The Billionaire's Forbidden Flame

onto the balcony. The hum of the gala was far behind them now, muted by heavy doors and the distanc

was

ed, her voice thinner than she meant i

ight..." He paused, studying her as if she were a painting he couldn't quite inte

hed. "You don't

ds, the masks people wear. You walk through a room full of pretenders as if you see right through them. And I k

st like a warning bell. Yet her

Kni

," he c

. "Adrian...

ast of the distance between them, "

against hers-an accidental touch that wasn't accidental at all-and the world til

answer. S

was all the per

th, Adrian's mou

nst him, her body pressed against the hard wall of his chest as if she had belonged there all al

, to stop this before it went too far. But her heart

ssed h

hat remained was his taste dark, intoxicating and

oth of them breathless, Adrian

't happen," s

d softly. "But

m as Adrian's words sank into her. But it'

remind him of his ring, of the world that waited for him behind those gilded doors. In

lingering, as though memorizing the sh

n't. She kiss

e even ruinous. But in that mom

all of her back, pressing her against him; the other tangled in her hair, tilting her head to his will. She

n's eyes burned with something she c

udded painfu

o one will i

But when he laced his fingers through he

ntings and polished floors that reflected their hurried steps. Adrian's g

t smelled faintly of cedar and expensive cologne. The space

d every inch the billionaire controlled, powerful, unshakab

shook. "This

s hand lifted to her cheek, his touch rev

oo late. But when his mouth descended on hers again, she clutched at his jacke

floor; his tuxedo lay discarded beside it. Their bodies tangled on the b

hispered like a vow, the shiver of her skin under his hands. They lost the

ian's chest rose and fell beneath her cheek, his arm resting heavily across her waist.

s voice low. "I should te

ed slightly away, clutching th

urmured, pulling her back

in his tone. Dangerous tenderness.

what happens next. But I know this... I

e of reality. She couldn't afford to believe him. Not when he belonged to s

on marble like echoes of guilt, her hair tousled, her lips still

g motionless, watching her go. His silhouette was sharp against the pale morning ligh

chest. Forget him. Forget tonight.

ra Knight stirred awake. She reached instinctively for the other si

s opene

ked loudly in

ath sharpening. Adrian never left t

sheets. Her reflection in the mirror across the room stared back a

did not believe

hide secrets from her... he was ab