rturned glass, her feet becoming l

an obsidian bullet pierci

ing air sent Corrine sprawlin

er would vanish into the night-no witnesses, no

ngine growled as it reversed course, comi

stepping forth. Custom black leather shoes touched the ground as their owner emer

re of Nate Hopkins' voice resona

tudy in precision-sharp angles and defined planes that spoke of nobility, while

r consciousness-a whisper of recogniti

ords scraped past her throat i

nced through her scraped legs and lacerated foo

trong arm swept around her waist, drawing

ody enveloped her as she found he

of his torso, and heat bloomed beneath

rove her to push away, but Nate responded by gathering her mo

crystallized in Corrine's voice, matchi

of three years, had never ventured beyond holding hands. This stranger's

ce carrying quiet authority. "You're i

gh his proximity sent waves of tension through he

is lips like distant thunder, brooking

rior prompted a sneez

oting her trembles, he draped his jacket across her shoul

ce-both his scent and lingering warmth-sen

s eyes as he noticed the color rising in her

nted her feat

Thank you for accepting my apology an

ed on walking despite her injuries. Nate matched her halti

lhouette against the stark hospital walls. At her approach, he ended the conversation and extend

polite refusal carried finality-

ward him. "Here. I'll cove

as he glanced at the jacket in her outstretch

hadn't expected. A lump rose in her throat as she

he exhaustion, and the heartbreak. Surely that was wh

with vulnerability. Straightening her posture, she walked away, determin

her retreating form with an inscrutabl