Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1202

Whitney froze, completely caught off guard by how serious he suddenly got.

He pulled her in, his grip unyielding, pressing her firmly against his broad chest. She knew he'd just had abdominal surgery-bandages everywhere—and she wouldn't dare touch him. She had no choice but to brace her hands just above his collarbone, trying to keep from putting any pressure on him.

His devastatingly handsome face was right there, closer than ever, his skin carrying that clean, clinical scent of antiseptic. The heat radiating off him was unmistakable. Whitney's small hand was trembling in his palm, and she couldn't even imagine moving it any lower...

Her cheeks flushed bright pink as she started to realize what he was doing. She stammered, trying to push him away. "Ludwik, what are you doing? I don't want—”

"Don't want what? Don't want a little touch?" Ludwik's laugh was low and lazy, but there was an unmistakable edge of desire there.

His voice, rough and husky, sent a shiver right down her spine.

She caught a glimpse of his chest-muscular, pale, and impossibly enticing. Underneath those hospital blankets, his body looked even more powerful, the contrast making her blush even harder as the heat spread down her neck. It was like he was burning from the inside out, and she could feel that fire crawling over her skin.

They'd been on the outs for almost a year now, barely speaking, drifting apart. And now, out of nowhere, he was pulling her close, acting like nothing had changed. Whitney was both mortified and completely frozen. "Would you just shut up? You're barely stitched together and still trying to act like a playboy. Ludwik, what is wrong with you?"

with me," he replied, not the least bit offended. His voice was like velvet over sandpaper, sending tingles straight to her ears as he leaned in, his breath

her professional persona as

blankets, maybe something else... Either way, she wasn't going any further. "Didn't

him away on purpose!" Ludwik shot

in his large one. Then he grinned, teasing,

and seeing you all shy just makes it worse for

let out a low, half-strangled

way too close for comfort. She was practically drowning in his scent, his heat,

or not, I'm

one

Ludwik growled,

over the spot-her cheeks. flaming so red she looked ready to combust. He pleaded, half desperate, "If it were a guy

baby, I'm not lying. I