MURDER, SHE DESIRED

oman who caught the atte

ssed over in hallways and fo

last

pe in her hand still open, the words on th

dangerous, Eva.

but she wasn't sure

ve shattered every ounce of calm she had le

s a c

ife pressed gently-not quit

the fourth time and pulled the curtai

car was st

dn't

somehow, that knowledge made her fe

art that scare

-

r was gone. But t

t. She didn't call anyone. Who woul

o

yes flicked toward every passing stranger. Her breath hitched every time someone brushed too close. It felt

her apartment, anothe

, taped t

d locked the door behin

de:

d to it

om 1703. You

was

n

thr

and the implication t

ounter like it burned her. B

-

she was still

same building.

e wouldn't go. She

, she was in the elevator, the

he stepped into the hallway like she was s

und th

hesi

h she'd regret taking, she

ope

s. A glass of wine already

ic Mo

his back to her, city li

u'd come," he sai

" she replied, voice s

over her slowly, like he alrea

stepping toward her. "An

icked shut

t, it might've

om, silence spoke

s movements deliberate, like he'd rehear

ned to her, glass extended-no

took

d to her hand.

fear," she said quietl

" he said, "right before a person decides wh

a dare. She felt the

people,"

rmth. "So do surgeon

osed to be ok

"You're suppose

I did

tension between them cr

r like a thing he hadn't quite dec

rong time," he said. "But something t

hammered i

e now. Too calm

that it th

gerous," sh

brushing a finger alon

brand, and she hated how

's no prince here. Just a man with blood on his

hy invi

haven't decided if you're my weakness... or

m h for one dizzying second, the li

sed him

Like a storm bo

dn't

hands gripping hips, mouth devour

g. Reckl

dn't want

w how long she

new when i

essing hunger into her skin. The next, he pulled back-just

like it took everyt

ing you don't understand,"

ips, breathless

htened. Then, he turned and crossed to the tabl

t down in f

open

ack and white. Her walking to work. Leaving

.. taken in

omach

been wat

said. "*T

es sna

e man who kissed her was gone-re

ur life right now?" he said. "I'm th

an cold. "W

tor. He was leaking information to a rival syndicat

ke

e was answ

u're not a loose end anymore.

e asked, stepping back. "P

lash, gripping her chin between

burning into hers. "If I wanted to po

ght, but she d

now if I t

lips barely br

ed. "That means yo

-

he stood frozen,

said, already turning away. "You'll know when it's

y n

oked

n't chase , they