The on-call room at Sterling Medical smelled of bleach and stale coffee. Maya Khan slammed the door shut, locking it.
“You’re avoiding me,” she accused.
Dr. Julian Sterling stood by the bunk, his back to her. He was still tense from the confrontation at the Velvet Lounge, where he had nearly assaulted Kaius Reed.
“I’m protecting you,” Julian growled, not turning around. “I told you, Maya. I am not the man you think I am. My family… we destroy things. Look at what William is doing to his wife. That is my blood.”
“I don’t care about your blood!” Maya shouted, stepping closer. “I care about the man who broke into the archives to help me. I care about the man who is jealous of Kaius.”
Julian spun around. “I am not jealous. I am trying to keep you from getting dragged into a war.”
“Liar,” Maya whispered, closing the distance between them. “You want me.”
Julian looked at her, his resolve shattering. The secret of being a Valerius, the pressure of the hospital, the constant lies–it was too much. He grabbed her face with both hands.
“You have no idea,” he rasped.
He kissed her. It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, angry, and starving. He backed her against the wall, his hands tangling in her hair, consuming her. Maya wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, neither of them caring that they were breaking every protocol in the hospital.