He Hates Me Read online Isabella Starling (Hate & Love Duet #1)

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Erotic, Romance, Suspense Tags Authors: Series: Hate & Love Duet Series by Isabella Starling
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Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74123 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
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For that exact same reason, she needs to stay in the dark. I’m not done with her yet. My little Petal has a lot to learn before she can demand things from me.

A movie and dinner were Dinah’s idea, and as boring as that sounded, I complied for no other reason than to catch my little Petal unguarded. It was a setting she’s familiar with and therefore, she ought to have felt more in control.

What a big fucking mistake that was.

After all, it’s a fake type of control. And while the whole setting was a means to an end, I enjoyed how she shrank to my side during the movie, her body trembling with fear.

One day, I’ll teach her that real people are scarier than horror movies.

It’s curious how she chose that particular genre, even though she’s scared of them. Yet another one of my little Petal’s special traits.

“Why am I with you?” I repeat as I cut into my steak.

“You know what I mean,” she watches her surroundings.

“I don’t know, actually. Why don’t you enlighten me?”

“Jasper.”

The sound of my name on her lips is like a murder symphony. Hey, there’s such thing. Google it.

Her knuckles have turned white from how she grips the napkin tight. Her white skin appears even paler against the dark blue of her dress.

“Do you believe in fairy tales, Georgina?” I ask, her name wrong on my lips. She should be Petal —or Pet, I’m not picky.

However, I’m not ready to trigger her alarms yet.

Her brows furrow at the sudden question, but she quickly recovers. “Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not, answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”

“I... I don’t.”

Hmm. There’s hesitation in there. Interesting.

“Are you sure?” My fork clinks against the plate as I put it down. “Because if you lie, I’ll be compelled to lie, too.”

“I don’t.” She shakes her head. “At least not in the conventional term.”

“Conventional term, how?”

“I’m not waiting for prince charming or for someone to save me from my life. I can take care of it on my own.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

She lifts her head then quickly lowers it. Good girl. “What makes you think I’m waiting for something?”

“A hunch.”

“A hunch?”

“Is it correct?” I ask.

“No.” Another hesitation, but the time is far less than the previous one.

She’s learning, my little Petal. I’m starting to notice she’s good at hiding her emotions. The only reason she’s been slipping with me is because I’m an unfamiliar company and she can’t quite get a read on me yet. Once she does, she’ll go back to her pro-level fake smiles.

“Are you going to answer my question now?” She stares at me, standing her ground.

“Since you don’t believe in fairy tales, then this should be easy.” I thread my fingers on the table, slightly leaning over. “I have absolutely no interest in your person. All I want is to fuck you raw in all possible holes.”

Her eyes widen as if someone tipped a bucket of ice water over her head.

It’s a curious thing to see her all flustered and shocked —and perhaps offended. It would’ve been accepted if that was her entire reaction, but then something more interesting happens.

A spark shines underneath the surprise and offence, something too similar to... excitement? Curiosity?

My little Petal is attracted to me, it’s as clear as the full moon outside. The problem is, she doesn’t like to show her emotions. She’s the type who keeps it all tucked under the surface between her heart and ribcage.

Like a dog with a bone, I push for more. “Then, when you think it’s all over, I’ll own your body one more time —or a few, depending on how long I decide to stay.”

Her lower lip trembles as she bites down on it.

“What would it be, Georgina? Are you going to let me fuck you hard, fast and unhinged, or are you going to stand up and leave?”

It’s a risky gamble, but a necessary one. I need to know my little Petal’s actual core; If she’s the type who breaks or the type who fights.

I have no interest in the former, it gets too boring too soon and I have no time to waste on that.

If she does stand up and leave, my little Petal isn’t worth it after all. I probably won’t disappear from her life immediately, but I’ll have my way with her, then bury her six feet under to erase any witnesses.

That’s how it goes in my world. Leave witnesses behind and you’re dead.

If she stays, however—

Petal stands up, her cheeks flaming red as she clutches her purse.

“In case no one told you, you’re a jerk.”

“Compliment accepted.”

“Asshole.” She turns and starts toward the door.

Shame.

I thought my little Petal was more than that. As my eyes rake over the curves of her waist in that dress, my mind fills with my spare plan.


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