He deposited her gently onto a velvet chaise lounge. The room was quiet, dimly lit by sconces that cast a warm, golden glow.
Burke Justice loosened his tie, exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding. He stared down at the woman. She was a mess-wet hair, ruined coat, bare feet dirty from the street-but beneath the disarray, she was stunning. And broken.
Aria stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy. She blinked, trying to bring his face into focus.
"What's your name?" Burke asked. His voice was soft, but it held the weight of a command.
Aria ignored the question. She was staring at his lips.
She sat up unsteadily, clutching his lapels to steady herself. She pulled him closer, her grip surprisingly strong.
"You're too handsome to be free," she whispered, analyzing him with the terrifying honesty of the intoxicated.
Burke stiffened. He was used to women wanting him for his money, for his status.
"Are you..." Aria paused, searching for the word. "Are you for hire?"
Burke's eyes narrowed. Then, a glint of dark amusement flickered in them. She thought he was an escort. A high-end gigolo.
He didn't correct her. He leaned in, his face inches from hers. "Depends on the offer."
Aria let out a wet, hiccuping laugh. She pulled at her left hand, trying to remove a ring that wasn't there.
"Marry me," she blurts out. The words tumbled over each other, desperate and reckless.
Burke froze. He stared at her. "Excuse me?"
"I need a husband," she rambled, tears suddenly welling in her eyes, spilling over her lashes. "To spite him. To show Ignacio I don't care. And... and I can't be homeless. I need... someone."
She sobbed softly, her forehead resting against his chest. "Just for tonight. Please."
Burke felt a twinge in his chest. It was foreign. Empathy? Or was it possession? He looked at this woman, this beautiful, shattered creature who was offering herself to a stranger because she had nowhere else to go.
He gripped her chin, his fingers warm and rough, tilting her face up to his.
"Do you know what you're asking?" he demanded. He needed to know she was in there somewhere.
Aria nodded vigorously. She closed the distance between them.
She kissed him. It was clumsy, tasting of cheap whiskey and salt tears, but it was desperate.
Burke hesitated for a split second. Then, something in him snapped. He crushed his mouth to hers. The kiss deepened instantly, turning hungry, possessive. He tasted her pain and her fire.
Aria pulled back for air, resting her forehead against his. Her breathing was ragged.
"Say yes," she pleaded. Her voice was barely a whisper, broken and raw.
Burke looked at her. He made a snap decision, driven by impulse and a cold calculation he couldn't quite explain.
"Deal," he growled.
He scooped her up into his arms again, turning toward the back exit. He signaled his driver, Donato, who was waiting in the alley like a silent sentinel.
