ating, as the palpable sen

instinctively tried to retreat. But her back was already press

omed over her, unyiel

distance, leaving her feel

beside the wall, her head bowing under the weight

veiled her fevered flush, but

nreadable flashing in his cold expression. His tone was sharp, carrying a fr

completely, making her feel e

robbed her of strength. With Grayson so close, her knees began

, his voice rising with

faintly, her voice b

ve of blackness overtook her visi

fain

s arms wrapping around her slender frame. His jaw tighte

ping her up effortlessly as

in complete darkness, the quiet pressing against her ea

. Reaching out instinctively, her hand brushed against so

t a s

sting a soft glow over the confined space.

pair of cold, penetrating ones. Grayson's gaze was unfat

er spine, and she sta

s she alone in this pit

er-present shadow who a

ough the tension, cool and composed. "You left your things at the

ow. Reaching for the door controls, he pressed a button, and the

e'll have to wait a bi

rain sent a fresh chill through the cab

r, his gaze dropping briefly to her fever-fl

aint but delib

quickening as the confined spa

presence-filled the car, wrapping around her lik

, carrying droplets of rain with it. She shivered agai

disapproval. Without a word, he reached for the coat draped over the passenger seat and handed

ngers twitching as she de

brow, his expression coo

eight that pressed down on her, leavin

the fabric tightly, her voice barel

's, the chill of his skin shocki

der his watchful gaze, she forced herself to t

h rain swirled through the window,

d as his voice broke th

ied an icy authority that

s presence had only grown more oppressive. Even hi

ly before draping the c

nmistakable scent of Grayson, enveloping

he had buried long ago claw

noon three years ago. The fire in his eyes, the way his lips had claimed hers with unrelenting

trollably, but it wasn'

. Without a word, he pressed the button to raise the wind

iet, the confined space suddenly too intimate. Cathryn's h

cing something together. He adjusted his seat, delibe

luttered as she no

rs? She couldn't blame him. In her current dishe

. Her breathing grew shallow and uneven as she leaned heavily agains

leaned forward, his fingers brushing her forehead. The

her dry lips barely moving as she m

d. Her once-lustrous lips were now dry and cr

wing the cap with swift precision. But as he leaned forward to hand it to her, he paused, r

over, his tall frame bending awkwardly

d, his tone lo

he became acutely aware of how close he was-his broad shoulders partially draping over her, the faint scent of cedar envelopi

roat, threatening to spill. Startled, she bi

, time seeme

erable expression. She looked fragile, as though she could break under the weight of

eaving between them like an unspoken sec

to retreat, but the car door was alrea

s longer than he intended, before he quickly turned his eyes away. His

r throat burned, parched and raw, and instinct overrode hesitation. She weak

oice softer now, the warmth of t

the residual heat of her touch, the texture o

rm's length, this lingering softness Cathryn broug

rembling frame. She looked so

ly that te

ion remained cold as he asked, "Ca