chandeliers cast weak pools of light, leaving shadows lurking at every corn

t the only on

s flicking toward every darkened doorway. He hadn't spoken much since

e being

n Sinclair's private study, Amelia'

t be here,"

the doorknob. "That ne

cl

or swu

ing faintly metallic. The walls were lined with mahogany shelves, the

yes scanning the room. "We h

other's desk. He rifled through drawers w

rp intake

turned.

ng around the paper. "It's addressed to m

the handwriting. The words w

be

act soon, it will be too late. You know

igna

d ran cold. "

aled. "My

wisted. "You

the door made

tst

. Mea

ookcase. He reached behind a row of books, pressing ag

estions. He yanked her inside jus

an Sinclair step inside. His sharp gaze sw

looking

ooking f

-

d in t

smelled of damp wood and dust. Ethan didn't let go of Amelia

eart pounding from their nea

e was tight. "And he w

lia turned, only to realize jus

er. His scent-woodsy, laced with whiskey-wrapped around her, making it

but not forceful. His gaze dropped to her lips for a

wed. "You nee

ushed against the inside of her

eath h

r. That even now, even in the middle

," she

, tilting his head.

muttered, tryin

but his smirk deepen

e still im

e, thick with unspoken things. It had always been this way with them-a

en noise fr

oth st

d. He leaned in, his voice barely

ng-though she wasn't sure anymore i

-

Firs

ay, slipping into a dimly lit corridor. The

to be mor

You're the one who pulled

, invading her space

d. "I tol

huckled

ut before she could, he grabbed

dden, unexpected-bu

teady. She felt the firm press of his body a

but there was no real

lips hovering just above

sh

ly, real

ad-she ki

entle. It w

e her forget where they were, forget the danger, f

her back. His body pressed her against the cold

hem apart, and she let him, let herself fall into

kless. It

it felt

apart, Amelia was brea

ing against her lower lip. "Yo

wled. "

ker in his eyes now-something dangerous

o focus. But as they slipped awa

e in dee

lair was more dangerous th

-