o Russo and his smug mouth ruin a second of my precious sa

onfidence just barely stitched together, I walked into Thorne Enterpr

how I nearly tripped on my way out yesterday, cheeks burning

ional support animal, determined to glide through the building

r me, because the moment I stepped onto the top floor, I s

y only women who'd never tasted public transportation could be, he

ed to him, and his mouth moved against hers like he knew ex

arble, sharp pieces scattering through my ribs, and for one s

ause the way he kissed her, unapologetically possessive, made somethi

oor as I tried to disappear down the hallway without them ever

n I hea

s Ha

ed around my name like a leash, pulling me back in

ag until my knuckles ached from the pressure, because if I l

ng my pulse was doing backflips and my pride had just

usement lacing every syllable, like he hadn't just had

kind of smile that hurt to wear but made you look comp

ce laced with sugar and venom, a cocktail of barely restrain

like I was a bug she didn't remember stepping on, her ey

g her arms around Matteo's bicep like

razor-edged, like she already knew the answer and ju

each my eyes. "Yes. I take out the tra

r me to know he caught the insult, but not enough

his morning," he said coolly, as if we hadn't shared electricity just

onfidence I didn't feel, deliberately not looking at his fac

g sweet. "I didn't realize the help arou

ly, clutching the handle like it was the last thread of my

come package. Would you like me to fetch you one

ows lifted just a hair amused, maybe even impresse

ice low and cold, sending a thrill of tension across

ce room like I hadn't just thrown verbal grenades in the ha

ll, heart hammering in my chest like it wanted to b

hell did

r me that he kis

d a power imbalance, and an office full of tension so th

ill, I

me off more th

er, the door cr

shut behind him as he watched me with that unreadable expre

" I asked, crossing my arms, voice steady

ied smoothly, stepping closer like he hadn't just ruine

llway. The kissing. The smug Barbie clone c

sly, and infuriatingly. "J

ard. "Jealous? You

my eyes again, a flicker of something darker passing

me like you want to

ath hi

s neither of us wanted to admit, the space between our bod

said. You are just m

"You keep telling your

raitorous and weak, because the memory of his lip

cheek, and my entire body went rigid at the contact

mured, like it was a

d his ha

I said, voice shak

tepping back, the smugne

chest heaving,

't over,"

ow much I hop