d nothing to wash the

ctricity, trying to drown the memory of his voice saying my name like a prayer. But every

Maybe that wa

mirror, I could feel the phantom weight of his gaze on my mouth. The way his pupils had blown

ood my ambition, men who fit neatly into my ordered world without causing ripples. But non

rous in ways that had nothing to do with his record and everything t

tion feel like losin

d with curls I'd finally freed from their professional prison, eyes dark with want I couldn

should have

e scarred hands mapping every curve, that whiskey voice

sy before I could do something real

hours meant either very good news or very bad news,

t home, but there's been a de

nearly dropped the phone.

quested for you." Patricia's voice carried surprise that mirror

armor. "That doesn't make sense. He told me to f

Are you interested, or sho

eness through my chest. Marcel kith was competent but predictable. He'd plea bar

served

inal gaming the system. Now, after seeing the desperation in his eyes when he'd

aid before I could

And Calla? Be careful with this one. My

t he could do to me

determination to keep things strictly professional. Whatever this thing was between Kane and me-this ele

econd. No matter how Kane affected me, I wouldn'

bitter even a

nstructed wall crumble to dust. He'd showered since yesterday, his black hair still damp and loose around his shou

ldn't have affected me but did-and the space

tral, but I caught the rough edge beneat

r ritual to center myself even as my hands shook. "I understan

bout his posture. He looked like a predator trying to appear harmless. "Tur

lt like armor-something to hide behind instead of ack

ecessary, Mr. Dra

sty. Right." His smile was sharp enough to cut

There was something darkly intimate about it, lik

d my pen with hands that trembled slightly. "Your re

s, and I felt heat bloom under my skin. "Though most of

this

hardened, and I caught a glimpse of the man who commanded respect through presence

the way Kane's jumpsuit stretched across his chest when he lea

der if he'd heard me. When he finally s

were

an ink blot across my

felt pinned like a butterfly under glass. "Red dress, brunette

'd been practically drooling over his public display, my bod

e briefly,"

t hit me like a drug-leather and something wild

viewing him, not the other way around. But

and you rejected her." I kept my voice clinical despite the memory

ictoria's been circling me for months like a shark scenting

en you

anger, and for a moment, they looked almost inhuman. "Said she'd

ng defense strategies even as my body respon

were wi

" Kane's voice was flat with resignation. "The kind of

't built my career on probably im

ight now, I need details ab

beneath his controlled surface. Victoria claimed he'd cornered her in a private room,

cooperative witnesses, it would come down to credibility. A biker

ed, and we b

d when I'd finished taking notes.

ade my breath catch. He looked like he was a

t is

across his features. His hands were clenched into fists on the table,

e people-powerful people-who want me gon

ind of

Kane's voice dropped to something almost like a grow

e sent me running like any sane woman would. In

a threat,

into mine. "Walk away, Calla. Drop

p it. "Because I'm not good enough? Because I'm so

utely still. "Because

omething crack open in my chest. Not rejection. Protectio

to save me f

er representation," I s

his careful control slipped, and I saw raw hunger fl

ice was rough with something that s

to ignore how Kane's presence filled the small room like

al

ned, Kane was watching me with an expression that made my knees we

l," he sai

looked at this dangerous man who was trying to protect me e

wil

e I'd hurt him. "That'

a secret flame, warming the cold places his rejection

me to walk away beca

because he probabl

was the most dang