ce M

omplete silence, the kind that feel

towering structure we were rapidly approaching. Her eyes were wide, not just with curiosity, but with a p

f industry whose wealth possibly even eclipsed my own. A girl from that wor

my tongue. It wasn't my place to pry. Alex and I were as close as brothers, forged in the fires

abroad." That was the entire biography. No age, no hobbies, no hin

shed her own door open and stepped out, craning her neck to take in the sheer verticality of the g

so intense it was almost tangible. "Is that... is all of that... yours?" She

g within me. "Yes, it is. But how did you know? I could just be

asn't exactly a hard mystery to solve. You didn't say a single word to the driver the whole way. Not a 'turn here,' not an ad

impressed. "I see. So you're not just a pretty

a wink, before turning back to ga

hind her. The manager, a man named Robert who had been with me for years, spotted me instantly and pr

slight, formal bow. "A pleasure to ha

iola here," I commanded, the authority in my voice coming as naturally as breath

ce me, her eyes wide not with wonder anymore, but with pu

u trying to get rid of me already? Don't expect me to sleep in some strange room in this giant, echo-y hotel all

d completely unexpected urge to pull her into a tight, protective hug, to smooth her hair and tell h

. "Well then, if not in a suite of your own, where exactly would

er seen. She took a small step closer, closing the distance between us, and loo

ur suite, I guess. You must have, like, a huge place, right? With multiple rooms? I can take the co

s my hairline. My heart gave a hard, sudden thump ag

qual parts terrifying and thrilling. Seriously! Of course, I could.

dictable and dangerous turn of events. "Okay then," I said, my voice a bit strained.

d before I could react, she threw her body forward, wrapping her arms around my torso in a spontaneous, grat

ing a strange and entirely inappropriate warmth spread throug

s carefully neutral expression. "Please have my

stepped inside the polished brass interior alone, the doors sliding shut with a soft who

use, and as the car began to move, she shifted. She stepped closer, so close I could feel the heat

rprised by her audacity, my heart now p

tive whisper that seemed to vibrate in the s

oved the feel of her touch against my skin, the incredible warmth radiating from her. I adored her scent, an intoxicating mix of something floral and sweet

do you have any idea what that word means?" I forced a smirk, trying to cover the violent shivers that were coursing through my body. Her

even lower, more deliberate. "Oh, I know exactl

ness of her words. Why me? She's a virgin! This has to be some game. Maybe she just

g, reckless girl push me toward the cliff edge of a forbidden relationship. Sh

ckless to tease her father or get a reaction out of me. Sh

e answer is no. And don't even think of trying to seduce me. For me, you are just my partner's daughter. That's it. I will never, ever betray my pa

ding for a long second... and then she burst into genui

iping a mock tear from her eye. "Then

ed. "What test?!" I demanded, the elevator dinging softly as it