Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“Are you okay?” he asks, his fingers brushing the loose strands of hair behind my ear.
“Yes, but is Mistress?”
“Look,” he chuckles and smirks. She is jumping after a butterfly.
“Good, I would have been devastated to have crushed her.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t run away from me.” The deep rumble in his chest sends shockwaves of desire and confusion through me.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be chasing me?” What am I saying? I want this man chasing me, craving me like I crave him.
“That’s like telling Icarus to stop flying toward the sun. Not going to happen.”
“You’ve lost it. Did you work out too hard?”
“No—”
“Sir, you have a call. It’s Miss Steiner.” There is the reminder I need that I’m not the one for him, and he’s not the one for me.
“Thank you,” he grunts to Carl, clearly annoyed that he interrupted us. “I need to shower. Can you take care of the little girl here?”
“You have a staff, and you don’t need me here for that.” I want to tell him that Miss Steiner can care for his dog since he’s handing her his private number, but I control myself.
“I know, but I’d like you to help with her.”
“Fine,” I huff. He turns around without another word and goes inside, leaving me with the exuberant puppy. We run around outside for a little longer before she gets tired, and then we stroll inside.
I spend two hours in his house lounging about with Mistress while enjoying the luxury as if I don’t have the same thing, but there is something warm about his place. “Come on, girl. Let’s go raid his library. I don’t know where your daddy went, but I’m getting bored.” I wonder if he went out on a date and just left us here without any notice.
We roam over to the library and push the door open to find Miles reading a book. “Are you freaking serious right now?”
“What?” he asks, lowering his book.
“I’m here watching your dog, and you’re here just chilling out.”
He shrugs. “I’m actually spending some time in my house. I never said I was leaving after my shower. You’re the one who assumed that.”
“Well, since you’re home, I have to go. Besides, she’s fine and can spend time by herself.”
“Sit with me, Elsa.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to.”
“What if I don’t?” He grabs my hand and drags me down to his side on the sofa. I plop down, and my heart can’t handle being this close to him. Why am I so flustered being this close? Because the last time we were this close, I made a fucking fool of myself. He looked mortified.
“Tough.”
“Miles,” I whine.
“Yes, Elsa.” The way he says my name sends a delightful tingle through my body, and it’s all wrong. It’s how I ended up against him, embarrassing myself.
“I need to go. I have a test to study for,” I blurt out as I jump off the sofa.
He sighs and then nods. “Be careful, and we’ll talk about this living arrangement later.”
“Fine.” I’m not even sure how we came to share a dog, but Mistress is his, not mine. Even as I say that, I don’t believe it anymore.
The next morning, I go to school and see Johnny; he avoids me completely. “Stay away from me, Elsa.” I don’t miss the black eyes that are healing along with the small bandage on his nose. His eyes widen, and that’s when I spot my father’s security team nearby.
“No problem, Johnny.” I walk away without another word to anyone. After my classes, I’m having a major sit down with my father. He has to call off his hound dog. Even if Johnny’s family is in the mafia, I’ll shut the situation down so he has no reason to get involved.
My mind isn’t on my schoolwork at all. I can’t make it through any classes, so it’s a merciful blessing that they have canceled my last class.
I drive to the hotel and go up to my father’s office. He’s in a meeting with my brother, but their assistant allows me in. Thankfully, Miles is at the casino, and I don’t have to see him because I don’t have the nerve to face him right now.
The assistant barely opens the door before I barge in and close it behind him. “Please excuse her. Someone forgot her manners today,” my brother apologizes for me.
“What’s on your volatile mind, Princess?”
“Your guard dog needs to back off.”
“What guard dog? All of your security has kept their distance.”
“Miles. He’s… he’s…” I blush because I can’t describe why I’m so damn pissed without giving myself away.
“He’s what?”
“He’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“What do you mean? Is he harassing you? Do you not like him?” My face heats and turns completely red.
“Sweetheart, do you want to tell me what’s going on between you and Miles?”