ulder. His arms hung loosely at his sides, but his chest

rhythm that matched the rise and fall of his heavy breaths. He smelled of sweat and exp

or fle

Two large security guards flanked him. Hansel

halt. The tableau

htray on the floor to the shards of the tea set, and finally to his master,

?" Hansel

t like sandpaper. She pointed a trembling fi

d forward, reaching out

Hansel

uard

. He looked at Bella with a new, sharp intensity. "He hasn't slept without sedation in th

the sentence. H

here?" Bella whispered furiou

the guards. "Slowly. Infini

imal, every breath held. One gently supported Adonis's back while the other slid a velvet ottoman behind Bella. They guided her down until she wa

bly intimate, com

l asked. He didn't c

Bella

e taser. "We will be outside. If he stirs

ed. The door

, the lines of cruelty and pain had vanished from his face. His lashes

d her breath, her body te

r into her stomach, inhaling sharply. His hand

. The word was a bro

veness-he had nearly strangled her-but it was understan

ntly, tentatively, landing on his hair. She waited. H

tes dance in the shaft of light from the window. She was trapped, li