Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Even knowing he might break my heart, I let myself fall for him. Even knowing this would probably end in devastation, I kept going. And I feel so stupid for not seeing what was right in front of me the entire time. I was never going to fit into his life, not when he's made every effort to ensure no one even knew I was a part of it.
"Hey." He inches across the blanket toward me, grabbing both of my hands. "No one even knows I'm in town, baby. If I show up at a gala on your arm, the whole event is going to turn into a shitshow. I don't want to make something that should be about the library into a circus surrounding me."
"I…" I study his face, wondering if he means it. And I hate myself a little for doubting it, for doubting him. But maybe that's the cost of hiding. It feels fun and exciting until you realize there's all this fine print you never meant to sign up for.
"I'd go if I could," he says.
"It's fine, Ash," I finally whisper, but it's not okay. Somewhere over the last couple of weeks, I fell in love with him, not with the rockstar I had a crush on, but with the man I've gotten to know.
And I think I just realized that there is no separating the man from the rockstar, not really.
We're back at the cabin before he stops me with a hand on my arm. "What time is the gala on Monday?"
"What?" I blink at him.
"What time is the gala?" he repeats.
"Ash…"
"What time, Loralei?"
"You don't have to go," I whisper, shaking my head. I feel a little like I might cry, which is stupid. We never put labels on this. He never promised me anything. "I shouldn't have asked."
"Don't," he says, pinning me against the side of my rental. His face is stark, emotion bubbling in his eyes. "Don't do that."
"I'm not doing anything," I lie. "I'm just trying to go before I'm late. I have Book Club this afternoon, remember?" By some miracle, Jazz actually convinced River to speak. I don't know how. I assume by sleeping with him, but that's not my business, so I'm not asking.
"Fuck Book Club," Ash growls, pressing his body up against mine. His lips come down on the side of my throat in a punishing bite. "I'm not letting you leave here, thinking I don't want to be seen with you."
"I don't think that."
"Liar."
"Maybe I'm just realizing that we're from two different worlds, that's all."
"Fuck that," he grunts, biting me again. "If you want me to go to the gala with you, I'll go. I'll go anywhere you want me to go, anytime you want me to go."
"That's not necessary, Ash. You don't owe me any—"
"It's not about owing you, beautiful. I want to go." He tips his head back, meeting my gaze. "Do I need to fuck the attitude out of you, or are you going to tell me what time the gala is?"
"I don't have an attitude."
His lips quirk into a soft grin. "Yeah, you do. I hurt your feelings, and you're doing your damnedest to hide it behind that cute fucking attitude. But all you're really doing is making my cock hard. So, are you going to tell me, or am I bending you over the hood?"
"You can't just use sex to get whatever you want, Ash."
"Yeah? Is that what you think?"
"Don't you dare," I hiss, but I might as well be waving a flag in front of a bull. The wicked gleam in his eye says plainly that he is going to dare. So does the way he spins me around like I'm his ragdoll, caging me against the side of my car.
I want to fight him. I want to be mad at him, and hurt. I want to storm away and lick my wounds and get my head together. But I also want him so badly, I could scream. And I'm mad as hell that he knows it. He always knows it.
"You're so fucking cute when you're pissed, Loralei," he breathes, his lips at my ear as he shoves his hand into my pants, ripping them down my legs. Cool air washes across my sensitive skin, and then his palm is there, grinding against my center like he owns it.
"You're an asshole," I moan.
"You love it." He bites the side of my throat, already working me open with two fingers. I bite my tongue, trying to stifle my cries, not willing to give him the satisfaction of hearing them, but it's no use. As soon as he curls his fingers inside me, I sob out loud, my body melting against the side of the car.
Within seconds, he has me in his arms, tossing me down over the hood. "Spread your legs," he demands, gathering my hair up in his fist. "Wider, baby. Make room for your man."