had flung open its gates and issued

a storm-it

ond Manhattan, the wind whipping through his black coat as if tearing at his

thinkin

ar

e couldn't

e should h

liot was using

at he still had control of something-even if everything else seemed to b

he heat of the fireplace downstairs. Hair damp. Lips still swollen

ar again," she said softl

smoke into th

t that man

t had no intention of releasing. Lightning flashed behind hi

id to her, his voice deep.

im, holding off th

o him, and kissed her like the world was ending and s

s slipped under the shirt she was wearing-his shirt-cups her ass, fingers wrap aro

e just to tantali

'm tired of playing dumb a

yes melted to molten gold.

ng. Because I'm crawling into something that I'm crawlin

n. "You think I sleep fantasizing someone would touch yo

as sh

n't love like other men, Amara. I don't play games. I ruin.

he panted. "But

lked them back towards the open doors, towa

he bed like a storm

shirt apart, baring her breasts to the

e you fall ap

ent ahead and

iting, sucking, as one hand pushed between her legs

dn't

t hes

evou

was inside her,

slow, deep, relentless-i

out posse

d over

-

est, too tired to get up

ut Elliot,"

He was my best frie

use o

. And he hated that yo

t him. "He was

stil

silence be

ed out: "And w

the center of the universe. "I don

ou do

up her hand instead and pl

ri

th a symbol carved on it

is t

Of mine. It's not an engagement ring,

at it. "You

kno

she didn't

-

Elliot was watc

d plant

dant she'd worn the nig

hed her crawl into Lucien's arms. Wa

en he

irl," he

pid," a voice

urn. He did

d, tasting her name

back, heels clicking. Beautiful. Lethal. Lucien's ex-

onto the edge of his desk. "Too soft to sur

ears," Elliot said, his

e y

wung around. "W

ou why we're

verything I'd worked for. My name. My

en use the girl. But don't

la

-

ra faced Lucien's mirror, loo

idea what i

s. Absolute. Like a vo

e wasn't sure if she was t