~Valerie~
The air behind me shifts, getting heavy and hot. I don’t have to turn around to know Ronan has reached the center of the room. He stops just inches from my back, his presence like a wall of fire. I can feel the heat radiating off his massive chest, a scent of winter wind and old leather wrapping around me.
Across the room, Evander hasn't moved. He’s leaning against the railing of the stairs, his tattooed arms crossed, watching us both with a dark, satisfied smirk.
I’m being pulled in two directions. Ronan’s presence behind me makes me feel safe, like he’s a shield against the rest of the world, but it’s also suffocating. I can still feel where his teeth sank into my neck last night. Then there’s Evander. His gaze from across the room makes me feel exposed, like he’s stripping
