ed against the mattress. Before she could push herself up, a ma

hot lips, carrying heavy, ragged breaths

. Her nails dug deep into the man's broad back. He

He grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her he

rature was unnaturally high. His skin felt lik

outh trailed down her neck. Clara twisted her body in abs

he sobbed against his skin

ompletely destroye

of defense was destroyed. A sharp, tearing pain ripped through her

olled against her skin. He let out a deep gr

drowned in pain and despair. The scent of cedarw

The heavy body collapsed on top of her. H

her bones. She carefully slid out from under his

lothes. Her fingers brushed against a sharp piece

her initials-caught on the metal carving of the bed frame. She yanked

otel security was checking the circuit

it tightly around her naked, bruised

rough the fire escape door, the hotel lights flickered a

arms covered in bruises and the dark hickeys scattered acros

limbed back up to the presidential suite. Every step was a

Julian wasn't back yet. A s

etting, and stood under the scalding water. She scrubbed her

way. She stared at her pathetic reflection. The desp

leeding finger, and applied thick layers of h

She stuffed the ruined trench coat and her torn wedding dres

he front door clicked open. Julian

to the door, and squeezed her eyes shut. Under

elming smell of fresh body wash radiated off him

old friends and lost track of time," Julian whi

ightly, avoiding his touch. "I'm exhausted. My

relief crossed his face. He tur

hat hotel bed, shattered by Julian's betrayal and the brutal violation in the dark. As the agonizing pain radiated through her bruised body, her grief