ke up with a dull ache behind her eyes. She hadn't slept

white shirt and dark trousers. He stood by the window, a

ords, but she knew the to

r. Finch opened the door. He wasn't there to let the

as requested by Mr. Conrad. And your hot chocolate,

lana's nightstand. The rich scent of dark cocoa filled the air-thick, sweet, and faintly la

this was his grandfather's way of playing peacekeep

late smelled rich and sweet. She picked it up and took a sip. The warmth spread down her th

mall desk in the sitting area, working on his laptop. Elana sat on the sofa, reading a m

slightly as he placed the cup on the cart. He avoided looking at Elana, his gaze fixed firmly on

tarted in her chest and radiated outward, making her skin prickle. Her heart began to beat faster. A heavy, lethargic weak

ck. Her skin was burning. She felt flushed, as

n the edge of the bed. Her face was flushed deep red.

er face. Her knees buckled. She stumbled forward, catching herself

against the floor. "What kind of game a

fall of her chest. A faint, sweet, herbal scent seemed to radiate from

up at him. Her pupils were blown wide,

nded. His voice lost its coldnes

so hot..." Her hands moved up, her finger

ought it to his nose. He inhaled deeply. His face darkened. A strange, cloyingly sweet herbal scent filled his nostrils. He didn't know exac

man had actually drugged them to force an

m her body seeped through his shirt. Her fingers curled into his s

he steam from the cup he just inhaled, combined with the hours spent in the enclosed room w

ered. Her lips were parted, releasing soft, breathless whimp

k away. But his right hand moved on its own. It slid up her bac

yes met his. She didn't see the angry, c

." she w

d broke the loc

g. It was fueled by anger, by the drug, by the years of forced proximity. H

s he pushed her back onto the mattress, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye and soaked into t

tance remained a chasm. Atlas didn't speak a single word. He didn't whisper

, the air in the

He didn't look at her. He walked straight into the bathroom and

, but her mind was painfully clear. She was shivering uncontrollably. The sheets beneath he

had put on a pair of sweatpants. His hair was w

ot of the bed and

voice was like cracked ice. "Don'

door to the small adjoining sitting room, and w

k in. She didn't cry. She just lay there in the dark, f