f Francisco's arms, her voice weak and trembling. "She's probably j

a plea for understanding; underneath, a sharp reminder to Fran

to Britt," he commanded. The words were flat, devoid

a physical thing, a hand squeezing her heart until it couldn't beat. "Francisco," she whispered, her

eded him to define the las

airs, moving around Evelyn as if she were a piece of furniture in his

ur place

r, shocking the very marrow in her bones. It extingu

e called after him, her vo

cruel, chilling smile touched his lips. "You're the c

ge and laid bare the ugly transaction at its core. Evelyn flinched

my home and insult me?" she

eared with Britt into one of the guest rooms. The soft click o

but her words echoed in the cavernous space, unheard and

niversary. A dessert he would never eat. She dug her fingers into the soft cake and brought a messy scoop to her mouth. The

handsome and powerful. She had fallen for him instantly, a secret, foolish crush that was the real re

sofa. She was jolted awake by a heavy weight pressing down

to push the body of

tall windows, she saw his face. It was Fran

only come to her bed on one designated day a month, performing his duty with co

t's wrong? Unwilling?" he slurred, his voice a low,

gaze roaming over her face as if he were i

anger and something else she couldn't identify. Then, with