Anna

“I can’t believe it—you’re the perfect Belle.”

I took a sip of Chardonnay and looked around. The lobby of the McGregor office had been converted for the company’s annual Halloween party, which also doubled as a fundraiser for the foundation. For every dollar employees contributed, the McGregors paid another three. A few of their rich friends were in attendance, as well, to fatten up the pot.

“Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie.”

When I’d seen the blue and white dress and brown wig, I couldn’t resist buying it. It had reminded me of going to the library with Adam.

I probably shouldn’t have bought an outfit that would remind me of him, considering how awful the past two weeks had been. I was still emotionally raw from losing Java, and maybe that was why I’d been crying so much about losing Adam. It didn’t help that I had to work in his building, where I wondered each and every day if I’d see him. The worry had become like a knife in my chest. There was an abysmal hole there.

And then at night, I was at the center, where there were plenty more memories of him. Every time the kids at the center had asked about where he had been, I was forced to come up with lame excuses. He hadn’t even gone to see Abby at rehab.

Of course, I was leaving in two weeks, and I hadn’t told the kids. In a couple of weeks, maybe Adam would be the one making up the shitty excuses.

“Earth to Anna.” Kate waved a hand in front of my face.

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the flashing orange neon lights that bounced around the room. “Huh?”

“Sean just got here.”

Adam’s twin. “I thought you two only hooked up the one time.”

I’d learned a lot about Kate in the few weeks I’d been living with her. As much as she enjoyed hooking up with Sean—so she said—she didn’t want to get attached since she was going back to New York in December. Apparently, unlike me, she hadn’t been worried what people would think if they saw Sean and her together.

“I was kind of hoping for one more fun night with him, but it looks like he brought a date.”

“Aw.” I looked at the pretty blonde at his side who was dressed in an angel costume. “Sorry.”

Kate shrugged. “His loss.”

“True.” I smiled.

“Come on. I need a refill.” She grabbed my arm, almost knocking me off my heels as we made our way to the bar that had been set up at the back of the lobby along the wall.

Narisa and Rick were already there, tossing back shots.

“Care to join us?” Rick asked Kate and me.

“Another one?” Narisa groaned and touched her stomach. She was dressed in a vampire costume similar to Kate’s, and Rick was Dracula. Apparently, I had missed the memo that we were all supposed to be sporting fangs at this costume party.

“I’ll have one.” Although the last and only time I had done shots, I’d spent the following day hugging the porcelain crown.

Rick raised his glass a few moments later, and I joined in with the salute.

The liquid burned my throat, and I winced, not sure what I’d swallowed. It was strong and definitely did not blend well with the Chardonnay.

“You feel like dancing?” Kate asked Narisa and me, tilting her head slightly toward the space where a DJ had set up.

“No one else is dancing,” I hedged.

And we were at work.

“Come on, who cares? You’re leaving soon, anyway. Live a little!”

I wasn’t sure if Kate was making me feel better or worse about the situation. Maybe another shot would help me decide . . .

“Ladies, ladies.” Rick pulled at the red lapels of his costume and winked. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

Narisa was shaking her head, her cheeks blushing as Rick sauntered out before the DJ. We all started to laugh as he began moving his arms like a herky-jerky robot that had no relation to the rhythm of the music.

“We’d better save him,” Kate suggested. She joined Rick and began moving around the floor, drawing attention from the rest of the room. She was so confident and fun.

As for me, I was shriveling back into my comfortable shell of insecurity.

I can do this, I told myself as I watched Narisa skip out to meet Kate and Rick on the dance floor.

I’m Belle, tonight. Not Anna.

Of course, Belle was also the shy girl with her nose stuck in a book.

Screw it, I decided.

I joined my friends as the music shifted to something sultrier and more seductive. The tempo slowed, the bass was a low vibration surrounding me, and the sweet sound of a female voice poured through the speakers.

I began to sway my hips and allow my arms to move with freedom out in front of me. Maybe it was the alcohol, but for once I didn’t care what anyone thought.

People joined in on the fun, dancing all around us, including Sean and his blonde bombshell. Kate didn’t seem to care.

Good for her.

I couldn’t imagine if Adam had shown up with—

Oh God. He came. A slow, blustery feeling of desire swept through me as my eyes locked with his.

I stopped dancing—I could hardly hear the music. My heart raced, twisting in my chest as I stared at him. He remained standing in front of the doors to the main entrance.

He was in black slacks and a blazer, with a dark dress shirt beneath.

