with pr

he opulent suite behind him, stammered an apology but held his gro

tinct, she reached up from behind Damien, smearing her lipstick with the back of

e sleek smartphone, switched it to the front-facing camera, and angled

imitation of a lover interrupted, "let's

pause. The corner of his mouth twitched.

didn't look like a kidnapping. It looked like they'd

still there. She looked up at the stranger, her voice a bare

, if clumsy, attempt at seduction to get what she wanted. He studied her, his dark eyes unreada

owered his head, his nose almost brushing

, but the intensity in his eyes felt terrifyingly real.

wn shirt, but to her lips, his thumb brushing over the smeared lipstick. The gesture