of how many times he

th

nce-cold, absolute, infuriating-stretching across

ut by now. Apologize. Beg. Som

ira h

e told himself. "She love

dy there, gnawing at th

men to send her that v

s jaw t

only been claiming what was his. She was his

or without waiting for an answer, a cup of tea in her hands and a sympathe

his desk. Her fingers brushed his shoulder-briefl

ly glanced

back into place. She perched on the edge of his desk, turning

morning," she said lightly. "Are yo

didn't

t sleep well again last night." She sighed softly. "The

ed from his screen. "Shoul

n. "I've actually been thinking about something you asked me

s brow

cheeks. "A woman who still avoids her husband after three years... either she doesn't love him anymore, o

her stomach-submissive, fragile, like a h

rumbled low

not po

ightly as she passed. "Don't take it to heart. I've proba

"If you can't sleep tonight, you're alw

r click

d into a fist. Those w

love with s

irmly. Mira would nev

n lit up with

posted a

e screen before his

d-and his blood

ne and stared at the

still fe

en one of his officers fell into step beside her-

he man had said, his face

rk metal-forged, not cast-etched with ancient runes that seemed to shift when she looked too closely. She remembered glimpsin

lished to a deep, liquid shine. No ostentatious dia

she had though

her wrist before the limo

photographed it against the grey velvet of the plane's seat-

she had though

the phone to ring in

gnore

home just b

down on the entryway table wh

ir

low. Control

rned s

rame filling the space, his eyes b

t?" he demanded, his g

wn at the brace

g the space between them. His wolf pressed against his skin, territorial

d who doesn't ask questions

eyes flas

using. "Is that what this is? Three years of I'm not ready, and suddenly

lau

ot a hap

g, right? You take Ivy on a romantic beach vacation, you let her post pictures of the bracelet you

outh opene

erent," he s

I'm supposed to sit quietly while you play house with a widow who can't keep her hands to hersel

ed to wa

and grabbed her wrist-t

ai

e of energy erup

and blistered. He stared at his hand, then at the bracelet, his e

hell is th

at. But she kept her face calm, smoothing do

said quietly. "A g

wed. He opened his

hone

itation flickered across his

ha

nd trembling. "Adrian-the baby-she won't stop moving.

n the phone. His eyes flicke

he door, Mira's voice c

ai

intended. Adrian paused, his hand s

have a child. Where would she even get on