Prologue

Prologue

I never believed in love. Why would I when the only love I ever saw was pretend?

I’d watched my parents pretending, and I’d known it wasn’t real.

I stood under hot lights in front of a camera, faking emotions from the time I was five.

I screamed in fury, kissed with passion, and burned with the need for revenge.

I loved deeply. Rapturously.

Jealously flowed through my veins along with need and longing and violent lust.

But it was never real. Not under those lights with the cameras running and the crew standing silently nearby.

And certainly not in the world outside the sound stage where I drew men close, wanting to lose myself in the forgetfulness of lust and passion, but never wanting them to know me, much less love me.

I was hollow. Alone.

Then he came along, all strength and icy determination. As bold and brash as a leading man. He promised to keep me safe. And though there’s no denying the attraction between us, he told me to keep my distance.

I tell myself I don’t want him.

I know that I can’t love him.

But, oh, how I wish that I could.