mari
r. As he moved the cloth away from my neck, the pads of his fingers brushed against the s
e door. "I can do it," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I r
ty. I tried to focus on drying my hair, but I was acutely aware of him
fumbling for the zipper. It was a long, delicate line of tiny buttons and a hidden zip. My cold, numb fingers couldn't get a grip. I
lips. I was trapped in the s
from beside me.
turning toward me. His chest was a solid wall behind my back, hi
air aside, his touch sending a fresh wave of shivers down my spine. I could feel hi
ew it down. Slowly. Deliberately. The sound was deafening
of the gown slid from my shoulders, pooling around my waist, leaving me in the thin, si
ir. I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart hammering again
d a glance at him. He was staring out the window, his jaw tight, his hand gripping the leather armrest
system shattered the tense silence. The caller ID
ssed a button on the console. "Wha
was a voice accustomed to being obeyed. "You were supposed to be at the pack coun
oel said, his voic
now you're ignoring your duties. It's time you settled down. The agreement with the Crawford family s
ical alliance. It was a worl
"I don't take orders from you anymore
d. "I can still strip you of your control o
idea began to form in my mind. It was insane. It was
father wouldn't dare to touch me or my family's company. And the man sitting next to m
ing. The words tumbled out of m
rry
solute. Even Gustaf on the ot
lpha bellowed. "Who is tha
He looked... intrigued. He reached over and ended the
ed space, his presence was almost suffocating.
grandfather off your back. A shield. I need a partner with enough power to protect me and help me rec
rength and clarity with each word. It w
shed, he leaned in, his face just inches from mine. He
what you're offering, little girl," he murmured, his voice
down. I clutched the cashmere blank
e with his thumb, his touch both a caress and a brand. I saw a flash of triumph in
, giving me ro
voice a low rumble
had done it. I had a lifeline. "
said, his voice crisp and commanding. "Change of
n's voice came back,
reek," Joel
plunging deeper into the rain-swept countryside. I stared out the window at
the devil. And he was taki
feel his presence beside me, a constant, powerful hum. I was his now. And
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