at a distance. He tried to push her away, but her drug-numbed body resisted him; every c

ent, like a whisper. "Mr. Blackwood, and she is Cassandra

piercing. He scrutinized her from head to toe

eir grand plan? To fake a suicide to get my attention?"

n clarified, as professionally as ever. "The

ing disobeyed. He had agreed to the marriage for pragmatic reasons-to appease the family board and solidify business alliances. Th

Timid. Socially disastrous. Unremarkable. This desperate,

ice leaving no room for argument. "Cancel the engagement. Send h

He reached for his phone,

in Cassandra's mind. Back to Melissa. Back to that gild

ast shred of self-control evaporated. A primal panic gripped h

n, cool scent of his shirt was like an anchor in a burning sea. A broken sound,

n both froze. This was not the reaction of a cunning manipulator

her petite frame. He looked down at the top of her head, her dark, damp hair clinging to her sc

ver his jacket, trying to pull him closer and absorb his coolness. One of her hands hoo

or ten years and had never seen anyone touch him s

ithin his eyes. He grabbed her chin, his fingers digging into her

u know what y

touch was merely another source of relief from the burning sensation. She moved closer to him, her body instinctively seeking more. Her lips

rent surged through his body, and it wasn't just anger. It was

't recognize, beautiful yet bewildered, pleading for something she couldn't express. She

have handed her over to his security perso

did

then slid one arm under her knees and wrapped the other

t him. He didn't say another word to Owen, turned and strode into the ca