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Prologue

Friday

RUBBING dahs, Hunter stood in front of the door of the bathroom Kata had retreated to and let out a deep breath It didn’t help; everywayBut there wasn’t, and he knew it This was it

His heart pounded as he pushed into the roo s Like always, he turned hard and aching in an instant

God, he loved this woman

Seeing hirabbed the da but a lacy, baby blue thong Her sht, rosy brown nipples te ever had The dark ropes of her wet hair dripped down her back, fraet back inside her, to hold her again Yesterday, she’d been dealing with too , silken clasp of her pussy

Tonight, all bets were off

Realizing that he wasn’t going to give her the towel and that he blocked the path to her clothes, Kata faced him squarely, chin raised “What now? I’ve told you how I feel and what needs to happen If you’re here to stop , you can’t ”

Ah, that stubborn streak of hers that intrigued hiue until he wore Kata down or seduce her until she gave in with a well-sated cry This situation was far from normal Until dawn, hismattered ive her what she wanted

It was going to tear his fucking heart out

He had no illusions; he’d never be the same He’d be every inch the miserable bastard his father had been for the last fifteen lonely years, that Logan was now Hunter had always sworn he’d do whatever it took to hang onto the one woman meant for him

Goddamn it; in a handful of hours he’d have no choice but to let her go

Hunter crossed his are to e flesh—and never stop “First, if you go hoer, but your fa about this asshole threatening you, but he knows you Why wouldn’t he come after those you love?”

Kata’s stubborn chin rose, but she nodded Though she didn’t want to, she saw his point Now he had to put all his cards on the table, even though he had the losing hand

“I have a proposition, honey: Today, I’ll do whatever it takes to neutralize the threat against you Tomorrow, you’ll be free in every way ” He clenched his fists “I’ll sign the fucking divorce papers ”

As soon as he choked out the words, Hunter wished he could take them back For him, she was it—had been since the moment he laid eyes on her He wished he could make her understand, but unless she came to love him in return, accept his needs and her own, they were doomed

Surprise flashed across her face, along with soret, ?

She s reasonable ”

Reasonable? In five seconds, she wouldn’t think so “I’ll do that, if you spend tonight with me ”

Chapter One

Saturday, six days earlier

THE first thing Hunter Edgington thought when he saw the laughing brunette across the crowded Vegas hotel suite, chane in hand, was that he couldn’t wait to fuck her

His next thought was that it was a daed to his former boot camp buddy, Ben

“Does she know?”

Ben leaned against the wall and took the last swig of beer fro party tunes “Nope Big surprise She wanted to coas for her birthday and have her fantasy fulfilled After the shit she’s been through lately, when she requested” He let loose a beer belch, tossing his brown hair from his unfocused eyes “I delivered ”

Maybe, but Hunter suspected Ben hadn’t spilled the whole story He’d spent the last half-dozen years as a Navy SEAL and was still alive because he always listened to his gut “You’re okay with this?”

“Yeah,” Ben slurred “Fuck, she’s hot in bed Passionate All that Latina blood ” He leaned in and grinned “She’s a screamer and scratcher ”

Ben’s words created a visual that had Hunter stone hard: hiasping his na into his shoulders as he nuzzled her lush breasts While pounding her swollen pussy relentlessly deep with his cock

He wanted that—and would do whatever necessary to make it happen

The brunette was deep in conversation with a slightly older Hispanic wos in stilettos with fake blond hair and equally fake breasts They made him yawn But she

As if sensing his stare, the gorgeous woazes locked Oh, yeah She exuded sex appeal with all the subtlety of a flashing red light

Instinct jabbed his gut with a full-throttle attraction that raced through his veins Da his hands in her dark silk hair as he clai her helplessly to his bed—would be worth whatever it took to get her there Even twenty feet apart, they generated coed him down to his balls It was beyond chemistry At thirty-two, Hunter knew the difference He didn’t ure her out, possess her

Why was that?

She looked at her coreen laced with deep brown Stunning against her hint-of-olive coh him Her wide s breath Her pulse fluttered at her neck Her pink tongue peeked out, swiping across her plump lips

Everything about her breathless expression told hioddaer for her, ht

“What’s her name?” He had to know, ached to

“Kata ” Ben slurred “Short for Katalina, but she hates it I call her that when she pisses me off, but then she calls me Benjamin and—”

“Got it ” Hunter didn’t need to know the ins and outs of Ben and Kata’s relationship He already envied the bastard like mad “Boundaries?”

“Nah, man Whatever she wants ”

Idly, Hunter wondered if Ben realized that, without li leave fro more to do for a week than rehab his shoulder and devote hi Kata But since he and Ben hadn’t spoken otten his ruthless side