“Why… what was that about?” The longer Liz stood catching her breath, the angrier she became.“What in God’s name gave you the impression I’d be fine with you assaulting me? Actually no, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know what’s going on in your mind. The answer this time is, and will always be, no. Not only no but hell no. I don’t need you no more. I’ve managed just fine on my own.” Fury made her see red.Knowing it will be pointless waiting for any kind of response from him when he was this drunk, she spun on her heels and started heading back to the café, the only place where she would be safe from this man who she’d once considered her best-friend.A viselike grip locked on her upper arm and hauled her around. Momentum slammed her into Ivan’s body. “You’ve managed just fine on your own? It seems like little miss goody two shoes haven’t been home lately.” He laughed when her eyes widened. “Do your grandpa and grandma know where you’re staying at?”“That’s none of your business

In Liz’s experience, men were never honest about who they were and what they wanted.Every single man she’d been involved with in any way, from her contentious relationship with her father to her last romantic relationship, expected her to give up every shred of who she was, while they kept themselves at a safe distance and protected their interests.While she fell under that header for them, all was well and good. The moment their interest waned, she was on her own again. She didn’t want Adrian to be the next one repeating their pattern all over again. Something in her though said that if anyone could be different, it was him.But to give him more after what Ivan had told her about him? Would he… could he be what Ivan was saying about him? What if he lied just to create differences between them both?Adrian seemed to interpret her needs, kissing her gently, passion ready to flash at any moment, but he kept it banked. This kiss was different. This kiss made promises far more personal

Liz Walters folded her arms across her chest, staying put, not wanting him to get the pleasure of thinking that his closeness and threatening tone of voice would scare her and force her to submit to him. “I think you heard me.”A frown had formed across his forehead. “Don’t you think I deserve a second chance?”Liz shook her head. “Everyone deserves a second chance but… not you!”“Why not…?”“You don’t seem to understand this, Ivan but you know what, not every boy is like you. Some boys understand a girl’s preferences and respect them.” Liz told him, thinking about Adrian.“Really…?” Ivan tilted his head slightly as he raised an inquiring eyebrow at her. “It means there is somebody who cares about your preferences.”“That’s none of your business.” She snapped at him.She was utterly surprised to hear herself right now. She couldn’t believe that it was actually her speaking. She sounded so powerful and resolute. It seemed to her that she was pretty sensitive toward Adrian.“It means th

With that thought in mind, Liz let her eyes drop closed, hoping she’d have a dream just as lovely. Especially, if she could awaken to winning Adrian’s heart and trust back in reality.She was in a mansion, an enormous one different from Adrian’s – like a castle. It took her a moment to register that she was indeed in a castle. She didn’t know whose castle or where it was, or even if she belonged there. She only knew she felt trapped, suffocated. Pacing back and forth in a small room, she measured passing time by the tap of her feet against the stone floor and the matching beats of her heart. She soon realized her room was in a tall tower, because she could look out the window and see the forest far down below. And beyond it was a cliff and that rocky mountain over which she sometimes liked to fly.Fly? She couldn’t fly. What a silly thought that was! Everybody has always, one way or another, wished that they could fly but then, would be told they couldn’t fly. But somebody had on

Liz Walters angrily stomped all the way back to her bedroom and grabbed her suitcase from beside the wardrobe and threw it on the bed. Unzipping it, she dumped all her clothes and stuffs in it before closing it shut.She gulped back the lump that had formed at the back of her throat, stiffening the tears threatening to break free. She didn’t want to cry over Adrian Moore anymore. He didn’t deserve it.He'd misunderstood her, questioned her character and never gave her a chance to explain things. He never made an effort to clear these misunderstandings between them, to make things right. He'd always been busy with his office works.Today also, Liz waited for him to come back but he never did.Instead, when she called on his office phone to ask about his whereabouts, a staff picked up and told her that Adrian was in a meeting. She’d felt relieved knowing he was at least over there but then, she was hurt that he’d left home earlier than normally.She’d woken up hoping that his anger migh