Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I murmur, feeling dainty and worshipped and special.
For the first time in my life.
But I’ve only gotten the first glimpse into how special I really am.
Chapter Six
Draven
I’m still fuming when we walk into my building an hour later.
My loft is on the top floor overlooking the sound, and I’m desperate to get my girlfriend inside those four safe walls where she belongs. Claire’s hand is enfolded inside of mine, and I might never let go of it again after seeing the kind of conditions she’s been living in for the past two days. The Dixie Motel was worse than I thought. Rotten, rundown, moldy and riddled with crime. It’s a wonder she survived.
Impatiently, I punch the button for the elevator.
“You’re overreacting,” she says, sounding a little out of breath, probably because in my state of total outrage, she’s been running to keep up with me since we parked my car.
With a wave of regret, I toss her up into my arms and lean down to kiss her forehead.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I just feel sick to my stomach thinking what might have happened if my brother chose not to hire you. Would I have found you?”
The elevator door opens and I carry my treasure inside, her small bag of possessions looped over my shoulder. Please don’t let this be a dream.
This morning, I woke up bleary eyed from too much cognac and the stress that comes from maintaining a perfect restaurant. That was all I had. Now, I cannot even begin to fathom my life without the angelic girl nestled into my chest. I’ve been granted a miracle, but I can only seem to dwell on how close I came to never knowing her.
“I think you would have found me, regardless,” she says, her fingers so sweet and welcome on my stubbled jaw. “But I’m glad your brother decided to ‘throw me to the wolf.’”
Irritation rakes up my spine. “Is that how he phrased it?”
She hums. “It’s okay. It’s easy to see he’s the one with the sharper teeth.”
Something moves inside of me. It’s appreciation and discomfort, all at once. Appreciation because Claire sees me for who I really am. Or who I can be, for her.
Discomfort because my brother is now part of the conversation.
“He’s going to be a problem, Claire.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“He wants you.”
“He can’t have me.”
“No.” Violent possessiveness is a bolt tightening in my chest. “He can’t. No one can.”
“Only you.” The elevator doors open, and my loft spreads out in front of us, sprawling and expensive, but she continues to gaze up at my face, as if the luxury of my place means nothing in comparison to me. And all I can think is, Jesus, I’ll be in love with her before the sun comes up tomorrow. There’s a damn good chance I already am. Love at first sight. “Pierre…” Claire begins, trailing off.
“Yes?” I ask, stepping off the elevator and walking slowly into my kitchen, content to keep her cradled in my arms forever. “What about him?”
Her blonde brows furrow as she searches for the right words. “He seems to be…holding something over your head. About your mother.”
Instantly, the guilt wells up inside of me.
It’s a fountain that can never be turned off, no matter how hard I try.
And I’ve never shared the burden with anyone in my life. Instead, I channel all that pain into my cooking, trying to turn the ugliness into something of worth. But with Claire looking up at me with so much trust and mercy, I find myself wanting to let her in. All the way. Especially after she went through the discomfort of telling me about her difficult upbringing.
I carry Claire into the kitchen and settle her down on the white marble island, easing the coat from her shoulders. Stepping back to breathe in the view of her, topless and outlined by the glittering coastline that lays on the other side of the windows, her blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders.
“Dear God, you are breathtaking,” I rasp, my heart trapped in my mouth.
“So are you,” she whispers, blushing slightly. “But I would love to see more of you, too.”
Heat crawls through my abdomen.
She came after one concise drive of my hips earlier, clawing and moaning between my body and the locker, even though she’s a virgin. Now she’s asking me to strip? Somehow, I know she’s going to fucking slay me in bed. My only fear is that she won’t be able to walk when I’m done with her tonight.
In one fell swoop, I drag my T-shirt over my head and toss it away, noting the way her lips pop open on a swift intake of air, her tight ass squirming around on the counter.
“Better?” I ask her.
“M-much.” She blinks several times, a flutter of long lashes. Those nipples stiffen and beg for a suck. Yeah, she likes what she sees. “When d-did you get all those tattoos?”