kimmed her cheek, his touch featherlight,

who

controlled-but benea

creaming at her to step back. But s

now," she

tightened. "

her skin, a silent warning, though

ence, the sheer dominance

she repeated, meeting his gaz

as slow, sh

olled breaths. "If you really thought

ce stretched

dn't react, but she c

in his c

she wa

or all his hatred, h

-something buried deep benea

ion unreadable. "You're good,"

r fists. "This is

corrected. "The question

omach

icking up a glass of whiskey b

e rim of his glass, as

wife," he drawled, "why

blood

t n

t his si

, wrong time. But that wasn't e

eep pushing un

. "I told you. I w

Convenient, isn't it? That your meeting happened to

into her palms. "I

u were

t tighten

ilence, his fingers ta

ssed the d

he floor, amber liquid spreadin

ed, but she

ubbing his jaw, as if tr

ill you," h

but her voice was stead

yes snapp

irst time-he

kled with tension. Not ju

er of them were

ned away, headi

ordered, his voice cold a

wed, but she

e hated him, as much

ne thing f

i was a man

pushed hi

t not su