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)
The car fell back into a tense silence. I became aware of the harsh rush of my own breathing.
I looked back at the door handle.
Extending my arm, I let my fingertips graze the smooth metal and stilled, waiting for an angry reaction from Pierce. There was none.
Coughing to cover the sound of my movement, I leaned forward to grip the handle.
The car slowed slightly as he navigated around a sharp turn.
It was now or never.
My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the roar of the nearby ocean.
“Madison, what are you doing?” he barked.
My head swiveled sharply in his direction.
His expression darkened as he looked from my face to my hand on the door handle, then back to my face. His lips curled as he lunged toward the passenger side, his right arm stretched out to snatch at mine.
With a terrified scream, I pulled on the handle.
The car door swung open violently.
CHAPTER 18
HAILEY
My consciousness crawled through the darkness.
Warmth surrounded me, carrying the scent of his jacket.
There was the clink of ice cubes hitting glass, then silence.
My eyes flew open.
I blinked several times to adjust to the muted light as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Lush emerald green and bursts of red, yellow, pink, and orange were everywhere.
Large glossy leaves and exotic flowers sharpened into focus. Higher up, I surveyed the massive glass and wrought iron panels which made up the ceiling and walls. The sky was gray and rain pelted the panels, creating a shimmering stream of water which diffused the meager light from the setting sun.
The suit jacket which had been covering me fell from my chest as I sat up on a sofa and swung my legs to the floor, placing a palm on the heavily upholstered cushion to steady myself.
I shifted my stare around the elegant conservatory till an amused chuckle caught my ear.
I jerked my head to the side. Greyson’s back was to me as he stood before a side bar. