Love's Obsession, Her Freedom

have to w

it a full day, a petty power move to sho

ch in my small studio at the back of the house,

sucking all the air out of the room. He was dressed in

word. He just came at me, grabbing my wrist and yanking me out of m

y voice steady despite th

ragged me out of the studio and into the main living room. He threw a

" I asked, rub

new leash. A contract. A

im, then down

, his voice flat but simmering

agged me out of your party like a dog," I counte

g about us is even, Ava. And you're g

not just as an artist, but personally. It stipulated my attendance at events, my behavior, my time. It ev

I whispered, lo

per and in practice. And if you refuse, the payments for Lily's treatment stop. Today. The s

to my sister's head

to the coffee table. My hand didn't shake. I uncapped th

Ha

table to him. "There. Are you happ

ature as if to confirm it was real. A flic

said, placing the contract

touching my lips. My part of the bargai

rate. I stopped right in front of him, so close

a deal," I

ton my blouse. One by one. His eyes followed the move

my shoulders and pool at my feet. I stood before him in my simpl

d control warring with the raw desire t

d my hands on his chest, feeling the frantic pounding of his heart beneath the

t's funny, Ethan?" I whispered. "That's all you'll ever be. My m

n the eye, enjoying the sto

buy this," I said, tapping a finger against my temple.

ingers like steel bands. "Y

voice dropping to a husky murmur. "I

my lips so close to his

ster," I whispered. "But there's only one Ethan Vance

s furious, aroused, confused. He was a tightly wound coil

nt his anger gave way to that dark, pos

as losing control.