humping techno track. The crowd on

shouting over the music. She reaches out without looki

ips and drinks half of it in one gulp. The liquid

the gla

n begins at the back of her throat. It starts as

oughs int

al heat that pools in her stomach. It feels like some

of her dress, suddenly feeling incredibly hot. A she

g, blinding streaks of color. Her vision is blurring at the edges. The he

, pierces through her

t the half-empty

een dr

train. Chet. He bought the drink.

hey are made of wet sand. Her knees buckle, and

Adaline t

ess slur. Her tongue feels thick, and

hing loudly at something a guy next t

g, involuntary wave of arousal begins to cloud her judgment. She knows i

ly away from the dance floor, heading toward the dark corridor at the back of the pub where

ursing at her, but she cannot hear them. Her lungs are

orridor. The noise of

chest heaving. She reaches into her small

pt

one. She left

ill down her cheeks. Her legs give out completely. She slides down the rough

n. She curls into a ball, gas

t London Hea

uches down on the wet tarmac, its en

omes to a complete stop

coat over his suit. The London wind whips the hem of his coat, but his p

rries down the stairs beh

er voice tight with stress. "But Miss Poole's phone ha

footste

icks visibly beneath his skin. A da

k Rolls-Royce Phantom on the tarma

voice a low, dangerous growl. "Break

ce tears out

he pub c

nk. A sheen of sweat coats her skin, and she is panting softly, ov

eps ap

arco-stops in front of her. He looks

th his shoe. "You can't sleep here, s

prived panic, her brain screams that this is t

n by pure, adrenaline-fueled te

. "Get off... don't touch me..." sh

es down, grabbing Adaline roughly by the upper ar

round her arm, a sound like a bomb g

nched open with a violent, resounding crash. The metal hin

rom the streetlamps fl

r of the doorway is a

e in the hallway instantly drops. He radiates a

s off her," Bar

ing bass of the club like a razor blade. It is a com