He looked like sin.

He’d come in costume. The billionaire businessman. But I could see the fighter beneath. He was virile—powerful. His flesh rippled beneath his suit like steel. He could crush someone with his fists.

But that wasn’t why he was dangerous.

No. He was dangerous because he could turn my heart to dust.

But maybe being with him was worth the risk of a broken heart.

Or maybe it would be a horrible mistake.

His eyes broke from mine, and he turned to walk toward a group of people in the corner of the room. My heart shriveled in my chest.

“Dance!” Kate hollered to me.

I tried to move, but my body would no longer obey. All of my mental faculties seemed to have gone out the window. Adam was talking to a man in a suit—someone unfamiliar to me. Maybe he was one of the wealthy donors to the McGregor Foundation. Adam laughed at something the man said, and then his mother was at his side.

I only knew it was his mom because Adam’s parents had introduced themselves at the start of the party. I remembered what Adam had said about being a disappointment to his mom, but I was sure nothing could be further from the truth.

I moved to the edge of the dance area, trying to get a better view of the McGregor family. His mom rested her hand on Adam’s shoulder. Even in the spotty lighting, I could see her eyes glittering with pride.

Adam glanced over his shoulder, catching my eyes, and my cheeks flamed with embarrassment. I turned away.

I should leave.

I couldn’t bring myself to leave, though.

I forced myself to dance again, but my arms barely moved and my feet just stepped side to side.

But a few minutes later I stiffened as a hand found my hip.

“If you’re Beauty, does that mean I’m the Beast?” Adam whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes as chills raced across my skin. My nipples tightened with want. I’d never met a man who could steal my breath with the sound of his voice. It wasn’t just that his accent was deliciously sexy—it was the way he spoke. The rich satin of his voice slid over me, warming me in all the right places.

“As much as I like the Belle costume, I prefer your natural hair color.” His fingers slipped up to my brown, ponytail wig and I opened my eyes.

“Why are you here?” I faced him, not caring that we were standing within a dancing crowd, standing close in front of everyone at work.

He rested a hand at my elbow as he narrowed his eyes on me and a smile tugged at his lips. “Last time I checked it was my name on the building.”

“Good point.” I wanted to break the hold he had on my eyes, but I couldn’t drag my gaze away. The simple touch of his hand on my elbow had me realizing how much I’d missed him.

“Can we talk?” He looked over my shoulder, probably taking note of the people all around us. Had anybody noticed? Did anybody care?

I hadn’t a clue. Adam McGregor was standing in front of me, and that was all I knew.

Being so close to him.

Breathing him in.

It was like I’d come home.

I think I nodded yes because he guided me by the elbow and led me out of the lobby, away from the people and into a hall. There were doors to offices on either side.

I pressed my back to one of the office doors behind me and gasped as his palm pressed against the wall over my shoulder. “I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me anymore,” I said after a few long moments, noting the way his tan throat moved in small swallows as if he were trying to digest his emotions.

My eyes settled on his chest as it expanded.

“Of course I’d want to talk to you, which is exactly why I shouldn’t have come here tonight.”

“You’re confusing,” I mumbled, and he pushed away from the door, offering a little space between us. But the greedy, lusty part of me wanted him back, and closer. I wanted to inhale his scent until I grew dizzy. I wanted to grab hold of his rough hands—they were nothing like a businessman’s hands—and I wanted them to cover my body. Every inch of it.

“I don’t mean to be confusing,” he answered, dragging a hand over the top of his head. “Ma begged me to come tonight, but I knew what would happen if I saw you.”

“And what’s that?”

He stood still in front of me, his blue eyes mesmerizing. My lips parted, so dry and in need of his mouth on mine.

“I knew if I came to the party that I’d come to you like a moth. You’ve always been this bright light . . .”

My eyes dropped to his hands, which were fisted at his sides. The sight of his clenched hands should have produced fear inside me, but they didn’t. He wasn’t Jax. He’d raised them only to protect me, not to harm.

I reached for his arm, but he retracted it.

In Adam’s words, feck that. I reached for him again.

My fingertips glided over the expensive black fabric of his suit jacket, and I slipped my hand to his wrist. I raised his arm up and between us, bringing his hand to my heart, pressing it hard against my chest. I could see the struggle on his face.

His fingers unfurled into an open palm, and I shut my eyes, embracing the emotions that soared through me.

“Don’t do this. It’s better for you to be afraid of me.” His voice broke as he spoke, but I kept my hand on his wrist, holding him firmly in place.

