ena

s felt like walking a tightrope,one wro

embered the sound of his breath in the dark. He was different here:colder, sharper, all control and prec

ive him the satisfaction of se

nough to see the curve of his jaw when he concentrated, b

me that first day.

le this

l the

figures for l

t the silence between those commands sa

frayed from pretending I didn't notice the way

t and accidentally spilled a few dro

muttered und

p, brow rais

sir. Just a s

is fingers brushing mine. That one accidental

softened. "Relax, Miss

," I whispered befor

but then he turned back to his des

eeting. Most of the office had already cleared out. I could hear the f

sk, I found him still there:sleeves roll

home," he said w

ting. "I just wanted to l

gaze locking with mine.

t went dr

e repeate

s

The air between us was thick with th

losing his laptop. "Yo

ank

ficient. I wasn't su

lightly. "Be

e. "Because you're the only person I've

and thrilled

or favoritism,"

know. You ear

o himself: "That's what

pped over its

he hotel, the one that stripped away all p

r left

own rule,that the past stayed buried but the

Blackw

cutting me off. "When we'

me on his lips melte

ard. "This isn

le. "I know. But nei

heart racing. "We a

nd yet here we are,

len

,trembling on the edge of his desk th

barely a whisp

e for air, for space but his

'm flying to Boston for a contra

back, star

can trust to hand

I knew this wasn't abou

anaged. "I'

e said. "A

Ye

ugh and low. "Try not

ckering through the blinds. My mind replayed every second of that c

been scared

as something else:a pulse of e

ugh I knew this c

see what would happen

ag for the trip. A simple navy d

only a second before stepping inside. Adrian was already th

said without looking

ng," I

he car. Then, without looking at me, he said

d at him.

. "Then why do your hands

othing came out. He smiled faintly,

the airport, I realize

atter how much distance we pretended to

crossed that line again, neither