Beneath the Suit

Sophie saw him for who he was. The g

true," she whisper

se for you," he said. "I

d n

"Now I want to leave it

e in the middle of loving someone,"

ith regret and hope. "Then let me cho

g time. Saw the man beneath th

st time, she be

as they walked bac

rring into gold and red puddles, and Mikha

unding himself. Anchoring to the one person who h

cinnamon and coffee grounds. Mikhail stood in the center of her tiny kitchen,

ng," Sophie sa

he replied, eyes

st. The expensive fabric clung to him, and beneath i

retend to be," she said qui

ikhail said, his v

. Their lips met like they'd been starving for years, like

ate, hands sliding into her hair, gripping her like

erywhere, her waist, her hips, her thighs, pressing her back against the counter as if

rmured against her neck,

ack, a soft gasp esca

as she traced the scars that laced his skin. He was all strength and shadows, built like he

slipped through Sophie's curtains, casting warm, g

l woke

still as stone. But this morning... something was different. Th

st him, one leg tossed across his hi

ashes brushing her cheeks. Peaceful. Beautif

didn't move. He just

she s

tch that pressed every inch

eyes fluttering open.

are. "Wasn't plannin

b over his jaw, still rough with stubble. "You know, for

ow. "You telling pe

ng just enough to make his pulse skip. "I mean, you were pretty intimidating

he said dryly. "I'm excellent

d down, her lips bru