ling of sheet

at matched the nauseating swirl in her stomach. The light filtering through th

her

r apar

eath h

t falling from her shoulders. Her h

he hell

hen she

en V

. He looked infuriatingly composed, as if he belonged in this silent, opule

et closer to her chest, clutching it like

oarse, raw with

lass, his expression un

" she snapped. "Where am

r unshaken. "You were drunk. Stumbling drunk.

n at herself, then shoved the covers aside and che

fore she could say anything more. "I don't fuck people w

f his words hit

, then snapped shut again, rage bu

s from last night. Her hair was a mess, and her face

me to a hotel? To just... move me

nk. Just stared at her as

you in that bar. You didn't even have a wallet. I figured

her sides. "You don't kn

you to keep you from c

hame and fury. "I didn

lowly and setting his glass on

flin

n them. The tension

e a predator approaching prey

t to leave?

inked.

he said, his voice low, sm

ar of emotions clashing beneath her ribs: humiliation, confu

er shoes from the corner, shoved he

ld leave, his voic

osition for yo

oze on the

, she

did yo

rk. "Sit down. Hear me out. Then you can decide

amien hadn't moved from where he stood, calm and unreadable

games," she snapped.

you fifty thou

caught in

s hands in his pockets. "F

aned slightly against the wall, her heart

All of it. You'll have the

er. She stared at him l

er?" she asked, her voice low

Something about a hospital. A little girl who fainted. Nee

ver her in a hot wave. "You listen

est secrets, sweetheart," he replied wi

" she snapped. "Th

ed out in

ow things about me," she snapped, wrapp

de table and held it out. "Here's the deal. You get

inked,

attend a few events with me, look pretty on my arm, smile when needed. Behind closed door

ch churne

hments. But I do like control. I like o

folder like it was

f I sa

ou walk out that door and figure out how to

her, her throat tight, her eyes bur

s bastard," she sai

blink. "You'

one last time, then turne

left, he said quietl

dn't a

ng herself together until

she fel