as sinking into an enormous, cloud-like bed

ouch. The freezing rain, the crushing stress, the emotional whiplash of the da

ing window, silhouetted sharply against the glittering city lights, was Julian. He had throw

te upper respiratory infection. The fever is dangerously high, but I have administ

uniformed housekeeper she had not even noticed scurried out o

ulian crossed the room with long, predatory strides and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out, his

The unexpected, intimate touch sent a shiver through

p voice was a fraction softer than bef

table, slid a strong arm under her shoulders, and lif

etely unaccustomed to caring for anyone. Yet, he was trying his absolute best,

ed defenses were down, and this sudden, uncharacteristic act of tender c

n the nightstand. Lying there was a familiar, heavy car key, the one with the winged Ast

id, his voice flat again, masking any underlying em

ble pieces of her old, happy life, a symbol of his love. And Julian had known. He had inves

ckly, burying her face deep into the silk pillow. She woul

ng sleep. She was back in the freezing rain, Liam's sneering, u

ing her head feverishly on the pillo

ly reading a business report on his tablet

tly. He looked down at her, at the woman who was now legally his wife, crying out for another man, a worthless piece

tracking through the faint grime on her flushed cheek. He saw the pain etched on her beau

careful not to bruise her delicate skin. His mouth came

her, to claim her as his own. He pressed into her, forcing her lips

ced by a roaring, uncontrollable fire. His own desire flared dangerou

tressed sound, but her body instinctively arche

her, lips swollen and flushed from fever and his kiss, did nothing

ing him. His phone, which had been vibrating silently on the desk, buz

was absolute ice, a stark contrast

aking, Seraphina heard the name, a woman's name, but

a complex, unreadable look at the woman in his bed, a mix of raw desire and

utside. The vast room was empty. The brief, inten

he duvet, and a cold, heavy weigh

rembling hand in

tone, a flawless, internally perfect pink diamond so massive it looked almost obscene. In the

She had seen it in a Sotheby's exclusive auction catalog just la

shackle made of the rarest stone in the world. What exactly was Julian S