Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Again, the man seemed to have the power to stop time.
I swore I could see the crystal sheen of each individual raindrop hanging suspended in the surrounding air. I no longer felt the chill of the wind or the damp cling of my clothes. My entire reality was centered on him and the heat radiating off his body.
Greyson notched a finger under my chin and lifted my face to his. “You really are adorable when you get your feathers ruffled.”
His gaze drifted over my face to land on my mouth.
My tongue flicked out to moisten my lips.
A low sound emanated from deep in his chest.
If I hadn’t felt the vibration under my fingertips, I would have thought it was thunder in the distance.
His arms enclosed my waist and drew me closer.
Somehow, I’d stopped breathing and yet my breath came in quick, erratic gasps all at the same time. My fingers found his collar. I wasn’t pulling him closer. I wasn’t pushing him away. I just held on, knuckles white.
His lips parted as he leaned in.
He is going to kiss me.
This strange man who I only just met five minutes ago is going to kiss me.
This strange man who basically kidnapped me four minutes ago is going to kiss me.
This was madness.
The sarcastic tilt of his mouth, as if he was in on some secret amusement. The strength of his arms around me after weeks of being so scared and so alone. I could almost trick myself into believing everything was going to be okay.
But it would not be okay.
Nothing was okay.
Madison’s face flashed behind my eyes.
Before his lips could reach mine, I turned my face sharply to the side.
His lips grazed my ear, sending a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold down my spine. “Have it your way, my little bird. Later.”
Later.
I couldn’t decide if that was a promise or a threat.
Greyson stepped back and shrugged out of his suit jacket. He draped it over my shoulders and then wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side. The spicy scent of his cologne drifted over me as the comforting warmth of his jacket chased away the chill.
With me pressed along his side, he moved with decisive steps toward a silver Mercedes. Pulling the keys from his pocket, he clicked the button to unlock the door.
Before I could get in, shouts from the other side of the parking lot captured our attention.
I turned to see Madison and Pierce.
What the hell was going on? Why was she outside the courthouse…with him?
I lurched forward, but Greyson’s arm around my waist stopped me. “What the fuck?”
“Get in the car, Hailey.” His tone was deep and even.
Uncaring when his coat slipped from my shoulders and fell over his restraining arm, I clawed at his wrist. “Let me go! I have to go to her!”
There were more shouts. Several guards appeared. Guns drawn.
The first shot cracked the air and my knees buckled. My hand covered my mouth to stifle a horrified scream as more gunfire pierced the air.
Straining against Greyson’s iron grip, I helplessly watched Madison and Pierce duck against his car.
There was another volley of gunfire.
This time Madison fell forward and out of sight, blocked by Pierce’s body and the open passenger door.
They hit her.
They had killed her.
The scream that tore out of me didn’t sound human.
Then everything went black.
CHAPTER 17
MADISON
Itried to raise my head off his lap a second time.
Pierce’s firm hand pressed against the base of my skull. “Stay down.”
I glanced up at him through my lashes. The hard, muscled planes of his chest with its scattering of dark hair were visible through the wet fabric of his shirt.
The car’s heated seats fought against the wind coming through the broken window to warm our chilled bodies and wet clothes. The scent of leather and fabric softener, combined with the crisp outside air, filled the interior. After several weeks of being confined in jail, constantly surrounded by the odor of boiled cabbage and the pungent moldy stench of dirty mops, it smelled clean and fresh.
I was not attracted to him. Even if he was everything I wished his brother had been.
Tearing my gaze from his chest, my eyes dropped lower.
It was just there!
Lying against his inner thigh.
Inches from my mouth.
It pressed against the fabric of his slacks like it was trying to break free.
I had a flashback to that day weeks ago in my bookshop.
On my knees.
The taste of his come.
Oh my fucking god!
Breaking free of his restraining hand, I sat up so fast the blood rushed to my head and the world tilted.
What a strange turn my life had taken since moving to Cliffs End. If I had read this in a book, I’d have accused the author of plotting an unbelievable storyline. I drew my knees up higher, uncaring about the mud my ballet flats smeared across the seat edge. Hunching my shoulders lower, I turned and looked back through the rear window.