Chapter 34

Evelyn spun around instantly, scrambling to cover herself with the hospital gown. But it was too late. Dominic Blackwood had already seen everything.

"Why are you alone?" His deep voice sliced through the tense silence.

Her lie had been exposed. Evelyn froze, her fingers clutching the thin fabric.

"I meant someone would come later... not that they were here now..."

Dominic's dark eyes swept the empty room before returning to her. "The police called me. How are you feeling?"

Penelope Worthington had been arrested, but too terrified to involve her father. So she'd given them Dominic's contact instead.

Evelyn's mind reeled.

Those piercing black eyes held hers captive.

"I'm... fine..." Heat flooded her cheeks at the thought of her CEO discovering she'd been drugged with an aphrodisiac.

"Sebastian arranged your leave. Rest well."

"Thank you... please thank Mr. Whitmore for me..."

She couldn't meet his gaze.

Suddenly, Dominic closed the distance between them.

Evelyn stumbled back until her shoulders hit the wall. Her eyes dropped instinctively to his waist, then darted up to the defined muscles straining against his dress shirt.

Her breath hitched as he caged her in, his towering frame overwhelming.

Dominic braced his arms on either side of her head, leaning down until his breath warmed her lips. "Are you afraid of me?"

His masculine scent enveloped her - crisp cologne laced with tobacco. Dangerous. Intoxicating.

Her pulse hammered as she forced the words out. "Yes. This isn't appropriate..."

"You feared me, yet lured me here? I can't tell when you're lying." His velvet voice dripped with accusation.

Evelyn's head snapped up. "I never—"

"You said someone was here when I asked. I specifically warned against being alone together."

She had no rebuttal.

Dominic traced her bottom lip with his thumb. "This lie brought me to your room. Doesn't that make you the seductress?"

Evelyn watched his finger with dazed fascination, her body betraying her with tremors. "You misunderstood..."

This was all wrong.

She'd never expected the formidable Dominic Blackwood to personally visit. Now every protest sounded hollow.

She'd lied. She'd been half-dressed. The evidence stacked against her.

Yet she remembered how he'd pinned her against her kitchen wall. A true gentleman would have apologized and left when he saw her undressed.

The silence stretched, amplifying her racing heart.

"I need to rest..." She pushed against his chest, but he didn't budge.

"What do you want?" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "If you touch me, I'll call the police."

Dominic's hot breath fanned across her flushed skin. "What do I want? You. Is that clear enough?"

His vulgar words struck like physical blows.

Heat pooled low in her belly as their bodies pressed together. Even through layers of fabric, his heat seared her.

Her struggles only intensified the friction between them.

Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded silently.

Dominic's darkened gaze showed no mercy. He captured her lips in a searing kiss that left her boneless.

Evelyn had never burned like this.

"No..." She turned her face away, fighting the haze of desire.

Dominic claimed her mouth again, his tongue plundering with possessive intensity.

She tasted his dominance, his control. It terrified her.

Jason's warning echoed in her mind - those who betrayed Dominic Blackwood should pick out their urns in advance.

This was her first intimate contact since that night five years ago. Even then, she hadn't been kissed like this.

Dominic's lips trailed down her neck, drawing soft moans from her throat. The wet sounds of his mouth on her skin sent fresh waves of heat through her.

She blamed the lingering drugs for her weakness.

For five dizzying minutes, she surrendered. Then reality crashed back.

Terrified, she bit down hard.

The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth.

Dominic pulled back, his lust-darkened gaze burning her. A flush colored his sharp cheekbones as he rasped, "Careful. You might get pregnant swallowing my blood."

Her entire body ignited with shame.