Adrian was the leader of the Resistance, her father's biggest nemesis.

Most people inside the Gate didn't know much about the Resistance. The Ruling Council and the General did everything they could to downplay the threat. They didn't want the general populous thinking that they couldn't handle things. That would only create unrest in the inner city. And they had their hands full in the outer city.

Members of the security force kept silent about their patrols. To do otherwise would bring death and destruction down on them and their families. Still, there were always rumors and rumblings of unrest. The Ruling Council quickly squashed those. Most folks went about their daily lives and kept their heads down and their noses out of government business. It was the safest way to live.

The man before her had chosen anything but a safe course in life. He was a living legend.

He was a tall man, a few inches over six feet, with incredibly wide shoulders and a lean, muscular body. The T-shirt he was wearing clung to his torso, outlining the rippling muscles beneath the fabric. His waist was lean, his legs long.

His blond hair was cut short in the back, but was slightly longer in the front. He studied her with cool, pale blue eyes, assessing her much as she was doing to him. His jaw was strong, his nose straight. Charity stared at his mouth. Adrian's lips were full and managed to look soft, yet firm. She wondered what they'd feel like.

The thought startled her. How could she even think about touching a man, let alone having one touch her? Her only experience with sex had been with her husband and that had been cold at best, violent and demeaning at its worst. Still, there was no denying the light fluttering in her belly and it made her uneasy.

"Who are you?" Adrian's voice was deep and full and very compelling. He didn't raise it, and yet he commanded immediate respect.

She swallowed the lump of fear rising in her throat. She was so tired of being afraid. "Charity." Her voice was a mere whisper, so she tried again. "Charity," she repeated, this time with more force.

Adrian glanced toward the man who'd brought her. "I'll take it from here, Derrick."

Charity sensed the unease of the other man before he nodded. "If you're sure."

One corner of Adrian's mouth quirked up. She couldn't quite call it a smile, but it was close enough to have her wondering what he'd look like if he really smiled. He was already gorgeous. How would any woman resist him if he actually smiled?

"I think I can handle it." Adrian prowled toward her and she took a step back. He was too big, too male, too powerful. In short, he was a man just like her father and husband. She shivered and locked her knees to keep from taking another step away. She'd come this far. There was no backing down.

Charity heard Derrick leave and close the door behind her, but she couldn't take her eyes off Adrian. He was a large, sleek predator and she was very afraid that she was his prey.

Adrian circled her once before stopping behind her. She could feel his presence, the heat emanating from his large body. But more than that, she could sense the sheer power of the man. He was smart. He was tough. He was dangerous. And he was focused entirely on her.

Charity hunched her shoulders, an automatic response to the threat of having him behind her. She braced for an attack. But nothing happened. Her heart was racing, blood whooshing so fast in her ears she could barely hear above the din. Her skin was cold, clammy. The anticipation of being struck was almost as bad as the reality.

She jumped when his hand landed on her shoulder, whirled away and turned to face him. She watched him, trying to anticipate his next move.

He stared at her, his eyes narrowed. "Sit." She swallowed hard as he motioned to a chair. "Please," he added as an afterthought.

Her knees were shaky, so she decided it probably wasn't a bad idea if she sat. Keeping him in her sights, she scooted past him. The chair was old and rickety, but it was better than nothing. She gripped the arms tight and lowered herself onto the seat.

Adrian prowled closer. He leaned his hip on the corner of his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. He was imposing without even trying. Her father postured a lot, surrounding himself with security police who were loyal to him, bullying others. But Adrian didn't need any trappings. This was a man who was confident in himself and his abilities. He didn't need a full complement of men around him in order to be dangerous. He was that all on his own.