hold of a lover; it was the shackle of a wa

of the bar cart, glass crunching un

en stepping in front of Leo like a human wall. They didn't speak. They didn'

g to keep her footing as Julian dragged her towar

ice was shrill. Wh

break stride.

u

he roared, not

. It banged against the wall with a violence

eather sofa. One of her damp heels slipped off

deadbolt. The click echoed in the sm

vy, suffocating. The air conditio

hest was heaving. He ripped his

and dangerous. You want to parade your

ood taller, despite the height difference.

two strides. He grabbed her upper arms, h

you, he spat. She is l

he's a parrot, Julian. She repeats whatever she thinks yo

htened painfully. Don't you

name, Victoria wh

there, vibratin

ack. He pushed her backward. Victoria's knees

e planted his hands on either side of her head, cagi

said. You think because you ha

e for divorce without cause, Vict

neered. Always

to her throat, then lower, to where the

e anger bleed into something else.

the anger, there was the scent of him-san

is nose brushed against he

m, he growled. Th

and wasn't busy playing house with his sec

ghtly. His eyes search

ed, Victori

pped somethi

his mouth

as teeth and anger and frustration. He bit

nto her mouth, claiming it, branding it. His hand moved from the sofa to her ha

rayed her. Her pulse skyrocketed. She felt

y, but instead, her fingers curled i

t. He pressed his hips against hers, the

he st

fro

ed. He stared down at her, his lips r

g her. His eyes were glazed, looking

aph

opposite wall. He wiped his mouth with the back of h

, he r

, her chest heaving, her lips t

He braced his hands against t

, he said. You

her trench coat together. Her hands wer

r voice sounded foreign to

the wall. The d

without turning around.

walked to the door barefoot. She

back. The tensio

you want, Julian, she said s

d walked out, leaving hi