Their breaths tangled in the air, close and heavy.


    Dan''s hand brushed against something that didn''t feel quite right, and he froze, breath catching in his throat.


    Yvonne shot him a re, even fiercer than before. "You jerk, where do you think you''re putting your hand?"


    No sooner had she said it than she grabbed his wrist and twisted, hard and fast. There was a sickening crack, and Dan shoved her off the desk.


    He red back, eyes just as sharp.


    Yvonne, finally free, slid off the desk in a rush, but the moment her feet hit the floor, it was like every ounce of strength drained out of her. She dropped to her knees, hands syed on the hardwood. Something was wrong-very wrong.


    She looked up at Dan, anger burning in her eyes. "What the hell did you do to me?"


    Yvonne had seen her share of wild situations over the years, but she knew her body, and this wasn''t normal.


    Dan''s lips curled into a dark, knowing smile. "Impressive. I figured the sedative would''ve knocked you out by now, but you''re tougher than I thought."


    "Normally, you''d be out cold already."


    Yvonne stared at him, mind reeling.


    She''d been holding back her rage this whole time, but hearing the word ''sedative'' that was thest straw.


    "You bastard! You drugged me?"


    Her limbs felt heavier by the second, her thoughts slipping and sliding, hard to hold onto.


    Their eyes locked, a silent war raging between them.


    Dan stepped closer, kneeling down in front of her, long legs folding easily. His fingers reached out and lifted her chin. "It''s almost sad, you know? That I have to go to these lengths just to keep you in check."


    She was too fierce, too skilled. Hell, there probably wasn''t another soul in half the country who could take her in a fight.


    Yvonne red at him, eyes burning with fury, like she wanted to tear him apart. She tried to spit at him, but Dan pinched her chin, holding her mouth open just enough to stop her.


    Her re only grew more savage.


    Dan just smirked and, with a swift movement, scooped her up in his arms, cradling her like a sack of potatoes.


    That only made her angrier. "Put me down, you son of a bitch!"


    Her disgust was clear as day, and Dan felt his pulse race just a little faster.


    "You hate me that much?" he said quietly, searching her face.


    There was nothing fake in her eyes.


    Before she could answer, Dan


    pressed on. "Yvonne, you used to et


    love me, remember? So much that you


    ce said you''d never marry anyone else."


    Yvonne''s anger hit a boiling point.


    "After all the crap you''ve pulled, you really expect me to love you? Are you delusional? What are you, living in some kind of fantasy?"


    Dan''s lips parted, but he didn''t say a word.


    She wasn''t finished: "Take a good


    look


    in


    Self Dan. You''re like a


    Let


    3 gutter. You don''t deserve rat


    love-you don''t even have it in you."


    Her words were razor-sharp, and thest bit-"you don''t even have it in you"-hit Dan right where it hurt.


    He carried her into the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed.


    Yvonne tried to spring up, like always, but this time her body wouldn''t cooperate. She was limp, helpless.


    "What the hell did you give me?" she roared.


    She reyed thest few minutes in her head. She hadn''t eaten or drunk anything in his office-so how the hell had he drugged her?