Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Then, soft as snowfall, she whispered, “Hunter…”
The world stopped, and his phone creaked under the weight of his crushing grip. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. That was his name on her lips as she came undone.
His name, like a prayer.
Or was it a confession.
He didn’t care. It was his name. She breathed it out as if she could taste him on the mere sound.
Hunter’s thumb jammed into the power button and his screen went black. “Fuck me.”
But the damage was done. She’d shown her cards.
He’d thought she was washing away his touch, but that wasn’t it at all. She was doing exactly what he’d ordered her to do. She was getting clean for him.
He growled and pressed his palms against his eyes until he saw stars, but he could still see her. Still hear her raspy voice as she called his name.
“Fuck!” He was on his feet and out the door before he could remember why this was a bad idea. At the moment, the few rules he kept were lost and he had no desire to find them. He only needed to find her.
Chapter 17
Unlocked
The water had gone tepid around her, but Marigold couldn’t bring herself to move. Her body still thrummed with the aftermath of release, muscles liquid and languid. She should feel ashamed. Should feel guilty for whispering his name like a prayer into the steam.
The lock clicked and her eyes flew open.
The gilded handle on the bathroom door turned with deliberate intent, and her heart slammed against her ribs. She’d locked the bedroom door. She was certain of it.
“Who’s there?”
The ivory door flung open, and she sloshed back against the wall of the tub, cool air rushing in, hitting her overheated flesh and raising goosebumps across every inch of exposed skin. “Hunter.”
He filled the doorway like a storm given form. His obsidian eyes burned molten in the dim light, fixed on her with an intensity that made her sink lower in the water.
“What are you doing in my bathroom?”
He stepped inside, looming like a lethal threat about to destroy her. “My bathroom.”
She sloshed to the other end of the tub. “Get out!” Her voice cracked with indignant pride.
He prowled closer, graceful and deadly, moving like an agile giant, each footfall silent on the marble floor, despite his heavy boots. “You called for me.”
“I did not—” Blood drained from her face. Had he been watching her? Spying? Her gaze dropped to the water as mortification burned through her veins. “You bastard.”
“That might be true, but I heard what I heard.”
“You heard wrong.”
“Liar.” The word rolled off his tongue like a caress. He crouched beside the tub, one massive hand gripping the porcelain edge. This close, she could see the pulse jumping in his throat, could smell the pine smoke and raw masculinity that clung to his skin. “You whispered my name like you were tasting it.”
Shame scorched her cheeks. He couldn’t know what she’d been thinking. Couldn’t have known what she’d done. Her gaze shot to the bear camera.
“Yes.” He affirmed, not needing to follow her gaze to track her line of thought. “I watched the whole thing.”
The realization hit like ice water.
“Heard every breath.” His gaze tracked down her throat to where the water barely covered her breasts. “Every word.”
“You had no right.”
“I have every right.” He reached for her, and she pressed back against the far side of the tub.
“Don’t.”
“You’re mine to protect. Mine to watch.” He extended his hand, waiting. “Mine to use.”
“You rejected me.” Not once, but twice. “You’ll do it again. You’re only doing this to punish me.”
His hand froze inches from her skin. Something dark flickered across his features. “Not all punishment hurts.”
“Well, rejection does. Play games with someone else, Hunter. I’m not interested.”
His name on her lips, even in anger, was an aphrodisiac for the soul. “This time, I won’t reject you.”
“No.”
He stilled, then stood, furious she’d think to deny him after giving herself to her brothers several times over. “That’s not a word I abide from you.” He plunged both arms into the water and lifted her out as if she weighed nothing.
“Let go of me!” Water sluiced off her body, soaking through his shirt, dripping onto his boots, and sloshing onto the floor.
He gathered her against his chest, walking her out of the warm bathroom. “We’re past the point of resistance.”
She gasped as cold air awakened her wet skin, instinctively curling into his warmth even as she fought to get free. “You animal!”
He carried her to the bed and tossed her down unceremoniously, then stepped back. The handmade birch frame creaked as she scrambled for the blankets, her shaking limbs radiating fury as she wrapped her body in white fur.
“I hate you!” she snapped.
“You’re clean now.” His voice had gone rough, accent thicker. He undid his belt, pulling it slowly through each belt loop so she fully understood where this was going. “Fresh.” He toed off his boots. “No trace of them on your skin.”