“I’m not afraid of you,” I whispered.

His free hand went to my chin, and he urged me to look up. “Look me in the eyes and say you’re not afraid,” he commanded.

I swallowed. “I’m not afraid of you,” I repeated, my voice trembling.

“I don’t believe you.” He dropped both hands, and my body splintered, a vice on my chest squeezed. I’d lost him. I had known it since that day in the barn, but still, I had clung to the hope that somehow we might find our way back to each other.

“I’m sorry.” Defeat and anger splayed in the lines of his face. As he started to turn, I grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him.

“Adam? Can we act like you and I aren’t bad for each other? Just for the next sixty seconds?” My hand dropped heavy at my side as he stood there in silence, contemplating my words.

He faced me head on, and I stumbled backward and against the door once more. In one quick movement, he swept my arms up over my head, holding both my wrists with his one hand, locking them in place. His lips slanted over mine as his other hand slid down my throat and to my collarbone.

He kissed me with a fierceness that far surpassed anything I’d ever felt before. His tongue dipped inside my mouth, meeting mine with possessive fervor.

My body arched up, needing to be closer to him as his fingers moved gently across my chest. He still held me pinned in his grip. His cock thickened against my belly, and my pulse fluttered.

When he tore his lips from mine and released me, I hardly remembered my own name. My knees sagged—almost giving out beneath me. My chest heaved up and down as I panted, trying to catch my breath.

His gaze, warm but also full of mourning, slid over me.

He tipped his head and turned away, leaving me alone in the hall.

I dropped my head into my palms, trying not to cry. He’d wrecked me with that kiss. But it was one I’d never forget. It would stay with me forever.

I attempted to gather my composure, preparing myself for whatever questions my friends might shoot my way. Of course they’d have noticed—anyone with eyes would notice when Adam was around.

I pressed my hands to the blue and white Belle dress and took a few deep breaths. I hadn’t even stepped forward when I saw Adam’s sister, Holly, coming straight for me. Judging by her pursed lips and furrowed brow, I suspected she was pissed.

“So you’re the one.” She folded her arms and stopped in front of me, and my back was once again to the door.

“The one what?” I raised a brow.

“We need to talk,” she replied.

We’d only spoken in Adam’s office that one time. What did Holly want with me now?

“Sure, Miss McGregor.”

Her eyes were sharp on me, and my stomach rolled with nervousness. “You need to leave Dublin.”

“Um.” I hadn’t expected those words. “I plan to in two weeks.”

“No, I want you to leave now. Tomorrow. I’ll pay you, but you need to go.”

My mind raced. What was her problem? Was I in danger? Nothing made sense.

“I don’t understand.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Adam has lost his bloody mind. He hasn’t been to the office, and he’s at that bastard’s gym every moment of the day. But if you leave, maybe there’s hope. Maybe we can save him.”

I gaped at her, trying to comprehend what she was saying.

“Don’t act like you don’t know about the fighting,” she accused, opening her arms wide. “Everybody knows. But you have unique knowledge the others don’t since you’re screwing my brother.”

More like screwed. Adam wanted nothing to do with me, anymore. But I wasn’t about to argue semantics with Adam’s very pissed off sister. “If I can help Adam by leaving, then that’s what I’ll do. But I don’t understand what the point is—what harm can I do?”

The woman actually scowled at me. What the hell?

“He’s fighting because of you, don’t ya get it? If you leave, maybe he won’t fight.”

My mouth rounded as I tried to respond, but my mind seemed to be slugging through Jell-O. Why would he be fighting because of me? I didn’t want him to fight, either!

Her brows twitched together again. “You didn’t know?”

“He’s fighting because of his friend Leslie. He said he was doing it for him.”

Her shoulders relaxed, and her anger seemed to slow. “His damn mate started this all, but you got pulled into it. Donovan has threatened to hurt you if Adam doesn’t fight.”

Those guys had been following me. Of course. That was why Adam had whisked me away to a hotel. I had thought it was because he didn’t want Leslie’s drama to impact me, but it was actually because I was already in danger . . .

I was going to be sick.

“Adam is fighting to protect you, but if you leave he won’t need to keep you safe.”

“Why didn’t he send me home, then?”

Holly wet her lips and took a step closer to me. “I guess he had his reasons for keeping you.”

Because he wanted to screw me? Was that what his dear sis was trying to say? Well, clearly she had a much lower opinion of Adam than I did.

