past her, his mood dark and dangerous. Whatever ha

o

phone, the flicker of exhaustion beneath his anger. Even a man l

lip away, his voice cu

e he

lse sk

keeping her postu

t up his forearms. The exposed ink on his wrist surprised her-a tattoo

at myself?" he ask

wn her irritation

sed, gaze sharp. "How lon

" she said

ink you can stand there and eaves

ut she kept her face c

ng, sir," she said so

not in amusement

d, his voice dropping to something dangerously smooth

alle

t she lowered her gaze, playi

od," she

, heav

he might dismiss her, he

hate me," he said, voic

reath cau

ting her head slightly in practiced inno

nother beat before l

ia

e could respond, he turned away, d

e said

epped back, heart pounding, a

n h

t a crack in

to play games, he was about to

a piece o

one moving