The world around her faded-nothing but the cold night air, the gleam

ine,

tood perfectly still, waiting, watching, his presence an i

reathe. "What exactly d

t," he said smoothly. "Nor a pet, if that's what you're thinking." He stepped closer, v

t curling through her at his nearness. "So...

gaze flickered over her, unreadable. "I want you-but I won'

omething in his voice, something that held more than a simple offer

hard. "And wha

sement slipped from his expression, leav

e said simply. "And you

tween them, heavy wi

rous surfacing. "That said... the world is full of predators, Lena

ran thro

warning her about himself-

ad never happened. But another part-the part that had felt lost for

am I

es?" she asked, barely r

it. Then, with a measured slowness, he reached out, his fing

er skin, but it sent a seari

"Protected. Untouchable. And bound

over steel. A claim w

s hea

e. Completely,

n't just about tonight. That she'd already been pulled

a lie, a trick, anything to tel

und no

ze settled over her,

slow breath. "

arched. "

Her voice wavered, but she steadied he

ng. Then, something shifted in

of his lips lifted in a slow, indulgent smile, as if

e that made her stomach tig

a deal, Mi

hesit

ething unknown-something dan

de sense. That she was making a deal with a man who had

er from drowning under t

me, she felt like she was standing

eath c

reached forward and

tween them-like static, but deeper, stronger. It shot up he

d back, but Adrian's grip tightened-not harshly,

ned, his smirk falter

lt it

s gaze burned into hers, n

ng had

ther of them

umb brushing over her skin with the kind of

ing," he

eight of his words se

she just