“I don’t think my leaving is going to get him to quit.” I stood my ground, pushing away from the wall. “He stopped fighting because of what happened to Owen, and he’s never forgiven himself, but maybe—”

“You know about Owen Daniels?” Holly gripped her forehead as if I were giving her a headache.

“He told me.”

She brought a hand to her mouth and turned away from me. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was softer now.

“For what?”

Holly faced me, her skin blanching. “If he told you about Owen, he must really care about you.” She bit her lip for a moment. “I shouldn’t have said that—about you two shagging . . .”

“Holly, I care about Adam. I only want what’s best for him. Maybe I should talk to him again.” I didn’t know what I’d say or if I could change his mind, but I needed to at least try. “Do you think he’s still here?”

She shook her head no. “I saw him leaving the hall and go barreling out the front doors. He’s probably heading to his home outside the city.”

Shit. How would I get there?

“I’ll take you to him.”

“What?”

“If you can talk to him, make him see—”

“I’ll do my best,” I assured her as I ripped the brown wig from my head.

“Okay, then. Come on, let’s go out the back so we don’t draw any attention from my family.”

“Sounds good.” I followed after Holly, tossing my wig in a trash bin in the parking lot as we left. She unlocked her SUV, and I got inside.

As she drove, Holly clutched the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles became white. “He worked so hard to keep from fighting. I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around how this all happened.”

I kept my eyes on the window, not sure what I could say. I had dragged him back into the fighting world. All this time I had been worried about myself and Adam had been the one in danger.

“Adam feels so guilty about what happened to that fighter, Owen. But I’m wondering if the guilt is dangerous,” I mused.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe he needs forgiveness to move on.”

“No. The guilt is what kept him from fighting.” Holly shook her head.

“Maybe it worked before, but in the long term, I don’t think that’s the answer. I mean, Adam paralyzed a guy. He feels he stole Owen’s life from him. Maybe if he had a chance to confront Owen, face to face, maybe he could find some sort of solace. He could free himself of the burden that’s weighing him down.”

“And, what? Feel better about fighting again?”

“No, but—”

She waved her hand in the air. “Sorry, but any situation that doesn’t involve Adam backing away from fighting is a no in my book.”

“So you’d rather he lived in pain?” I stared down at my lap, my hands trembling as emotions rolled through me.

“Of course not, but I don’t want him winding up in jail again, or . . . worse.”

I thought about Jax, how he could have died at Adam’s hands. But Adam had stopped at the sound of my voice. He wasn’t the dark monster he made himself out to be.

I wanted to defend Adam even more to his sister, but clearly, Holly had her concerns. She had known him all her life—who was I to argue with her? We sat in a blisteringly awkward silence.

When we pulled up in front of Adam’s home, my legs were trembling a little, my body on edge.

“His Porsche is here. I’ll unlock the door and let you in. You want me to come with you?” Holly turned off the engine.

“I think I’d better do this alone.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” We got out of the SUV, and I followed her to the front door, petrified of how Adam would respond once he saw me. When she unlocked the front door, I nodded goodbye and stepped inside the dark foyer, closing the door quietly behind me.

I should have called out for him. I should have let him know I was there, but the words were stuck in my throat.

The house was dark and music was coming from somewhere. At the back of the house, maybe.

Deep breaths. I followed the music down a hall and stopped outside a door, which seemed to vibrate from the sound. Memories of the night I’d seen him in the fighting ring flashed to my mind, and my hand hovered in front of the door handle. I tried to relax my shoulders, to remove the unease that had curled inside me, but the anxiety still rose, thick and syrupy.

When I finally opened the door, I saw Adam crouched on top of a blue mat, wearing only a pair of sweatpants. His arms were extended in front of him, moving in slow motion. Then he rose and shifted on his feet in movements that looked almost like a dance. It was stealthy and graceful, but you could also see the power as his biceps flexed, as the muscles in his back came together.

It was beautiful, actually. I wasn’t sure what kind of martial arts he was doing, but the swift movements didn’t match the loud, techno music that blasted throughout the room.

He bent forward, a hand going to the mat, his legs rising above him as he did a handstand with one arm.

Just . . . wow.

But as he brought his feet down I could tell that he would come up facing me, and I was already taking a step back.

His brows pulled together in surprise, and he studied me with tight lips.

“Hi,” I whispered, although he probably couldn’t hear me over the music.

He lowered his head and walked away. My heart galloped in my chest, and then I realized he was turning down the music.

