One Night, Forever Change

ight, intrusive and far too honest. Sophia stirred, the silk sheets tangle

s moment, she for

ne, faintly citrus, and masculine. Then she remembered. The bar. The elevator. Hi

ght as she slowly r

ger shadowed by low lighting and teasing grins, was striking in the harsh truth of daylight. Defined cheekbones

settl

ething Sophia kn

dge of her thoughts. Wha

ous, forbidden ways. There were faint bruises on her hips where his

she remind

al. One night. No na

something else: she didn't want to know his name. She couldn't afford to. Names led to memo

them quickly, pulling her skirt on, then buttoning her blouse with shaky fingers. Her bra

e last moment. Her hand hovered near his shoulder, her instinct

and found a notepad. She scribbled a short me

e distraction

out the door and

-

ke woke t

g, the air felt still. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the brightness spilling into the suite. For a

mth. N

hair. His gaze scanned the room until it land

e distraction

ile tugging at one

ttered, letting the note fal

, there had been something in her eyes-fire and sadness, a woman with walls

pposed to

A strange, inexplicable pull. He couldn't stop thinking about her-her laugh, the way she'd moaned h

master of control, lover of detachment. He didn't chase w

he found himself glancing once more at the note

in

-

out the window, watching the city pass in a blur of steel and

o idea wh

t terri

might happen-but because a p

t clung to her memory. Every touch, every whispered plea-it all came back in flashes. Her reflect

ctly why she

, and a deep red lip. She had a pitch meeting this afternoon and

coffee, and strode out the d

methin

-

corner office, reviewing a last-minute client fi

ll be presenting at 9 a.m. I emai

crolling lazily until a fam

stery

: Sophia

business co

chair, a low, amused ch

l,

got a lot mo