Cara woke to the scent of s*x and sweat still lingering in the sheets. Julian was already out of bed, shirtless, pacing near the window with a cigarette between his fingers—his muscles taut, his thoughts far. Morning light framed him like a painting: dangerous and beautiful.
She sat up slowly, the sheets slipping down her bare chest. Her body still throbbed in all the places he’d claimed her the night before. She should have felt satisfied. Instead, dread curled in her stomach.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, her voice husky.
He didn’t turn around. “I’m thinking someone’s been watching us for a lot longer than we realized.”
Cara swung her legs off the bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she stood. “Julian… last night—”
“Last night was real,” he cut in, finally facing her. “But i