He crossed back through the room and stopped a foot shy of me. I dragged my gaze from the glistening streaks of sweat that glided down his chest and his abs, and then my eyes were drawn back up to his firm lips.

“Your sister brought me here.”

His face remained a blank mask, but I didn’t let it stop me. I fidgeted with my fingers in front of me as I said in a low voice, “Holly tried to get me to leave Dublin.” I forced out a laugh. “Hell, she offered to pay me.”

“What?” I had known that would get him talking. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. But don’t you go running after her—she’s already left.”

He crossed his arms, and his corded forearms drew my eye. I wanted nothing more than for him to wrap his arms around me . . . but his protecting me was what had gotten us into this mess in the first place.

“You see,” I said, daring to step closer, “she told me that you aren’t just fighting to keep Leslie safe. She said you’re doing it for me.”

“Did she, now?”

I placed a hand on his chest, but he remained locked in his firm stance. “If I leave Dublin—this all goes away, doesn’t it?”

His shoulder blades shifted forward a little as if the weight of what he was going to say was too much. “Whether you stay or not, you won’t be safe. Donovan has already said as much.” His eyes flashed to mine. “Christ, Anna. Don’t ya get it? I’d do anything to protect you.”

The pain in his voice was deep—cutting straight to my heart. “If only I hadn’t answered Leslie’s ad for a roommate, maybe none of this would be happening,” I said weakly after a minute. “Maybe you’d be flying around in your chopper in Rome on the weekends, instead of fighting for that horrible criminal.”

His eyes narrowed on me. “You think so?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“Well, I thought about that, too.” When he unfurled his arms and dropped them to his sides, I took a step back and removed my hand from his chest. “I swear to God I don’t want anything to happen to you—obviously—but I don’t think I could trade the moments we had together for anything. Feck, I’d do it all over again if I had the choice. And that makes me a selfish arsehole because I’d willingly put you at risk—”

“Stop,” I said, stepping closer to him. “Just stop,” I cried, my eyes welling with tears.

God, I’d missed him.

He gently seized my arms and pulled me into him, hugging me while stroking my back. His chin rested on the top of my head as he held me, and I planted my hands firmly on his back, hanging on for dear life.

“Please don’t blame yourself,” he whispered into my ear. He ran his hand through my hair. “Donovan would’ve found a way to get me back into the ring no matter what. He was just waiting for a chance like this. So, please—don’t blame yourself.”

I slipped my hands up to his chest and pushed away. I swiped at my fallen tears.

My throat constricted, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to breathe. “You don’t need to fight. I supported your decision to help your friend, but if I can stop this by leaving . . .”

He cocked his head to the side and studied me with hooded eyes. “I’m no saint, Anna. If you go, I’ll still fight.”

“But why?”

When he didn’t answer, I asked, “The fight is next weekend, right? First weekend in November?”

He nodded.

“And what if this Donovan guy wants you to keep fighting, afterward? What if he continues to threaten you?”

He took a step back and turned away from me, heading back toward the mat. “He won’t have to.”

“Why?”

“Because he doesn’t need to make threats anymore.” Anger flashed in his eyes. Although I didn’t think he was angry with me. Himself, maybe.

He was giving up.

I raced up behind him and grabbed hold of his arm, using the leverage to maneuver in front of him. I touched the inside of his forearm, brushing my fingers over the tattoo. “Choose family, Adam. Please.” My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I looked up at him, my eyes pleading. “Choose me.”

His eyes were a brooding whirl of darkness. He and I were hanging on the edge of something, something dangerous, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to back away. If Adam was there, I wanted to be there, too.

“Anna.” He closed his eyes. The pain in his voice was thick, deep, cutting. My insides burned with the need to be his.

“Fuck me.”

His eyes flashed open, and my body heated at the powerful sight of him.

“What?” His brows pinched together.

“You said that when you’re with me you get the same kind of high you do from fighting. Maybe an even better high?” I reached around to my back and began to unzip the blue and white farm girl dress. It fell to the floor, and I stood there in a lace bra and panties.

His breath hitched, and he took a large step back as if he were afraid of me. “No, Anna. I can’t just fuck you. I won’t use you like that. Is that all you think you are to me?” He shook his head. “It wasn’t just about us screwing—it was about you. You made me feel . . .” His voice trailed off as he lowered his eyes to the blue mat.

“Look at me, Adam,” I demanded. “I’m standing right in front of you. I’m not just giving my body to you—I’m giving my everything . . . I need you as much as you need me.” I was going to cry again.

