Love's Obsession, Her Freedom

with Clara already fading into the

new money and a desperate need for cultural validation. He was standing i

kind of man Ethan

" I said, coming t

hen he saw it was me. "Miss Hayes.

. "It' s about the moment before

cket, a fleeting, almost accidental touch. He stiff

red, my voice a low purr. "Most people don't

chest puffing out slightly. "A

nding to inspect a brushstroke on

rely a whisper. "It requires a certain... strength

collector who understood things others didn't. It was a simple

he said, his voi

"An excell

he deal, a cold presence fell

g fun,

through the air, sh

lored suit. He wasn't looking at Albright; his eyes were locked on

or persona vanishing in an instant. "Mr. Vance. I wa

't reach his eyes. "Ava has many admirers.

branding iron, searing his ownershi

I turned my head slow

I said, my voice laced with a chal

ice dropping to a low growl meant only for me.

round my upper arm, h

voice returning to a smooth, pol

skin. He propelled me through the crowd, past the curious stares and whispere

"Private" and into a small, dark

large window. He backed me against the wall, his body caging

is face inches from mine. "Embarrassing Clara?

ding in my chest. "It's your game, Eth

re here because I allow you to be here. You exist in this

wanted to scream, to claw at his face, to make him feel

t give him th

fiance melted away, replaced by s

letting my head tilt back. My gaze

ight," I

off guard by my s

him away, but to trace the line of hi

sky. I let my fingers trail down his neck, o

remor in the muscles of his arms. He was still the same man I had once known, the m

llar of his shirt and pulled h

do with me?" I whispered,

anger and possession and a desperate, buried hunger. I didn't fight him.

hair, gripping the strands tightly. He groaned again

t to lose himself compl

e a sliver of space between us. He was breathing

was carrying and pulled out a sm

s hand, my fingers c

hotel r

dy, cool. "If you want the rest o

rm, unlocked the door, and walked out, lea

or a moment,