l echoing faintly in Talana's mind. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles ha

ce trembling. "Why does he care so much? Why... wh

d against her back, the slow possessiveness in the way he'd held her. The kiss they'd shared, soft yet demandi

d. The hand gripping her arm, the stench of alcohol, the fear and hatred

ed the engine and leaned back, letting the silence swallow her. Her pul

accustomed to arriving home to an empty house, her father and step

her freeze. Her breath hitched, and she swung her head toward the sound. Heart h

he voice made her blood run cold. Familiar, predatory, it was him, tha

y from me!" she shouted, but the wor

liberate and menacing. Even in the dim light, his face was part

w... I take what I want. And no one can stop me now." He lunged suddenly, and Talana tum

, the sound echoing

s weight pressing down, hand moving dangerously close to he

burst through her chest. Just as his hand reached for

he needed. She bolted, sprinting toward her car. Her heels

ry. Every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. "You son

ered, advancing toward Massimo, but the

it," Max hissed, fists tightening. His voice car

ed, before disappearing into the shadows wit

was instantly at her side, steadying her with hands that were firm but gentle

though his jaw was tight with barely contained rag

gainst his chest. His heartbeat hammered against her ear, steady and groundin

from her face. The scent of his cologne mixed with the faint sm

g you to the hospital. You need to be

ut he cut her off with a

ents, ang

he low hum of the engine. Talana's hand

call, listening briefly before ending it. "We're almost t

e?" she asked softly, curiosity mixing with s

e said, eyes flicking to hers with an

sed, searching

e, low and commanding,

you call

es darkening. "An angel, bright and dangerous, an

d the weight of his words. Even in danger, even with her body trembling,

her more than I should.

ough the night. Talana whispered, "Max... that man's voice.

hing hers in a brief, grounding touch. The tension betwee

e. "If you keep looking at me like that, I might forget where we are," he murmur

at you're doing to me." His desire battled against h

, voice trembling but daring,

rough with control. "You need to s

alive, caught between the remnants of fear an

y, sending shivers through her. Outside, in the dark driveway, a shadow moved. Watching

ther was the pull between them,

e night she had just survived. Talana's legs trembled as she followed Max down the hallway. Every step brought a strange

ossessive in a way that both terrified and thrilled her. He led

chair. "I'm going to check you ov

rs filled the room, the way his gaze lingered on her as if memorizing every detail, the blood smudg

low, threaded with concern. "You're safe

ed, though her heart refu

xicating. "It's just what?" he prompted, his blue eyes darkening. "You're not

mouth, but no words came. Her body already betrayed her, the memory of his hands, his lips, the way he had

she admitted, voice b

e corners of his mouth. "That's okay, angel. You

xamination began, Talana felt Max's hand hover over hers. Every brush of his fingers sent sparks crawling along her n

hand, rough and calloused. "You have no idea what you're doing to

couldn't look away. His gaze held her, demanded her attention, claimed her w

ut the words faltered,

l. "Don't, don't say anything. Just let me protect

r chest, stirring something wild and unrestrained inside her. Talana's mind raced, dange

te silence that was suddenly too loud. Talana's hands twisted in her lap,

ng her hand to his chest. The solid weight of him beneat

itted, voice quivering. "A

mth of his breath made her shiver, and a flush crept up her neck. "You

to retreat to safety, to pull away from the danger and the fire, but another part, one she hadn't acknowledged, yearn

Massimo's head snapped up, eyes scanning the corridor. He was always alert, always

d firmly. "I won't let anything t

a little to the electricity between them, but danger was never far behind. Even in this sterile sanctuary, Talana felt the shadow of t

r. "Tell me to stop," he whispered, voice low,

, silently daring him not to stop. Desire and fear warred inside he

curve of her jaw. "Good, because I w

t in the precarious balance of danger and desire. Outside, the night waited, d

uldn't resist, a storm she didn't want to outrun, and for the first time, she realize

of the attacker's grin, the echo of his voice, and the unrelenting pull

ver her. She had survived tonight, but survival was just the beginning

and undeniably possessive. "Whatever comes next, angel," he murmured, voice like molten steel

Outside, shadows stretched and twisted, waiting, watching. Inside, her heartbeat raced

. Footsteps. Slow. Measured. To

tightened over hers. His body pressed closer, protective y

e message was clear, tonight had only been the opening act, and the w