in the corner. The shadows stretched long across the Persi

ured a generous amount of amber liquid. He didn't offer Clora a drink. He just turned and

them discreetly on her nightgown. The silence was suffocating. Sh

rink, his gaze heavy and as

ting per

n't believe her. Of course he d

ders slump. She had to commit to the bi

erves. "Every word? That's funny. Just three days ago, you were screaming that I was

ushed off the bar and walked toward her. Each step was del

orced herself to hold her ground. She couldn't show we

orce of his presence pushed her back. One step. Two step

nted one hand flat against the wall beside her head, caging her in. The hea

warm, smelling of expensive whiskey and mint. His eyes w

red, his voice a low, dangerous rumb

his eyes, the hardened edge of a man who trusted no one

ng drastic. Something

bed the lapels of his suit jacket, pulling herself up on her tiptoe

he kiss of a woman throwing herself off a

y locked up. For a split second, he was c

e beast

control of the kiss, his mouth moving against hers with a brutal, punishing force. I

g, his lips demanding. She felt like she was drowning, unable to catch a breath. But she di

ght actually pass out from l

His lips stopped demanding and started... searching. His grip on he

eyes were closed, but she could feel the tension radiating from him, a lifetime of sleepless nights and

disoriented. He wasn't accusing her; he sounded gen

oward the large leather sofa nearby. He practically fell onto it, pulling her down with him. He landed heavily on the cushions, his head lol

wave of peace, and had only succumbed once he was off his feet. Essex Langley, the insomniac tyrant who barely slept three h

She had known about his insomnia, the pills he took, the doctors wh

touch, somehow the one thing that could shut off his racing mind? She looked down at the dark head resting nea

ully formed, not yet a weapon, but a seed of an idea. This was more than a