Steel & Smoke

places than you ever imagined. Like asking th

ows as the car moved. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, every heartbeat a ticki

rr

nte V

w I was being told there might not be a real escape at all. This wasn't just a ceremony. It wasn't just a church,

y head rapidly. "They can't

watched silently. Calmly. Like someone o

The moment I jumped into this sleek, dar

speration seeping into my voice. "It's my

rkly amused. "They'll have full rights. Your name ti

mething. But instead, I sat there frozen, staring at the man who had just c

illar wanted to fasten around my neck. My name. My identity. My life. If I could

ing pe

mpossible t

hing

angerous, casually powerful man who could observe my panic without even blinking. His dark eyes met

as powerful. Wealthy. Influential. A man whose name alone would carry weig

ore my brain could think better of them. My voice sound

amused detachment vanished, replaced by so

use

ruined dress. "You said it yourself. They'll make me his lega

he finished for me, the wor

ink me to him. You said it yourself: paperwork, money, influenc

rs, I was sure he could hear it from where he sat. This was

ng slowly over my face as if measuri

ht?" he asked softly, eyes narrowing sl

ightening. "All I know is who you're not. Y

tretched between us. He

ust asking me to save you," he murmured, his voice silky smooth and edged in steel. "You're asking me to give you m

desperate. "That's ex

he said quietly, thoughtful

is exhaustion, his regret but I pushed it aside. This was my choice, m

ickering behind those impossibly calm eyes. Th

is voice edged with dark amusement. "If I'm going

h relief. He'd said yes. Christopher Steel, this stranger, this dangerous enig

of cur

early, chao

e about tomorrow. All I cared about was survival, freedom, a

his gaze steady. "Ruin me. Ju

d, dangerously amused smil

y, eyes glittering with dark

ow, I bel