Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 406

Her drunken state was dangerously inviting, and he found himself losing control.

The moment he tasted her, he quickly lost all reason, desire burning fiercely within him.

He had long forgotten whether this was right or wrong.

He pinned her slender legs with his own, biting at her neck as intense emotions poured from his eyes. In a pained and soft voice, he asked her, "If this is all just a dream, Whitney... can I do this?" Whitney mumbled incoherently, confused by the question. Her mind was foggy with alcohol, and her body's instinctual responses left her feeling dizzy with desire.

"Not even in a dream! Ludwik, I despise you so much, it makes my teeth clench. I will never..."

Forgive him?

He didn't want to hear any more of her hurtful words, even her drunken truths were filled with hatred for him. It seemed he really had no chance!

His hand hesitated over her heart, unsure whether to proceed.

Yet, the fire within him pulsed and soared, her allure burning him up inside. Despite knowing he shouldn't...

He gave in, tearing at her clothes. Whitney cried out as he could no longer maintain his gentlemanly facade before her.

"This will be the last time, even in a dream. Don't scream."

He gently covered her mouth, his kisses trailing down as he looked into her troubled, hazy eyes. "I'll be gentle. You won't remember when you wake up. You'll only remember your hatred for me." Tears moistened the corners of his eyes as he lifted the delicate form of Whitney into his arms...

After two hours of turmoil, Ludwik carried the woman out of the bathtub and gently placed her in the bedroom, next to Danny.

He lingered over her flushed appearance before stepping out the door.

"I'm sorry." Ludwik's deep voice fragmented in the air, his handsome face expressionless. "I have to leave." The night returned to silence.

---

Whitney woke from a fragmented dream feeling disoriented. Her head ached, and her body felt unusually sore.

The man in her dream had pinned her against the wall with such intensity that breathing and resisting seemed all too real.

he held her hand, not allowing her to refuse, his kisses silencing

Whitney impulsively threw back the

were neatly

popped his head out

asked, "Honey, what are you

Banyan City. He left me here with you to help you get through these tough times." Danny tried to put a positive spin on his

stunned.

had Ludwik

dream real or just a

got up, feeling genuinely

she stripped, and checked her body in the mirror,

time

she couldn't be sure if Ludwik had taken advantage of her or

way she'd let anything happen between them, especially since they hated each other so

if she was drunk and he took advantage,

she couldn't just

all just a dream of his, and letting him know would only show

those thoughts

teeth, foam all over his mouth as he asked, "Mommy, I told you Daddy is leaving Banyan City. Why don't

of my business."

for his absent

breakfast, Whitney sent Danny next door, planning to have Yael take him to the hospital

suggesting, "Whitney, your dad knows about your child now. He really wants to meet his grandchild. He's nearby in this apartment complex. Maybe you should talk to him again, okay?" Danny looked

Whitney had Yael take

softly, "There's no need, Keegan. Since I've decided

think it over. Your mom's death in Banyan City was mysterious. There's a

"

them, using sign language to express his thoughts, "It seemed like the Valentines were behind the poisoning, but we suspected the Bartels had a hand in it. However, I recall several calls from Emperor City to your mom. After those calls, she was so angry she had a heart attack. It wasn't the Bartels on the phone. The Tennysons and Bartels are enemies, mostly because of your grandfather. The

might have been involved in her

to uncover the truth about what happened back

because of Hudson's recent words. If Whitney was in danger from anyone in the Sheldon family, it might be safer for

thought, not quite

that the Bartels family was to blame. She had, in her