Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
He grabs the condom and slides it over his hard length and then looks at me. “Tell me I can fuck you.”
The desperation in his tone, mixed with the fact that he’s asking rather than taking—once again making sure I stay in control—has me sinking onto him.
We both moan in unison as he stretches me until he’s inside me to the hilt.
“Fuck me,” I breathe out.
Gripping the curves of my hips, he fucks me fast and deep from the bottom. My fingers delve into his hair, and his mouth connects with mine.
And as I come for the third time tonight, everything hits me like a tidal wave—the control, the pleasure, the chemistry between Kane and me—and before I know what I’m doing, I’m pushing off him and running to the bathroom, not wanting him to see me lose it.
Tears stream down my face as I reach the bathroom, but before I can slam the door, he’s following me inside and lifting me into his strong arms.
“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you.”
I nuzzle my face into his neck, inhaling his comforting scent while I continue to cry for the broken woman who wants so badly to feel whole.
Somehow, while holding me, Kane manages to turn the water on. He walks us into the shower and then sets me on the bench. Wordlessly, he washes my hair, massaging my scalp, while I continue to silently cry, my tears mixing with the water and swirling down the drain—which is really quite fitting because it feels like being with Kane tonight cleansed the parts of me that Theo had made me feel were dirty.
Not once did Kane tell me no or argue with me. He didn’t look at me like I was strange when I told him to fuck my face. He was turned on and enjoyed everything we did.
As Kane rinses me off, my body shakes.
He was just supposed to be a one-night stand. A way to prove that I was the problem. Instead, he knocked down several of my walls, leaving me feeling more vulnerable than I’d ever felt.
Theo was safe.
Kane is dangerous.
And with that realization, my heart begins to race because Kane is dangerous to my heart.
But what if he took care of it? I think as Kane turns off the water and hands me a towel.
We quickly dry off and then he hands me my clothes and says, “It’s been fun, Princess,” effectively raising every wall he temporarily brought down.
Because Kane isn’t looking for more.
He was only looking for a one-off, and now that he got it, he’s dismissing me and my heart.
It’s for the best, I tell myself as I get dressed, grab my purse, and head for the door.
Theo was safe.
But Kane is dangerous.
3
Kane
Tonight wasn’t supposed to happen.
I told myself it wouldn’t happen.
But then she slid onto the barstool next to me, and just like the rest of the men in my family, I let a woman fuck with my plan. I’d chastised my father over the years for letting women interfere with his business. I’d warned my brother not to take the route he took—which involved getting close to a woman. Both ended up six feet under, thanks to the stupid choices they’d made regarding women.
I knew better.
She’s an Antonov.
I want what they have.
What’s owed to my family.
But I wasn’t supposed to want her.
Yet one look in Brielle’s eyes, and I was throwing everything out the window for one night with her.
She’s nothing like I expected—in the best way.
She’s fiercely independent.
Strong.
Beautiful.
And broken.
One conversation with her, and I wanted to be the one to put her pieces back together.
And that only makes what I’m about to do that much harder.
Because I’m not here to save Brielle Antonov.
And then an idea forms … because who says that just because I’m here to avenge my father’s death, I can’t also have her?
Her family owes mine.
And I’m here to collect.
And now I’m adding one more item to the list—Brielle Antonov.
She’s mine.
4
Brielle
“Happy baby shower, sis.” Lorenzo hands Dani a card and kisses her temple.
My sister-in-law Dani is due next month with a precious little girl. When I suggested planning a shower, wanting to celebrate her pregnancy, she and Matteo insisted they had everything they needed, but that didn’t stop me from renting out Pasquale’s—their favorite Italian restaurant—to throw them a luncheon anyway.
Dani is one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met, and she and my brother deserve to be doted on before the baby comes. They’ve been through so much this past year, and a little celebrating is good for the soul. Since they didn’t need anything for the baby, I told everyone to get them something creative.
Dani opens the card from her brother, and it’s for a day at the spa. A card from my mom and her husband—who are out of town on vacation, living their best lives—is for baby-and-me classes.