Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Just thinking about you being here got me wet.” Her words are like a confession, and it makes my cock throb.
“I need to taste you again.” I push a finger inside her before I pull it out and bring it to my mouth. My mouth waters as I suck off her desire.
“I’ll be right back.”
The sound of Conner’s voice so close to us makes me freeze. I was so lost in Emerson that I forgot where we were and what she’s supposed to be doing. Emerson lets out a little whimper of fear, and I put my finger over her lips, silently telling her not to make a sound.
As carefully as I can, I pull back the curtain and see Conner on the other side with his back to us. He’s reaching into his coat pocket for something, but before I can wonder what he’s doing, his body shifts, and I see everything.
He’s got a tiny glass bottle that he tips powder out of onto the back of his hand. Then he leans down and sniffs it off. I let the curtain drop and meet Emerson’s eyes. She looks completely shocked, but I’m not surprised. He was a fucking cokehead back in college too, but I’d hoped he’d grown up and gotten his shit together.
I wait for the sound of him rejoining the dinner before I turn my attention back to Emerson. “That’s the man you’re going to marry?”
“I didn’t know.” She’s defensive as she tries to push at my chest, but I’m not letting her go.
My shoulders sag because I’m not mad at her. I’m mad that he’s got a claim to her that I don’t. “I’m sorry.” Her body goes soft too, and I rest my forehead against hers. “Come to my room after this is over.”
“I’ll try.” She looks into my eyes, and I see the indecision.
I reach in my pocket and take out the extra key. Instead of giving it to her, I grab the edge of her panties and tuck the room key there. “Promise me.”
She bites her bottom lip but then nods. “I promise.”
When I put her back on her feet, her legs are shaky, but she squares her shoulders and walks back to the dining room.
I want to tell her not to go, to run away with me, but this has to be her choice. I can’t force her to choose me, but I can make it really fucking hard for her not to.
Chapter Thirteen
EMERSON
The beautiful wedding gown I’m supposed to wear is hanging on a hook in my suite. Everything is laid out and ready for tomorrow. I love the dress but hate what it means for my future. I wish there was a way out, but I don’t see one.
I can’t put all my faith into Gideon. He doesn’t owe it to me to step in as some white knight. To make promises to me that he might not be able to live up to. Worse, that he would live up to them even if he didn't want to. I have no right to even ask.
It would be me making him do the same thing that is being done to me, and I won't do that to another person. I never get choices, but right now I have one. Tonight, I’m choosing to enjoy myself.
I pull out the key Gideon gave me. Throughout the rest of the evening, the key was my lifeline. I kept a tight hold on it, reminding myself that Gideon was close.
He was especially in my thoughts during the speech Conner's mother made. Someone on the outside would have assumed that she and I were inseparable. She even shed a few tears. The woman and I have only ever exchanged a few words, but she put on the performance of a lifetime. I was told her speech was a tradition, but it all felt like a lie.
Thankfully, my eyes teared up right along with her. Not because I was filled with joy, but because I knew it was a glimpse into my future. Nothing about my life would ever be real; instead, it will be all for show. That’s why tonight I'm choosing Gideon. He’s the only thing that feels real right now, and I want to cling to him.
Checking the time, I debate how long I should wait in my room before going to him. I’m worried about running into someone in the hallway. I check the peephole to see if the coast is clear, and my stomach drops when I see Conner. Is he coming here? I still can’t believe I watched him do drugs. I might be naïve, but I’m not that naïve. He was using cocaine at our rehearsal dinner.
Through the peephole, I see Conner come closer, but then I spot a woman with him. She stumbles toward him, and he half catches her as they both almost fall to the floor. When they don’t, they break into laughter, and she kisses him. She looks familiar, and I realize she was at the rehearsal dinner tonight.