eavy brass doorknob, ready to

ced back over his

indifferent, and completely detached. She wasn't looking at h

ery irritation washed over

nd turned around. With a sharp, defin

eyes widened in sudden, visceral alarm a

d unknotted his silk tie, pulling it from his c

nto her like a predat

rd. Her hands grabbed the thin hospital bla

voice trembled slightly, betraying the

e edge of the bed and placed on

ght, causing Alya to slide slightly toward

Cole murmured, his voice

her wrists. With effortless strength, he pinned her arms abo

ody covering hers. His

rsh, punishing, and entirely dominant.

her bare feet hitting his thighs. She twisted her tor

to completely immobilize her legs, pressing her deep into the m

ped her jaw shut. When he pus

The sharp, metallic taste of blood

heaving. He raised the back of his hand and wiped the smear of

gry, Cole's eyes dark

me fire," Cole muttered, h

-mouthed kisses against her collarbone, hi

ded desperately, turning her

free hand moving dow

etely useless. He was too strong, and her strug

ly stopped

uscles relaxed into a terrifying, unnatural

eyes went vacant. She slowed her breathing, ac

te shift and he paused

nresponsive, frozen face. A flicker of de

wrists loosened significan

ear that had leaked from the corner of her eye. It

e frustration bleeding into his voice. "

nk. She shut him out emotionally, retreating de

avily. The sou

r. He ran a frustrated, shaking hand through his

anor shifted rapidly, snapping back to cold, busine

suit pocket and pulled

rd. He tossed it onto the bedside table. The h

instructed, his voice flat. "I will have

the card and she did

l blanket up to her chin, tur

back for a long, heavy mo

walked to the door

him. The heavy thud echoed

cked, Alya curled into

ders. A violent, uncontrollable

d despair crashed over

ul-crushing grief and heartbreak was just a tantrum. A tantrum that

es, letting the d