A Shaun climbed into the back seat. Halsey opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Shaun


    cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.


    She let out a soft sound and melted against him. Shaun wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her onto hisp, and deepened the kiss.


    “Where are we?” Halsey asked, breathless.


    Sensing her hesitation, Shaun said gently, “The parking garage under mypany. Don’t worry. Nobody everes here.”


    Halsey finally rxed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up to touch his mask.


    Shaun tilted his head away. “What are you doing?”


    “I want to take your mask off. Doesn’t it get ufortable wearing it all the time?”


    Shaun said, “What if you lose interest once you see my face?”


    Halsey raised an eyebrow. “Only one way to find out.”


    She reached up and pulled the mask away, revealing his face underneath.


    Shaun muttered, “Maybe I should put it back on.”


    “Are you serious? You’re doing all this with me and still hiding behind a mask? I want to see your face.”


    Halsey cupped his cheeks and kissed him.


    Shaun could feel her soft lips brushing gently over his skin, lingering near the scars on his face. His whole body tensed.


    “Don’t kiss my face.”


    Even he couldn’t stand looking at it sometimes.


    But Halsey said, “No. I want to kiss your face.”


    She clung to him tightly and kept kissing him, again and again.


    Shaun’s eyes grew red at the corners. Her kisses were filled with tenderness and care, melting right through


    him.


    “I want you. Right now!”


    Halsey didn’t know how long had passed, but she felt like her whole body had fallen apart. She was covered in a light sheen of sweat, hair sticking to her cheeks and neck, flushed and breathless.


    Shaun pulled her into his arms. “Tired?”


    She nodded. “So tired… I can’t move.”


    Shaun gave her nose a loving kiss. “I don’t think you were the one doing the heavy lifting.”


    Halsey waspletely worn out, but Shaun looked like he still had energy to spare. His shirt was loose and wrinkled, but somehow, that just made him look even more dangerously attractive.


    She gave him a weak punch. “You’re the worst…”


    Shaun bent down and kissed her again.


    She could feel him getting worked up all over again. “Give it a break, will you? How do you have this much stamina?”


    “I’ve been celibate for three years. I’m just making up for lost time!”


    Three years?


    Halsey looked up at him. “What about the woman you were married to before<i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Shaun answered calmly, “I never actually married her.”


    “What?” Halsey’sshes fluttered in shock. “That can’t <b>be</b>! I saw you get married.”


    Shaun began to exin the truth.


    “My father was an undercover cop who got killed by a major drug lord. I got close to that woman because I needed to get close to that man and get revenge.


    “Three years ago, being with her was the only way. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you any of this. I didn’t want you getting caught up in it. That day, I saw you standing outside the wedding venue. But the drug lord was already there, so I had no choice but to go through with it.


    “Right after you left, he showed up. I worked with the police, and we caught him. I finally got justice for my dad.”


    It was the first time Halsey had heard all this.


    So that painful breakup had a reason. The marriage was a lie, all for revenge.


    He had left her to protect her from danger.