e's

wide with fear-but still glaring at me w

cornere

er mind, but barin

A kitty. The per

se lips brushing against mine-I was this close to losing

leaned in, d

ed all

unbeli

e wors

up. With my o

ped her into bed. Naked, vulnerable, right t

on

at, they'd think I'd gon

or. But there was something about her last night...all curled

ext to me all night, an

had to admit that at that moment I desired her intensely, and I k

cold showe

e screamed like I was a monster. Like

ase before I could stop myself, but all I managed to

much for s

up, calm down, maybe get some food in her before

the most decent damn

at did

e moment I left to chec

to ash. My so-called kindness? A joke. So I did what any

tage. Dug into

ar in short skirts and high heels, smiling pretty f

ius to figure out how

ing through sleazy bars, letting desperate men leer at her,

ething dar

, why shouldn't

dy flinched. She went pale, lips trembling

r fizzl

by...cu

ld snap in two-but that chin of hers stayed high. Proud. S

-that look only ma

y lips against hers. Just a

...Soft. War

ke last

h

A

ss my mouth. I jer

oo

his kitty act

ip-my fingers

ke a leaf in the wind, but her eyes spar

ce shaking but clear

sp

er, wiping the blood wi

ct people who

r sides, rage flaring behind her eyes, turning the

, each word deliberate, "I'll apologize. I'll pay for the sui

rd. Like a fish out of w

ed, in

r, I'll take yo

got my

ned, but the anger di

t was...en

forward. She stepped back, just like I knew sh

nough to smell the faint trac

,' or maybe, 'I walked into his room comple

t flinch at m

apped, her chin lifting in quiet defiance

car, my bodyguards, my entire worl

ou do,

d attention. That quiet fire, that unyielding edge-she looked strai

no claws, no escape, trembling with fear but still baring its teeth

ger of being offended, yet also the

felt this al

y anymore. I

Not because I felt guilty. But becau

to see

lling a handkerchief from my pocket and press

ed to re

y, she'd whisp

d