His chest expanded as he dragged his gaze up the length of my body. He found my eyes. “I can’t be with you tonight.”

I shuddered at his words, the rejection cutting deep.

“There’ll be no way I can walk away from you again if we—”

“Good. I don’t want you to walk away.” I lifted my feet—still in heels—high over the pool of fabric below me. I closed the gap between our bodies. “You’re a fighter, right? So fight for us. Fight for whatever this is.” I leaned into him and pressed up, my lips brushing against his.

He remained unresponsive—he was so damn stubborn.

I nipped at his lip with my teeth as my fingers splayed across his chest and descended lower.

“Dammit.” He cupped the back of my head, pulling me closer, his mouth hard against mine before his lips softened into a sensual kiss.

He lowered us to the mat, pulling me into his arms.

He flipped me onto my back and braced himself above me, staring down into my eyes.

“I should never have let you leave back in Kentucky. I was an idiot.” I needed to say it, for him to believe it.

He hung his head. “I lost control. Seeing him near you, his hands on you . . . I snapped.”

“He deserved it.” Maybe not the death he’d come so close to, but Jax had needed a lesson. Maybe he’d never hurt another woman again.

“I’m sorry.”

“I thought I was doing the apologizing.” I tried to crack a smile, but I could tell he was still suffering. He had so much weighing him down, and I hated it. “Well, my Irish cowboy, are you going to make love to me or what?” We’d never referred to sex as making love before, but I couldn’t bring myself to use the F-word again. Because, as Adam had rightly insisted, whatever was between us went way beyond sex.

His blue eyes glinted as he lowered himself closer to me, his chest brushing against mine. “Cowboy, eh?”

“Hey, you looked really good on that horse. I’ve been fantasizing about you riding in on a horse, whisking me off my feet. . .”

He laughed. “And what happens next?” Adam rolled to his side, facing me. He touched my cheek with the back of his hand.

“Well,” I smiled, my hand running down the hard planes of his body until it reached the waistband of his sweats, “I could show you.”

* * *

“Did Holly really offer you money?”

I sat up in Adam’s bed, hugging the sheets to my chest as a cool chill raced across my skin. It was my first time waking up in Adam’s home. Being here made “us” feel all the more real.

“She did, but only because she loves you. She has a strange and kind of intimidating way of showing it, but she’s looking out for you. You’re lucky to have her.”

He brought a steaming hot cup of black coffee to his lips and took a sip. He looked so sexy sitting up against the black leather headboard, his hard, naked chest on display, the bedsheet draped casually across his groin.

“So you told Holly about me?”

He lowered his mug. “No. Sean figured it out and clued her in. You know big families—keeping a secret is damn near impossible.”

“Which is why I never told any of my siblings about Jax.” I hadn’t meant to say his name. I didn’t want to spoil the mood, but I also didn’t want to hide my feelings. Still, it might not hurt to change the subject. “I can’t believe I’m going to leave Dublin so soon.”

“I don’t want you to go.” He set his mug down on the black nightstand by the bed and reached for my hand, lacing his fingers with mine.

“I don’t want to leave. But I already gave my notice to John for the internship. In two weeks I’ll have no job. No money.” Adam furrowed his brow at me. “What?”

“Give me a bloody break. You know I’ll help you.”

“No,” I responded immediately. “You know I—”

“Can be a stubborn arse?” A smile lit his cheek, and it warmed my insides to see him smile.

I slapped his chest with my free hand. “And you’re not?”

“Of course I am, but I’ve got no qualms admitting it.” His seductive accent flitted to my ears, and I had the urge to straddle him again, to ride him hard and fast like I’d done only a few hours ago.

God, what do you do to me?

His eyes became intense and he cleared his throat, lowering his attention to the base of my neck. I bit my lip. When Adam didn’t look me in the eyes, it was usually because he was going to tell me something I wouldn’t want to hear.

“Anna.”

Here we go.

“Yeah?”

“I need to figure this thing out with Donovan. I need to fight next Saturday. I need to do this alone. If you’re around, I’ll be worried about you, and I won’t be able to—”

“I understand. But you’ll find a way out once this is done, right?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Adam . . .” Something in the pit of my stomach didn’t feel right.

He released my hand and pulled me into his arms. “Try and trust me.”

Our eyes met, and I forced myself to relax against him. “I do trust you.”

“But?” He held me tight against him.

“No buts . . .”