violently as Grayson's

t, you'

into hers-- cold, unw

cape, but the sheer presence of him, the way he loomed over her with absolute command, held her root

y that?" her voice ba

htly, studying her like a pu

y what

pulse erratic. Why does e

ct you can claim,"

t here you are. In my home. Wearing

allowing the space between them. "Tel

ssion. A pawn in a game she didn't unde

o meet his gaze. Her innocent face was laced with d

't choo

in his eyes. He took his time, rolling up the sleeves of

ade Aurora's stomac

his voice unyielding.

d. Both choices had

g darker lurking beneath his amus

th survival," he murmured. "Some beg. Some kneel

of hair behind her ear. The touch was featherlig

.. you di

ing at him with

h me." His voice dipped lower, almost a whisper, yet it

her sides. "Are you exp

w and deep. "I never

ng, calculating. Then, just as quickly as

ed to its usual detached coldness. "Your

k. That was it? No thre

r deeper into this suffocating nightmare

the waiting butl

nd gestured toward the grand st

Something about

searching for the trick, the ca

th, she mustered the cour

w me? How did yo

e it. The way he arrived at the hotel, right when sh

didn't

r end. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, dismissing her as if s

he turned away, following the

nto the mansion, the mo

that clung to the walls like a living thing. Everything about

ollowed the butler down the dimly lit hallway. The silence was so t

r and opened it. Inside was a grand, modern-style

s Scott," the butler said formally. "If you

ring him. Hours ago, she had been

he was

er thi

g the heavy doors behind h

alone.

red to the door

ed across the room a

rned

ded. He hadn't

was he do

- it was clear she was a prisoner in hi

er spine as she slo

sical lock that

hat no matter how much she wanted t

whil

staring at the city lights t

hand had long sin

d was e

h

ra S

carefully. Every ste

othing like h

ant. Fragile,

tonight.. The way she hes

ning everything. Alread

gged at the cor

o

uggled, the deep

that wasn't locked. A

ngest cages were

e made o

d realize that every