BOUND TO THE BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE

a f

ackwood stepped fully into the dim office space. The silence stretc

y, wiping her cheeks wi

, even though the redness i

didn't

't s

t loo

e she'd met him, he see

e steps, as if approaching something dangerou

softly she almost didn't reco

orry. I just-today's been a long day. I

il

stopped

ver said

on

once by

uarded-felt like someone unlocking a d

he lifted

glow outlining his jaw, the expensive fabric of his suit shad

somethi

hing

dangerou

apologize for being

"I didn't think you be

test ghost of a smile. "I'm not

hat," she whispered befor

ething between a si

ter," he said, "I don't e

king into silence. The office was empty now. The floor deserted.

s heartbeat was a

t's just my mom-her treatments are getting harder. And I'm try

ed in a way she did

pped c

he said

"I should fin

it

sn't command

as g

re

elt slightly in front of her-not fully, but just enough to

d Industries, kneel

almost mad

rushing his. A spark shot up her ar

felt i

e flicker

f breath he didn't

choosing his words

arry too much alone," he said.

ised by the openness i

first time, jaw tighten

es

years of pain she d

ive his pas

see enough to know he wasn't ma

tightened

to break down,"

" he murmured. "The mistake is

her like a blanket she

elf crumble,

u," she w

brief, dangerous second before he quickly

n in the a

ar

a

iv

d, he reached out and brushed his thumb gentl

breath

wasn't a

't prof

sn't

as t

te

lingered in the air, suspended between pu

yes m

almost physical-like gravity pulling two b

." she w

s all i

aw cl

eath f

something he'd been hol

hes from hers-so close she could feel

dropped to

't say my na

she b

ckered to he

to he

ck to h

audible, "it makes it very

lse sp

e whispered a

ent-like the sound of his name i

them, the har

s the

ed was raw, dan

eane

sto

oz

in but refusin

d, loud enough she w

ey hovered at the edge of so

d rose

sed

her jaw with deva

leaning almost imperc

whispered, ba

brushed

opped to he

ved c

y, he pulled away

the sudden loss

pping shut, breathing too sharply fo

" he sai

ice cr

sli

o betray ever

es, and they wer

ere gu

rif

erm

can't

liced throu

h the

h her

uldn't

er, shoulders tense, jaw

n't lo

on

Chapt