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We grabbed what we needed and walked back into the living room. I saw the mess left behind—an aqua-hued bra beneath an end table and blood spray on my cream sectional —and I wished Cary was stil around to smack some sense into.

“I’m digging into it with him tomorrow,” I bit out, my jaw tight with anger and worry. “Goddamn it, I should’ve decked him when I had the chance. I should’ve knocked him out cold, and then locked him up in his room until he gets his brain working again.” Gideon’s hand at the smal of my back rubbed soothingly. “It’l be better to do that tomorrow, when he’s alone and hungover. More effective that way.” Angus was waiting for us when we got downstairs. I was about to climb into the back of the limo when Gideon cursed under his breath, stopping me.

“What?” I asked him.

“I forgot something.”

“Let me get my keys.” I reached for the overnight bag Gideon was holding, which had my purse inside.

“No need. I have a set.” He shot me an unapologetic grin when my brows rose. “I had copies made before I gave them back to you.”

“Seriously?”

“If you’d paid attention”—he kissed the top of my head—“you might’ve noticed that you’ve had the key to my place on your key ring since I returned it.” I gaped after him as he darted past the doorman and back into the building. I remembered the torment of those four days when I’d thought we’d broken up and the excruciating pain I’d felt when those keys slid out of the envelope and into my palm.

I’d had the key to being with him al along.

Shaking my head, I looked around at my adopted city, loving everything about it and feeling grateful for the crazy wel of happiness I’d found here.

Gideon and I stil had so much work ahead of us. As much as we loved each other, it was no guarantee that we’d survive our personal wounds. But we communicated, we were honest with each other, and God knew we were both too stubborn to quit without a fight.

Gideon reappeared just as two large, beautiful y groomed poodles walked by with their equal y coiffed owner.

I climbed into the limo. As we pul ed away from the curb, Gideon tugged me onto his lap and cuddled me close. “We had a rough night, but we got through it.”

“Yeah, we did.” Tipping my head back, I offered my mouth for a kiss. He obliged me with one that was slow and sweet—a simple reaffirmation of our precious, complicated, maddening, necessary connection.

Cupping his nape, I ran my fingers through his silky hair. “I can’t wait to get you back in bed.” He gave a sexy little growl and attacked my neck with tickling nips and kisses, banishing our ghosts and their shadows.

At least for a little while…

Gideon and Eva’s story continues in the powerfully sensual sequel in

the Crossfire series,

1. Eva’s move from California to New York brings her closer to her mother. While the move was a good one for both her and

Cary’s careers, it could have been

avoided. Why do you think she made the

choice to start her new life in New York?

2. Cary is dependent on Eva material y and emotional y, even though she turns to him as a sounding board more often than he

turns to her. What needs does Eva meet

for Cary?

3. Initial y, it’s the physical attraction that draws Gideon to Eva, but by the time he lures her to his nightclub there’s something deeper involved. What is it about Eva that causes Gideon to pursue her so

relentlessly?

4. Gideon has a difficult time accepting any 4. Gideon has a difficult time accepting any privacy barriers between him and Eva. Do you think Eva is too soft or too tough on the issue? How would you respond?

5. Eva values transparency in her

relationships, but she al ows Gideon to keep his secrets. Why do you think that is?

Do you agree or disagree?

6. Gideon’s life revolves around his work and his philanthropic commitments; Eva’s

social life is more personal. How do these differences affect them as a couple?

7. Gideon and Eva have a very sexual

relationship. Considering their pasts, why do you think sex is such an important way for them to communicate?

Sylvia Day is the national bestsel ing author of over a dozen novels. Her résumé includes a variety of odd jobs ranging from amusement park employee to Russian linguist/interrogator for U.S. Army Military Intel igence. She’s presently a ful -time writer. Sylvia’s work has been cal ed an “exhilarating adventure” by Publishers Weekly and “wickedly entertaining” by Booklist. Her stories have been translated into Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Czech, Italian, and Thai. She’s been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the EPPIE award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Readers’ Crown, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA®

Award of Excel ence. She’s now hard at work on DEEPER IN YOU, the sequel to BARED TO YOU, but would love for you to visit with her on her website.

Connect with Sylvia

www.SylviaDay.com

www.Facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay

www.Twitter.com/SylDay

Books by Sylvia Day

Paranormal Romance

Renegade Angels

A Taste of Seduction

A Hunger So Wild

A Touch of Crimson

Dream Guardians

Heat of the Night

Pleasures of the Night

Historical Romance

Seven Years to Sin

Pride and Pleasure

The Stranger I Married

Bad Boys Ahoy!

Georgian

Don’t Tempt Me

A Passion for Him

Passion for the Game

Ask For It

Writing as S. J. Day

Marked

Eve of Chaos

Eve of Destruction

Eve of Darkness

Writing as Livia Dare

Sapphire’s World

In the Flesh

Anthologies

Hot in Handcuffs

Guns and Roses

Wicked Reads

Best Erotic Romance

Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance

Men Out of Uniform

The Promise of Love

Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2

Al uring Tales: Hot Holiday Nights

Perfect Kisses

Got a Minute?

Al uring Tales: Awaken the Fantasy

Declassified: Dark Kisses

White Hot Holidays: Vol. 2

Dreams of the Oasis: Vol. 2

Sex on Holiday

NonFiction

Lustful y Ever After

Perfectly Plum

The Write Ingredients

Digital Titles

A Caress of Wings

A Dark Kiss of Rapture

Al Revved Up

Kiss of the Night

Misled

Snaring the Huntress

Catching Caroline

Writing as S. J. Day

Eve of Warfare

Eve of Sin City

Table of Contents

1. Praise for Sylvia Day

2. Books by Sylvia Day

3. Copyright

4. Bared to You

5. Dedication

6. Acknowledgments

7. Chapter 1