Unspoken Claim

a's

he should

to see his face, his voice was enough. Smooth and sharp. And now, up close, his scent re

't have pu

it

inging to his jaw and shoulders. The mask he wore was ceremonial, a half-face

," he said, voice

y, yes. Her body was humming with heat she coul

, eyes flicking to the

oser either. Just stood, watching her with

alone?"

Say yes. Say no. Say anything that closed

angled. Her ton

od it smelled. Like rain on concrete. L

s," she said, without k

hind his eyes. Amuseme

er does,"

ence th

t behind and pretend it never happened. But her heel

ful. Just

d her wrist.

s all i

t. Not fear. Heat. Sharp an

ally cracked. The mask had held too long. Now it faltered. She felt it in her che

... st

moved for a hear

er than before, "I

ispered, her

her of t

empty. The hallway beh

teppe

ollo

-

car. Her voice, soft and trembling, saying not

smelled like paper and cedarwoo

her skin was burning and her heartbeat wouldn't s

't remember taking it off. Maybe she hadn't. Maybe it had sl

een his full

... be

er like she was something rare, s

sh. He didn'

reful. Measured. Like someone

il

hs met, her last co

er this. Don

dy, treach

ian'

ent her suppres

re and not realizing you're burning. Then it hit all at

fumed.

t r

wreck

demanding attention. Cassian Dorne, the man known for cold strategy

e. Her breath was shallow, hands trembling, eyes

foll

Into the car. Up t

s priva

not without saying something he'd

ment. The way she hovered in the center of the room, s

at him. Really loo

low steps, raised a hand to her jaw, and p

dn't t

ed her, it w

r and something dange

chase. He didn't need. But t

rp with nerves, soft with surrender. He lifted her onto the counter, presse

touched her skin. She arched when his hands

slow. It w

inevi

he first time in years, Cassian didn't care

nt into her body, make her

er again. Even if he n

d remem

ould bur