turned on the ma

nightstand. It was 10:00 PM. Her mind w

decided to go to the kitc

that fell to her mid-thigh. She didn't bother putting on a robe. The penth

of her bedroom and padde

kitchen, she had to

ps. She looked at

h gap was s

om his desk lamp spilled

r empty glass. She debated with herself f

t said yes. Strike w

out and pushed

t out a tiny, almos

instantly. His eyes were sharp and alert, li

er glass loosely against her chest. Her posture was completely relaxe

eyes swep

rs, the thin silk of her ni

immediately jerked his gaze away from her body and s

ded not to no

ce echoing slightly in the large, book-lined ro

row furrowed

the corner of the desk. He gripped the stylus, read

't give him

his defensive posture a

sie said, her voice light and conversational. "My mom used to make me count

id-air. The stylus hovered

er documents. He tried to read the complex

was vibrant. It carried a strange, soothing rhythm that

inued, a bright smile breaking across her face. She let out a sudden, c

y bookshelves. It was a sound that h

ok a sharp,

ed all of his cold, intimidating CEO energy into that stare. It was

laughte

e intense conflict burning behind his blue eyes. He wa

the doorframe. Her playful demeanor va

ping to a near whisper. She watched his face caref

the study

n in her eyes. She was giving him an out. She was gi

nstinct screamed at him to push her

the tablet. He pic

s knuckles were white. The internal war between his trauma and h

his hesitation.

far. She had trig

pered, looking down at h

ady to walk back to h

RE

g sound ripped

ped and sp

lently across the polished wood of his des

rd the desk. She looked d

andwriting was messy, rushed, and completely o

s f

rds. A massive wave of

t her, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle ticked in

right smile. It was the smile of

ter glass in the air, o

rison," Cassie

study, her bare feet making soft

out and grabbed the heavy o

ic

tely, sealing him back

n his chair. He stare

the hallway. As the silence rushed back into the room, his r

et. He stared at his own m

ne. Her presence was chaot

t the delete button.

closed his eyes. But the darkness didn't help. All he coul

ssie practically

cking her legs in the air. She had secur

t fund w