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My fingers brush against his as I take the shirt, and a thrum of desire rushes through me. All I’d have to do is close the distance between us and I have no doubt he’d respond by taking me to bed. And not to sleep. This is risky territory with a dangerous man.

“Go on now,” he whispers.

Grateful for the reprieve, I slip into the bathroom and lean against the door, letting out a sigh of relief. I turn on the shower and test the water with my hand. It’s freezing, so I twist the nob to the hottest setting and wait.

My reflection in the mirror depicts a woman on edge, a stranger with haunted eyes and hollow cheeks. I don’t feel like myself anymore. Before Juan forced me into the business, I had a pretty boring existence. I never really worried about much, other than my family, of course. But aside from that, daily life wasn’t anything dramatic. Now each day seems worse than the last. At least Ice and his club are protecting me now. That’s an improvement.

The water hisses in the background, steam curling around me like a ghostly embrace. I strip away my clothes beforeadjusting the temperature, so I won’t be scalded. Stepping under the warm cascade, I tip my head back and run my hands through my hair. Each droplet washes away the stress of the day.

My thoughts drift to the man beyond the bathroom door. They’re insistent, intrusive, hinting at desires that promise both solace and destruction. Would surrendering to the pull between us be such a bad thing? His tongue would be one hell of a distraction to ease the chaos, that’s for sure.

“Stop it,” I chastise myself.

Pressing my palms against the tiled wall, the water washes over me, cleansing my dirty thoughts. When the water turns cold and my resolve returns, I shut off the tap. I quickly wrap a towel around me and step out.

As soon as I’m dry, I slip his shirt over my head. The oversized t-shirt engulfs me, its hem brushing against my thighs. At least it’s modest enough. I don’t have spare panties to put on, which leaves me feeling naked and exposed, even though I’m fairly well covered. Hopefully, Blue brings a pack of underwear with her tomorrow.

After brushing my teeth, I step back into the bedroom. Ice is sprawled on his back, hands clasped behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He seems lost in thought. The soft glow of the room’s single lamp casts shadows across his muscles. His presence is commanding even in stillness.

I hover at the foot of the bed. As he turns to look at me, I feel every spot where the cotton fabric clings to my damp skin. His gaze cuts through the dimness and his pupils expand as he drinks in the sight of me. The intensity in his eyes sends a jolt straight through my core, a silent command that beckons me closer.

“Isabella,” he murmurs, a hint of gravel in his voice that scrapes against all my defenses.

“Hey,” I whisper. The air between us thickens with unspoken promises, and I’m drawn to him, helpless in the pull of his orbit.

I slide under the covers, the rustle of sheets the only sound in the room. Ice reaches over, flicking off the lamp beside the bed, and darkness wraps around us. Yet it’s not complete. The moon filters through the curtains, casting a pale light that outlines his form. His chest, bare and inviting, rises and falls in a hypnotic rhythm that lulls my racing heart. The sheets cover the rest of his body.

Is he wearing anything else?

My mind wanders down dangerous paths, imagination igniting with every subtle movement he makes. I’m rigid under the sheets, unable to relax for even a second. We’re not touching, but I’m aware of every delectable line of his body, mere inches away.

Restless, I toss and turn, each small motion bringing our bodies incrementally closer. The space between us is electric, charged with the energy of what’s yet to come. Finally, unable to resist, I face him, our breaths mingling in the narrow gap that separates us.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice is low, a soothing timbre that somehow ratchets up the tension.

“Too many thoughts,” I admit, my fingers inching toward him, as if being pulled by an unseen force.

“Let me help with that.” His hand finds mine, warm and reassuring, and he guides it to rest on his chest. His heartbeat thunders under my palm, syncing with the thrumming in my veins.

In one fluid movement, he rolls onto his side, closing the distance. We collide, a slow burn erupting into a wildfire. Our lips meet, tentative at first, as if exploring unspoken boundaries.

When I sigh and melt into the kiss, he takes it as a green light to move forward. Restraint gives way to urgency, and the kiss deepens, fueled by longing and the need to escape, if only for an hour or two.

He rolls me onto my back and slides between my thighs, stopping only to test that I’m ready for him. I’m more than a little wet, soaked, and all I want is to be filled by this man. So he does exactly that, pushing deep inside me, insistent in his need to possess me.

Our bodies move together in a dance as old as time. The scent of him surrounds me, a mix of leather and something uniquely him—something that feels like home. His hands roam over my skin, setting every nerve alight, worshiping me with a reverence that shatters any remaining barriers.

As we find our rhythm, the world outside fades away until there’s nothing but this moment—him and me, intertwined. The sensation builds into a crescendo that threatens to break me apart. When it does, it’s earth-shattering. We ride the waves of pleasure together, giving and taking in equal measure, until we collapse into each other’s arms, spent and satisfied.

“Go to sleep,” he whispers against my hair, his arms tightening around me.

“I’ll try,” I promise, snuggling closer, the dangers of our reality momentarily forgotten in the sanctuary of his embrace.

Minute after minute passes as I get increasingly frustrated. I can’t shut off my mind. Restlessness claws at my insides, while the aftermath of our union leaves me wanting him all over again. I’ve already given in to the passion between us once, but I can’t do it right now. After coming to my rescue today, Ice deserves some rest.

I roll onto my side, facing him, watching the rise and fall of his chest in the dim light. My mind races with the day’s events. I can’t stop obsessing about the danger we’re in.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice, husky from slumber, reaches out in the darkness.