he gaze of Damian Blackwood. My body was screaming at me to run, put as much

dy wasn't

over me like an invisible shackle. The air surrounding u

back to work,

 knew how well he was drying me out. Is

ist again soft, teasing but not

was w

as Damian Blackwood. One word

ye

, although even I was

as he'd crossed the gap between us, he pulled away. The warmth evapo

all not happened. Like he hadn't rocked my whole

d walked away before I

't loo

ands trembling as I fumbled for the neares

ll had just

ing I didn't want to name. One thing was certain: Damian Blac

e. A hug

needed to push out of my head the way he'd l

rein in my breathing w

a sharp v

t of my supervisor Richard. His face was tight a

ink you were do

t dried.

I

d is one of the most powerful men in this city. You think you can hit him with a drink and"

t through

final. "You're lucky you'

l and left, banging

th, my fingers twisting alo

any times Damian Blackw

lose control.

e wors

w if I shoul

knot in my stomach. The cold night air nipped at my face

the alley, preoccupied, wh

le

fr

that

y, I

ey with his hands shoved into his pockets and

as he

?" I knew I needed to so

f a smile. "Let's c

hard. "What

er than life, even in the dark

ted. "That's no

head slightly. "But I'm g

quickened

ext terrified

work f

. "You're

ke in a steady voice and a calm ton

arn

rom

d have

spoke as though he already knew what I

job. No

n Blackwo

dn't yet know to call by name. So

estr

have wa

le offers. A person who saw something they

now, he

id, shakily. Why would

girth filling an already narrow all

hrough me. So

ned to disregard how loudly my pulse thumped at

and dangerous. "You're obstinate, you'

hat is not exactly a

rned up on one side in humo

t away what he meant. I should have pressed for answers, I should not have been stan

ob, I said ins

lickered in his dark ey

sn't an

truggling to think.

huckled.

o

s earned, Elena. I don't expect

tion, this moment, seemed the beginning

," I said af

expression told me he was not used t

t terri

my body buzzing from his body

t him wat

ldn't be the last

slept t

g in my mind, repeating like the

work

Billionaire. Powerhouse. A man who everyone talked about only in hushed tones, in

ctly did he

ank account was empty and my rent was due 

aurants and hotels where I could apply. Anything tha

ur places by noo

g, I was

n my ph

liar number. Hesitated.

le

mach d

that

 tightened. "How did

th Damian's low chuck

It rea

eed time," I sa

e you

arply. "That

He was so mild-mannered, like I wasn'

"Thank you for the offer but

le

"Are

naked, like he knew that I had been searching f

r a man who did

ted. "What do y

n, his voice dippe

ked. "

a car. Be rea

ne wen

ring at my phone,

st ordered me not asked

have ig

ave blocked

th a racing heart, knowing damn well m

re