The challenge in her voice made his pulse quicken. Heat flooded his face.

"Nothing," he murmured, looking away.

But Xavier leaned toward her and lowered his voice to a whisper only she could hear. "Just because I fucked you against that door? Just because you came so hard with my cock you couldn't remember your own name? Say it."

His breath caught in his throat. "You're a jerk."

"Probably." Her mouth formed something that wasn't exactly a smile. "But you still want me."

She hated that he was right. She hated that, even now, with everything falling apart, her body responded to his nearness, to the warmth of his eyes.

"Your marriage is a sham," she said softly, echoing his own words. "But it still exists. So, whatever is between us, it can't happen again."

Something flashed in his expression. Pain, perhaps. Or anger. —We'll see.

The SUV turned onto a private road and stopped in front of a sleek, modern building. Smaller than the safe house. More discreet.

"We've arrived," the driver ann