sive, but Clare felt like she w

slow burn. It was a ragin

mind was crumbling piece by piece. She writhed o

a noose. She grabbed the lapels of Aurthur's coat and ripped t

erked his eyes away from her

e commanded. His

ne didn't sober her. It acte

nding relief, Clare's body sought th

ainst his side, pressing her burning cheek directly

tire body tu

burying his obsession, eight years of forced distance, w

s fingers dug into her flesh

ut, his voice turnin

scent of cedar filled her lungs. It dragged a memory up

assy with unshed tears. She sta

u leave?" s

He stared down at her. He couldn't tell her the truth. He cou

tched out, heavy

as an answer. It was re

e of grief mixed with

d the front of his shirt and

a collision. It was desperate, a

brain shor

had built shat

hair. He took control of the kiss, turning it from a clumsy assault into a bru

orce of his response terrified her. A tiny

against his chest and

opposite door, panting h

bbed, confusion and s

. "Stop the car! Let me out! I would rather find

the car ins

urthur's sanity together snapp

ndom

keep her pure and safe, and she wanted to

ng them together with one massive hand. His grip was pa

through his teeth. The w

slammed his hand agai

ur barked at the driver.

on," the drive

are cried out, strugglin

ouse," Au

right turn, abandoning

king her limbs heavy and useless. She couldn't fight him. She was trapped in