ir, exhaling sharply. She hadn't realized how much she had been holding he

e could affe

o

going to fa

grow to love her captor. She was going to escape

ring her so-called home, mapping out

mansion surrounded by acres of la

imeter, and every door leading outsi

windows h

thought of

refused t

or weaknesses. She even tested Adrian's patience by pushing the boundaries of

infuriated her. But it also intrigued her. Why was he being so patient? Did he actually

nd library, she felt a presence behind her. She

" she asked, running her f

ckle sent a shive

said smoothly. "I

o face him, cro

ake you for

here's a lot you d

't want to know,

pped c

n't bac

d his head,

ed of me as you wer

held hi

red aren't th

irk de

hat

r jaw. "With ev

cking a loose strand o

fr

s gentle, al

was power

nder of who w

mured, his voice

ack and walked away, leaving Serena

hate

n, something insi

the only th

be toyed with. But if she wanted to regain control of her life, she had to l

king

ol, but she noticed small details. The way he tensed when someone questioned his authority. The

the challenge. Adrian was, too. An

e preferred it closed. A casual disregard for the schedule he had set for her.

she es

r later, Adrian walked into her room, arms crossed. "I do

n the bed. "I don't recal

curved, but hi

ul, Se

eeting his ga

dn't

e door, and locked it from the o

ou doing?"

d over hi

ult?" he said smoothly

like that,

hed to the door, twisting the knob. It didn't budge. He had actual

i

uld pl

e woul

as sitting on the windowsill, watching the sky

learned your le

ramatically.

ed an eyebr

face him, a slo

e terrified of losing co

s smirk

windowsill, wal

it?" she continued. "Because you k

said

er head, watchi

out, smoothing a hand do

m tense und

o

eys to this prison, but she was

," she murmured.

aw ti

on, he grabbed her wris

their bodies

, his breath war

na," he whispered. "But y

s pulse

rm, unyielding.

in the eye of the storm, she

onger just ab

about w

would

ow weakness. Her wrist was still in his grasp, but sh

testi

ing

see if she

woul

chin. "You like this, d

ed a brow.

she murmured.

ch his eyes. "You assume you

dn't f

d. "And one day

a decision, Adrian released her wrist. Serena took a sma

cted him

to his pocket, pulled out

r your room

d. "You're gi

nod

ine. But just remember, Serena... e

hesi

was a

te

winning meant taking

ouldn't b

ngers brushed, and Adrian's gaze darkened. Then, without an

e collapsed onto the bed, exhaling sharply. What was she doing? Was

as she startin

hed the key

o

here. She had to remember why she was tra

ther's

uined

who now held compl

asn't

as sur

to escape, she h

to be

at the ceiling, she couldn't

er... didn't want

ing the key over in her hands. Adr

h

one of his twis

t someth

ning, she go

fast, Adrian was already seated, sipping his coffee a

, his express

try to leave

im, lifting her chin. "I

his lips. "That re

es. "Are you always

is chair. "Only whe

drian was impossible. But the fact that he had given her even a s

quences," she said, watching him closel

fee down, his gaze

nd out soo

ran down

. The lock clicked open easily. S

darkened halls, her bare feet si

Like it was holding secrets just beneath the surfa

was sligh

illuminated a tall bookshelf, paper

ting at the de

e rolled up, hi

ocuments, his brow

seen him like thi

t, she just

nsing her, Adr

ze dar

sleep?" he

ed. "I was jus

his chair. "And

stepped inside. "M

ed a brow.

on his desk. "About what a ma

. "Dangero

pulse q

r," she said, surpr

ed her for a

, he pushed

" he

a hes

f logic, she crossed the ro

ward, his gaze ne

ow more about m

s breat

es

spread acro

whispered. "You might

e, heart pounding, she k

lready in

. She should have left his off

he di

the way the dim light cast shad

em felt heavier th

care me," sh

"You should be

esting her arms on the desk. "If

mirk

red at each other, the sile

ked up a pen and twirled

what I do late at

d, her pulse

ece of paper

contract,

glancing down

egal jargon, but one

ano acknowledges that she belongs to Ad

mach ti

her hands curling into

n his hand. "You wanted

breath

en playing

e was b

way. "I already know the

rved into a slow

oftly. "You only know t

d. "And what happ

er, his voice drop

what happens when

ran down

ad wante

moment, sh

een in contr

ost dange

tarting t