Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“Let go of me,” I growl and push at his chest with both hands, but he doesn’t move. If anything, his grip tightens.
“Why would I do that?” he asks, squeezing a little harder and cutting my air supply off long enough for real fear to sink in. “If you want to play games, then we can play games.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I sputter, sucking a ragged breath into my lungs.
“So many things, but you know that already.” He smirks, but it’s not a real smile.
I know his smile, and this isn’t it.
I shove at his chest again, using a little more force this time, but it is impossible to get him to release me. It’s like trying to move a mountain. I won’t panic. I refuse.
Kade won’t hurt me, not in any way outside of scaring me. Then I reconsider. That might have been true before, but I’m not so sure now.
Moving closer, he tickles my earlobe with his breath.
“What, nothing to say now that you’re at my mercy?”
“Let me go,” I demand.
“I don’t think I will. I kinda like having control. Having the little filly at my whim.” Despite the fear trickling through me, there’s a spark of need with it, and I wish I could extinguish it.
“Don’t call me that,” I snap.
“Aw, why not?” he taunts. “Don’t want to remember all the good times we had together? How I made you scream my name while I fingered you, or all the times you came so hard you passed out after I ate your sweet pussy?”
There’s no way to stop my body from reacting to the memories popping into my head. My nipples harden, and my core clenches around nothing. Despite the attraction and the reminder of how intense things were between us, it doesn’t change anything. It can’t.
“Stop. I didn’t come here to talk about us. I came here to ask for help in finding Saint. Because you know something.” I latch onto his wrist and try to tug it away.
“I think you’re hard of hearing because I’ve already—” He snatches my hand and tugs it closer to his face, almost like he’s inspecting it.
“Stop manhandling me!” I struggle in his grasp and freeze when I realize his attention is locked on the gigantic diamond ring sitting on my finger.
It’s fine. Everything is fine. It’s just another reason for him to hate me. Not that it matters really. He would’ve found out soon enough.
Kade’s eyes dart back up to my face, and there’s no missing the hurt there, but that’s not what steals the air from my lungs. It’s the dark, feral look of possession glazing over that hurt. Like the ring means nothing to him. That it’s a mere hurdle rather than a stop sign.
“I see congratulations are in order. Who’s the unlucky groom? Oh, let me guess, some little pansy-ass rich boy you’re not afraid to take home to Mommy.”
“It’s none of your business,” I snap. Does he really think that I want to be engaged at twenty? He acts like he doesn’t know me at all. “If you don’t have any information to share, then I believe this conversation is over.”
“What do you mean? Maybe I’m not done talking to you yet.” He’s so close now, all either one of us would have to do is lean in a little and our lips would touch. I try to focus my attention on anything but his mouth and the consuming desire I have to kiss him.
The faint scent of whiskey from his breath washes over me. It mixes with the heady scent of him. A dangerous combination of cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of smoke. It makes my thoughts fuzzy.
Warmth. Home.
He smells like home. And for a heartbeat, I forget our past, forget that I’m soon to be engaged, forget we’re enemies. My heartbeat skyrockets, and butterflies riot through me. Then he opens his mouth and douses me in gasoline.
“You think your fiancé would be bothered if I fucked your pretty little throat? Filled it with my cum, ya know, one last time for nostalgia’s sake?”
Piece. Of. Fucking. Shit.
In an instant, I’m a fire-breathing dragon, my want for him drowning in anger. Using both hands, I shove him away as hard as I can.
I know if he really wanted to keep hold of me, there would be no breaking his grasp, but thankfully, he’s smart enough to let me go. As soon as I’m free, I stumble a couple of steps away.
Bitter laughter erupts from him, but there’s nothing good in his eyes.
How can this be the same man I fell in love with? It isn’t.
“I’m not sure what I ever saw in you.” I back away slowly. “Whatever good was there, it’s gone now.” I blink away the tears threatening to fall.
The last thing I want to do is cry, but I’m so angry and so sad.