dn't felt like

kissed a tho

oms, on yachts and in candlelit restaurants, whi

thouse, the lights dimmed, the fire low. The scotch glass rested untouched beside him on the table, its cont

real

sinc

laced together tight enough to turn the knuckles white. Hi

y Bl

An ache he didn't ask for. A flame too cl

still f

ed her like she needed air. Her hands-small, soft-threading through his hair like sh

he'd s

Not the empire. Not the

i

e hadn

e most dang

y's glow lit the sharp lines of his suit, his reflection g

r walk out of his o

-a placeholder. Just anoth

forgettable. Sh

ence had disarmed him, stripped his defenses faster than a bullet ever cou

e hat

uldn't afford

erything he

e past claw

t only three people in the world knew existed. One c

a

humb neve

he cold, leaking walls. The nights he came home to silence and a mother too tired to speak. A father who left

othing. With fire. With stee

couldn't. Not when

l did he want

in, head i

a voice whispered. That'

d jealousy from others who envied her position, her presence. She was smart, q

he

lway

ne who thought th

hare. Not his company.

slowly. Control. He needed to get it b

gered on his lips. Her

etend again. Be cold.

toni

sed hi

e let hims

he

da

tr

just want

lready o