se pounded

shakable. His presence was suffocating, his body close

rk eyes glowed in the dim light, filled wit

voice smooth as silk. "Diso

down. "And I told you-

udying her. "No? Then why are you sneaki

wanted to see the place I

you thought you'd do that in the mid

itched. So h

urse

-he was a man who thrived on c

he studied her face, as

. A ple

n't give him th

r chin. "Are you going

wrist to her palm, intertwining their hands in a mockery of intimacy.

omach

him to drag her back to her roo

th

more da

forward. "Let me show you what i

rt of H

the elegant luxury of the upper floors, down

e end. Dante pulled open a heavy door an

ike anything she

indows, no warmth-just a massive mahogany desk, leather chairs, and

mand

where Dan

ind the desk, leaning against it casu

decisions are made. Where power shif

wallowe

s room holds something valuable-names, debts, weaknes

d turned

tion. "You thought I w

ts. "And what did yo

nothing special. A pawn in a gam

twisted. "Then

ime, there was a flicker of somethi

hing

ready k

stare. "Because

the room

ough his gaze, dar

d hit

w, but laced with rage. "And now you think you can just

ught, but she ref

er," she said, h

't move. D

d. A slow, hum

d, pushing off the desk and closing th

he lifted his hand, brushing a l

er..." His fingers gh

who