Blood and Roses

an - 11

own like the ci

hoes, washing away the sins of Wall Street under the cold watch of a midnight sky. Neon

ires went when they wanted anonymity, indulgence, and a little bit of sin. You didn't just

tte had no

full lips, her long legs, the sharp tilt of her chin? Power wrapped in vulnerability.

she felt the h

Blackwood watched her like a man watchi

e on his six-foot-three frame. A jawline carved from marble. Eyes like ash and winter steel. He was a

his head,

ed his gaz

owly, sh

03

as she approached, heels clic

curved. "Nei

ompliment or

gaze dropping to the curve of

oses and bourbon on her b

to the booth

like poetry. "You always invit

ly. "But you're not stra

rown for a mome

"but it feels lik

36

sharp, fast, and la

s a paralegal buried under debt. She didn't tell him she lived in a Brooklyn walk-up with mol

reason, with

said softly, brushi

hung between them-fragil

sla n

and, weaving through the cr

closed behind them, the sile

- Blackwoo

drowning in rain, but

the edge of the world. Isla stood barefoot, her heels discarded near the door, red dress

e clouds," she

"And you're not a

aid of f

sliding the silk strap off he

lowly. "What if it'

ouths c

, pulling, pressing. She moaned into his mouth as he lifted her onto the kitchen c

found her neck, her gasp filled the room, and the marble under

9 a

him, breathless,

braced, heart thundering like

ed lazil

to rem

d. Then whisp

echoed, tas

k, and for one terrifying second, i

like a b

4 a

rapped in one of his shirts

ess

u're back in town. You c

he phone like

red in bed.

ard. "Yeah. Jus

. "Come ba

e

ep neve

0 a

was

imprint she left behind. A faint sc

en counter:

for not aski

Is

e. No numbe

d at it for

years, he felt the burn

Later - Blac

istant knocked softly. "

d up. "Put it w

envelope. Marked private. S

nally loo

an. Red hair. Asked me not t

im the envel

pene

no

ami

-to-face. I didn't think I'd see y

preg

s y

Is

sion b

t again.

else slid fro

and-whit

. Bl

ltra

Later -

lding through sh

hacked a half-dozen club cameras, bribed

ing up the side. Roses bloomed wild

kno

ans

again,

opened

foot in a faded T-shirt,

be here," she s

. And you think I'

to shut

shed

er telling me I'm going to b

didn't vanish. I

he demanded

whispered.

ho

out of her thr

"Who the hel

abusive. Controlling. He tracked me. Hurt me.

ire body tur

nant-if he finds out it's you

mien said instantly

hat he wants. For you to la

r her. "You're no

answer-glass sh

scr

tst

Coming down

widened i

," she whisp

him just as the intrude

gun visible be

iled. "Mis

ists. "You have five seconds

pulled

o l