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A low, droning murmur of conversation wafted froain

It was now or never She wrenched open the front door and barreled outside, forcing herself not to laugh as she sped along the gravel path and through the nighttime forest

The beach welcomed her in a thousand little ways Wispy purple clouds crawled across the twilight sky, casting asea Tiny stones rattled in the breeze The air smelled of seawa

ter and pine and life

She hugged herself and twirled around, reveling in the freedo down at the swirling, turbulent white-tipped waves below The sea breathed and pulsed, drew back, then hurled itself against the black rock ledge Spray splashed her face All around her, flowers shivered in the cold night air, tossing their e of phlox crept out fronificent view for itself

"Selena!" Ian's angry voice broke through the silence

She stiffened and-slowly turned around

He stood at the edge of the forest, half-dressed Black breeches hugged his long legs, and a white lawn shirt hung at an aard angle over his naked chest "What in the hell are you doing?" There was a cold evenness to his voice that chilled her to the bone

"I needed to be outside"

He surged toward her, his booted feet striding across the uneven layer of gray rock When he reached her, he grabbed her by the upper ar her in an iron, unforgiving grip, he half dragged her through the forest and back toward the house

At the lawn, he paused for a second, and she wrenched

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free Her breath caasps "I " "Get in the house"

Nervously she wet her lips He stood there, tall and incredibly handsoht, his eyes an aled to be what he wanted, to do what he asked, but she couldn't give up the sun Not the sun "No"

He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, but not before she'd seen a flash of raw pain "Get inside"