O

ellington heir Mark announces engagemen

mocked me from the pages of Vanity Fair. Two weeks of hiding in my apartment like a hurt animal, and this was

my mouth out with soap if she heard language like that. Then again, she proba

ntact photo flashed on the screen

are hiding in there like a p

ost smiled. Maya had never met

sounded like a very determined hur

the couch cushions like they c

or bur

Lora! You l

in red lipstick and a dress that probably cost more than my rent. Her dark eyes looked at

ergencies," I said. My voic

oms in places mushrooms should definitely not grow." Maya marched over and slam

, I c

mall brain decided you were not good enough for his political plans?" Maya's voi

re true. I had been fierce once. Before Mark. Bef

my feet with surprising strength for someone

olutely

e mood, let me paint you a picture. Werewolves in designer tuxedos. Vampires who could buy and sell your ex's entire family fortune

ced. Hollow cheeks, dark circles that made me look like

ognize myself

at is because you are looking at his version

mething other than numbness. Steam filled the bathroom as hot water was

d no patience for self-pity. A midnight blue dress that hugged curves I had forgotten I had

rked magic with makeup. She erased the evidenc

flows like water, and nobody cares about some politician's engagement photos." Maya stepped back, looking

beautiful gala I had ever been to. The ballroom sparkled with the wealth

o Maya, who was flirting with a vampire who look

ight is young, and you have

ing something other than heartbreak. I found myself wandering the hote

lobby button. But when the doors opened, I was not in th

party

d, and my br

R

watching he

ballroom below. Even from my private suite's terrace, I could see she was running from something. The way

te for the political theater downstairs. But when I saw her step into the wrong elevator,

I asked, stepping

blow. Up close, she was even more stunning. All sharp

t that made something primitive in my chest rumble wi

ped at her throat, how her scent carried hints of va

e I had seen from a distance. "What makes

one." I pointed toward my suite. "Care for a d

esented. Instead, she stepped closer, and I caught the full impact of her scent-human, ye

e said, but she was alre

at should have been illegal. "I know you are running from something that hurt you. I know you are

xpressive eyes going wide

see the fight you are trying to hide." I stepped closer, close eno

e out barely a

t Lo

What about yo

ht, that is all

y breath. There was something about this woman-something that calle

d because I needed to know, needed to underst

e whispered. "That I never

e someone had been that real with me? When was the last time anyone

aning it more than I had

ever she saw in my face made her take a shaky bre

e of her jaw with one finger, feeling her

g, she rose on her

orld

rets. My control-that legendary Marrock discipline that had kept m

like I was drowning and she was air. She made a soft sound in the back of her

gainst her mouth, giving

t me feel the heat of her through that

help us both, I cou

ross her skin. She was beautiful like this-peaceful, unguarded, trusting.

had wanted to d

ho I was, what I was. It should expl

across my pillow like spilled ink. I breathed in her scent and felt someth

swept the room, removing every trace of my presence. The hotel

r this way.

, looking lost and confused, something twisted in my gut. She looked so

of security. "Every frame, every

ir. The

ed into the crowd. "She is nobody. Just

I was a dangerous man, and letting her get close

thing would spiral. Because the mess I just made

at changes