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"Is he doing well?" Any news of hi

She worried about hih she doubted he needed her concern She was terrified she had added ht of that was nearly as painful as losing hih"

She stared back at hih her

"You’re talking to hiain "I orried about him" He shifted his shoulders uncomfortably

She had worried as well She talked to Khalid often, though he rarely had any real news of Ian

"I’ of her lips as she set dressed…"

"He asked about you" His eyesthere

Pain curled through her chest,it difficult to breathe

"I hope you told hiaze

"I told hihter’s heart," he finally snapped "What the hell was I supposed to tell him, Courtney?"

"That I a withmore, Father I a ust

"You haunt this house like a ghost," he growled "Even Sebastian is worried The bastard wasn’t supposed to break your heart"

"For pity’s sake, what do you think I’ to do?" she yelled back at hi to kill ain his heart? What would ," he informed her fiercely "But that doesn’t h You are as insane as any man I have ever met It is no wonder you and Ian are so close" She threw her hands up in surrender "First, you do not want hi with me Make up your runted at that "He didn’t have to hurt you"

"He did not hurt ht for the past month "I hurtto push hi of hiet me?"

She stared in shock as Ian stepped into the roo through her bloodstrea away the chill that held her in stasis for so ard, lined eariness, his deep blue eyes filled with shadows

Her head whipped around to her father, staring at hied "He wanted to see you It’s your life, Courtney," he finally sighed, his gray eyes concerned, finally filled with acceptance "I can’t live it for you, and to be honest, I’d just fuck it up further if you let me" He turned to Ian then "I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready to talk"

He turned and left the roo her alone then with the man who had haunted her for h? Did he worry that she would somehow meet the same end that Melissa had?

"If he has led you to believe I would hurt ame with you," she bit out fiercely "Youheart soets when he’s angry, Ian He’ll let you believe whatever you like"

She couldn’t believe he was here She stared at hi hied to with her hands How tall and strong he looked His sun-darkened flesh, the thick black hair, his wicked blue eyes He stood before her dressed in low-slung jeans and a white silk shirt Boots covered his feet, giving hihs… He still lusted for her His cock was hard, pressing against the material in a bid to be free

Her body responded to that knowledge, her breasts swelling, her nipples growing hard and sensitized as he continued to watch her

"I kno Dane is" He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched her soleh"

"Me?" Her brows snapped into a frown as his words finally sank into her head "How could I have disappointed you? I left What more could you wish?"

"Did I ask you to leave?" He arched his brow questioningly "I don’t recall asking you to do anything of the sort You drove ot what you wanted and then you just up and left"

She blinked back at hi nervously

"I had caused you such trouble…"

"No runted "Don’t you think I knew your father was a little set suspicious You were the one who thought you had him fooled"

She flushed at the rehtened with regret Why hadn’t he understood that? And ait a month to berate her for it?

He stepped further into the roo with him the unique scent that she had always loved about hirowled then "You left without saying goodbye That hurthiure that one out

"I was furious with you" He stopped in front of her, staring down at her, his expression lightening as he sahatever it was he was searching for within her gaze "I am still furious with you Which asped when he touched her, his ar in her hair to draw her head back "Much later…"