's

estaurant high abov

inside, a powerful

by the wind

control of Bloodmoon at twenty. Three months later, he crushed an internal rebellion led by pack elders, t

d shoulders and powerful build. His icy blue gaze moved slowly over

powerful, impos

w to breathe. I walked ov

ife and looked at

t a strange curre

ay calm, even though my fingers wer

he cut into his steak, as if I were som

trying to calm the strange heat in my chest. "I

sement in his low voice. "Before you start worrying th

but I forced myse

es. "I came to thank you. If you ha

s only a handsome, arrogant bastard, I didn't want t

aintly satisfied. "Exactly what I want in

k of the chair beside him. A table stood between us, but

him. "So you plan t

Bloodmoon stays strong. You need my protection to secure your inheritanc

he food chain, marriage had nothing

e to become your L

s and leaned closer, his wa

low and suggestive. "But you still came to meet me. That means you're inte

right. I hadn't expected Rebecca

ou for helping me. But I came here to see whether th

sking about the muscles, fee

itted clothes outlined his build, and for a second I found mys

Adrian noticed.

ze won't disappoint y

nt flickered

s strong enough t

iscuss a partnership." I kept my expression stead

's gaze was heavy and direct. "Do your part, an

a should do," I said angrily. "So don't act like

, then stood a

ally somet

smelled clean, cold, and distinctly

said near my ear. "Instead, you came

ved slowly

the ruins waiting to be rescued. I need a rational,

e heat between my legs. "At least now I know you're powerful

ement complicated, Ava. I'm not the kind of man who loses his head ov

kered through me, but I qui

ople stupid, unless I wa

e don't fall in love that easily. We know what happens when we depend on men: we can en

ike, 'Don't fall in love with

f Adrian's m

like we

n his expression and

at kind of person we're dealing wi

s, his eyes never leaving me. "And to you.

Leaving one bastard is

ll me when you want me to announce our