page27 (1/2)

Clair touched her hair, her co with confusion “I had a trio”

Aleksy resisted the urge to roll his eyes “A fashion salon,” he clarified, then added with irony, “So you can hat I like” He held a chair at the table for her

“Why? Taking possession of Victor’s trophy wasn’t enough? You need to sta unsteadiness undere

He didn’t let her renite his temper “I intend to remove any traces of him from you, yes”

“For whose benefit?”

She seeenuinely baffled, which was yet another reements worked

His housekeeper brought their meals at that moment and he watched Clair withdraw even further behind her frustrating shields as she was offered tea and asked if she’d found everything she’d needed

After Yvette left, Clair h” Her hand tremored as she helped herself to a croissant, the only betrayal of tension behind an otherwise cool demeanor

“Harrowing” Aleksy repeated the unfamiliar word so he’d remember to look it up

“I’ht stands are old hat to you, but this is er witnessing it”

He tensed Was that what she thought? “I don’t do one-night stands,” he informed her quietly

“Or virgins, if I recall Must have been a two-for-one special”

“But you’re not a virgin anymore, are you?”

She stilled S a lovely blush under her skin She sed and looked away

He didn’t like that she would try to withhold any part of herself froet experience She had to know that once wasn’t enough for either of them He reached out and drew her chin around to face him