ログインJason felt entirely too aware of Anna's hand in his. Her palm was clammy, but he made no attempt to let go of it. Instead, he kept his fingers loosely wrapped around hers, afraid that even the slightest movement might make her pull away.But she didn't.Anna's hand remained in his as they wove through the quiet hallways toward the backyard. Neither of them spoke, their footsteps the only sound between them. Jason pushed open the glass door and stepped into the warm, humid evening air.Anna followed him outside without letting go of his hand. He guided her toward the patio table and pulled out one of the chairs."Sit," he said softly, his hand sliding from hers to her shoulder as she lowered herself into the chair.Anna smoothed her hands down the front of her dress. Even now, she held herself so rigidly that Jason frowned. He slipped a finger beneath her chin and tilted her face toward him, then held another finger beneath her nose."You breathing?"Anna narrowed her eyes and swatted
Jason slammed the door of his Porsche shut harder than necessary, then strode up the front steps.He'd left work later than he'd wanted to, and now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to catch Anna alone.The double doors opened on the second ring of the doorbell, revealing one of the staff members. Jason recognized her as the one who usually attended to Anna."Good evening, Mr. Knight. Welcome home," she said, stepping aside.Jason nodded and strode past her, only to stop in the courtyard when he noticed that neither Anna's balcony nor her bedroom was lit. He turned back to the woman and gestured toward the balcony."Has she gone to bed?"She shook her head. "Anna's having dinner with her family."Jason paused, turning fully to her. "Her family?" Then he remembered why Clara hadn't been able to meet with Elena that afternoon. "Her mother?""Yes, sir.""I see. Inside or outside?""Inside, sir.""Thank you." He was already striding toward the house.His steps slowed as he crossed the living r
"Anna, you're home."Anna didn't look at Elena. She barely registered the concern in her voice. She stood frozen by the door, watching her mother uncross her legs and lean forward on the couch."C'mere, child. Sit." She patted the space beside her, the easy smile still on her face.Anna crossed the room slowly and sat beside her mother. Only after she'd settled into the seat did she realize what she'd done. She quickly set her shoes down and slipped her aching feet back into them. Then she straightened her spine, squared her shoulders, and tried to salvage her hair by running her fingers through it.Only then did she meet her mother's gaze, searching her face for a sign she couldn't quite identify. "I had no idea you were coming." She flattened her palm against her clothes instead of gripping them as she wanted to. "I—I could have—"Her mother reached out and brushed Anna's hair over her shoulder, and Anna resisted the urge to move away."Oh, don't be so tense, dear." She tucked Anna's
The strange flutter in her stomach hadn't gone away. Neither had the uneasy knot in her chest, which had settled there after Jason leaned against her and whispered those words.I'm sorry.A chill ran down Anna's spine as his voice echoed in her ears, the memory of his warm breath against her neck almost unbearably vivid. She turned towards the car window and rolled it down, exhaling heavily as the morning air rushed in.He'd muttered those same words last night as he curled into himself. Had they been for her as well?Us, Anna.And yet, I keep coming back. Like an addict crawling back to the same thing he knows could destroy him, knowing exactly what it'll cost him and doing it anyway.Anna squeezed her eyes shut, willing his voice to recede from her head. Instead, she saw the anguish in his eyes as he spoke those words. It had broken her heart, leaving her aching to comfort him.For once, he hadn't brought up the pregnancy. He'd acknowledged the possibility of an us. It had taken eve
Jason glanced around the room with a frown, then back at the startled woman in his bed. "This was still my room the last time I checked."Wasn't he supposed to be the drunk one with a splitting headache here?He watched as she took in the room, the horror on her face deepening by the second. Her gaze dropped to the duvet still clutched in her hands like a lifeline before she shoved it away as though it had burned her.Her gaze flicked over him, then away so quickly that Jason almost missed it. "This...""Guess I should be the one asking that question." Jason stepped closer to the bed and tossed her phone onto it. She stared at it for a moment before her gaze returned to him. "Is there a particular reason you're in... my bed?"The question must have come across as an accusation, because the horror on Anna's face quickly gave way to a scowl."I'm not here to seduce you, if that's what you're worried about," she snapped.Jason's frown deepened. "I never said—""I'm just going to leave." A
Ouch.Anna wrinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol and cigarettes hit her again, stronger this time. Something beneath her groaned and moved, making Anna frown. She shifted her hand and felt warm skin over hard muscle.Was she lying on top of—Anna scrambled to her feet and hurried backward. She switched on her phone's flashlight, using it to find the wall switch. Jason raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden glare of light, mumbling unintelligibly. Anna stared at Jason Knight in shock. He was on the floor, shirtless and drunk, his phone beside him as he mumbled like a child.What in heaven's name was he doing on the floor?Unable to help it, she laughed softly, covering her mouth to muffle the sound."You really did trip and fall." Her laughter vanished as the words she'd just uttered registered. She hurried back to his side and dropped to her knees, her nose wrinkling at the smell. “Jason?”He stirred at the sound of her voice. "Turn that damn light off," he muttered.Reli
Anna hummed low in her throat as she switched on the light, shuffling to her wardrobe. She pulled the door open, reaching for the neatly folded stack of nightwear on the wardrobe shelf. She paused as her eyes caught a vase on the bottom shelf. She sank to her knees, dragging in a breath at the si
Jason stood perfectly still and felt anything but. As he listened to her speak, his thoughts tangled—emotions he didn’t bother sorting through. He reached for the one thing that made sense in the lot. Anger.He could roll with rage—the rest was noise. It made him the predator. Yet, the words he'd
The cool air from the open door hit Anna's exposed arm before Jason closed it behind him. She took a step back as he advanced toward her, her brows drawing together. She'd peeked out because she thought he'd left when he went quiet. She'd been relieved to find him there like he said he would be.
The rap on the door was louder this time but Anna stood rooted to the floor, staring at it with wide eyes. What if he wanted to say goodbye? “Anna—are you on a call?” Jason's voice came through the door. Anna took a step forward, then stopped again. “I'll just—” Jason trailed off and the apart







