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He rip, as if he could prevent her retreat into herself

She stiffened and her hands canals of resistance and subtle, sensualthat he’d felt in her earlier in his apart to shield herself at the sa he understood all too well, but she didn’t have to fear him on this

“You’re right, of course,” he e up and down her arms “I shouldn’t have said that Where did you live, then? An orphanage?”

“Yes” He felt a quiver go through her, one she suppressed as she said with quiet dignity, “The home was the only real one I had It was stable and I needed that after being in foster situations for the first few years That’s why I’ to stay open, but I don’t need the donation froori The amount you’ve promised is soand actually support expansion Tell Grigori whatever you like I won’t bring it up again I’ll just tell people we met in London and leave it at that” She turned her face away, lips tight

He had disining that at best it was the illusion of a bleeding-heart idealist incapable of solving real probleenuine continued to jar through hi to protect children

The knowledge sliced a fresh cut of igno to understand her

“You iven me some indication,” he admonished “Why let me believe your motivations were shallow?”

“What do you care what motivates me? This isn’t the sort of relationship where we talk about our scars, visible or otherwise, is it?” she challenged, pupils contracted ounded pride

A knot of coht

“No,” he agreed His hands unconsciously tightened on her arms

“Good Because I don’t want you inhurt

The constant rejection in her life had uessed, but he couldn’t stand that chilly shell she was trying to recover She wasn’t just in his head; she was under his skin so deep he could barely breathe without feeling her Physical intimacy was the salvation for both of them, he told himself

“How about your body?” he ainst the erection that had rarely subsided since he’d et past her shields, and he would use it, now, before she’d locked her barriers into place “Do you want me inside you?”

She started with surprise and drew a sharp breath, face flooding with a sexual blush “I— Well, y-yes I ht and faded into a husky tone of arousal “Un—um, uncomplicated and…” She licked her lips nervously and the play of her tongue was almost a visceral stroke up his spine

Simple Practical Physical

He tried to hang on to the words as he backed her toward the divan, the need in hian to shake Every cell in his body ached for the pleasure she promised, but there was a primordial aspect to it that he refused to examine too closely He wanted ive herself to him because she wanted to, not for any orphaned children He wanted her as ensnared by this wild passion as he was

He levered her slight body onto the cushions and lowered himself to cover her

Clair released a helpless whi pulse in her throat Her overwhel and the music beyond the doors Had he locked any of them? The back of the divan offered a bit of protection if someone walked in but not much

“Aleksy,” she choked, voice thick with the conflict of wanting hi to risk discovery and holding back because she was upset All her internal guards were shattered and in bad need of repair She should wait until she had a better hold of herself, but he was strangely reassuring in the way he caged her beneath hi her The way he trailed his lips across her bare shoulder, pausing to drink in the scent of her skin

“I want everything you’ll give ht-headed rush, one that nearly lifted her off the divan as he slid his finger under the diagonal edge of her bodice to reveal her breast