white as she gripped the fabric. It was a useless shield.

I thou

cleared her throat, but

he whispered. "I

ed like a predator examining a particularly s

. He didn't care. He walked across the room toward the bathroom with t

over his shoulder. "Y

beating so fast

ving," s

turned slowly. The look he gave her mad

you want to walk out into the hallway naked? I bel

nd it in a heap near the door. The delicate silk str

her eyes. Ho

t landed on the bed with a soft

it

o the bathroom. Th

igh. It smelled like him. It made her skin crawl, and yet, a treach

it all the wa

grey suit, tailored to perfection. His hair was wet,

ked his

t's

nder flesh of her bicep. He didn't drag her, but th

lift. It smelled of cleaning chemicals and stale coffe

windows were tinted so dark the

n with a shaved head and a scar running through his eyebro

y. He didn't look at her bare legs or the

," Brun

ot in beside her. The door slammed shut with a heavy

voice was stronger now. The panic was sett

show," B

ase and started reading a financia

ape gave way to the highway, then to

es blur past. She f

eway. Ivy recognized the area. The Hamptons. Thi

glass-fronted villa. It was secluded

is tablet a

house. The grass was wet with morn

window. The curtains were drawn, but there

Bruno co

er. She peered t

inside was bat

e was wearing a ba

rina wa

Clive's dress shirt-the same

was straddling Clive's lap. Her

was muffled by the glass, but Ivy heard it. "I don

hands up Cat

ly affectionate. "Once I get the voting rights from the marriage, she can

blood drain f

mpt. The absolute, utter disrespect. He didn't just not love her. He loath

d on Ivy's sh

breath stirred the

're selling yourself

im to see her face. She didn't want him t

tightened. "L

d herself

ionate kiss. A real kiss. Not the d

inside I

Like a dry twig breaki

ening to fall evaporated. The

her family. She had survived hunger, fear, and the loss of her

e back of her hand. The mo

rned t

air across her face. S

she didn't look like a victim. She looked

narrowed, assessing. He saw the change

away,"

e didn't

propositio