a's

aying every word, every flicker of emotion in

rting scent. Wrapping my hands around the warm mug, I leaned against the

close, his gaze dark with something raw and unspoken.

part? I

mmering, I set the mug down and moved toward the entranc

was

d you might need some caffeine after last night." He held up a

of man who made life simple. And yet, he didn't make

, I stepped asi

. "You disappeared on me last night." He glanced over hi

o with my sudden departure would save me from admitting

," I said carefully

against the counter, cro

pressed against my ches

head. "It does if he keep

rose in my thro

's something worth saving there, but Sinclair isn't

impossibly frustrating. But there were moments-brief, fleeting seconds-where I saw

muttered a curse before pushing off the counter.

ha

ched mine, and for a second, I saw somet

clicked shut behind him, leaving me alo

er's

lows. Sweat dripped down my back, muscles burning with the ne

way her voice had trembled-not with fear, but with something clos

ew regulars, lost in their own workouts. Slamming my fist in

to fight off

Ethan leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He was one of th

hat," I muttered,

me guess. This has

d my spine. "It'

with knowing eyes. "You want her. She wants you.

left my lips. "

what i

retched be

ng you don't care, keep pushing her away, but a

spike of something unwe

, clapping me on the sho

ing at the ground, heart pounding wi

a's

hadn't eased. The office was already buzzing with energy,

ing,

holding out a stack of papers. "You've got a meetin

slipped from my

e raised a brow. "Sai

't normal. Xavier didn't s

my office. Minutes ticked by, my mind running in cir

tantly. Dressed in his usual dark suit, his tie slightly lo

ce steady, pretending his sudden appe

r me, unreadable.

y arms. "Ab

d in his jaw.

lectric crackled in

abou

say never came. Instead, he exhaled, running

this, Lena." His voice

nocked the breat

stepping closer, his scent wrapping around me like a

my sides. "Then st

cheek before he dropped it, retreating

. "From what

e was answ

I refused to let them fall. "You don't g

thout another word, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing ther