nt, thick with tension that neither

past the tinted windows,

vent, replaying every moment, ev

, the way his gaze had locked ont

t. Not yet. And now, as she sat be

time she had left befo

harply, breakin

d distract

tened on the fab

overwhelmed.

, studying h

to get used to it. T

her expression neutral. There

nthouse, the towering structure

offering her his hand. Tira hesitated for a fraction of a se

s pristine, cold

tail, was meant to impress, but it

her with an unreadable expressi

ordered, his voi

an early

n's hand suddenly caught her wrist, halting her

with him

a beat, but she ke

your event

ers slowly trailing down he

test me

urned and walked away, her

yes on her the entir

ng her hands against the d

as unbearable

cool air graze her skin, her body still ti

't alone

king, his presence consumi

e drifting over her bare back before loc

ook ne

ed, stepp

forcing herself

tir

g her shoulder, tracing a slow path down her

e y

dy stiffening at the unspo

for her to flinch, to give h

ly as he reached for her c

n sl

kiss against her jaw before pulli

ilk nightgown, but the sensation o

ning as if he owned not just

beneath the covers, keeping

led, low an

t like

lips together, r

hosting over her arm before r

presence, the way his brea

d the teasing, the silent reminders of control,

nd finally, exhaustion took ove

ften, her body unused to sha

her, and Jason's presence, though not smothering, was a c

t against it, stirring

ned onto her side, fa

es were softer, his usual sh

r the first time in a long tim

in a different context, maybe she

the surface, beneath the design

man who took what he wante

trapped in

e turned onto her back again

the city beyond the w

mind tangled in thoughts s

haustion dragg

y recall, shadows that felt too real, and the lingering sensat

g hours, she stirred slightly, fe

sleep, his arm now drape

s remained, even

ring at the ceiling as the reality o

ut the real battle wa

soon enough, and wi

e windows, casting light on all t

persona that made the world see him

ther day of pretending, of wearing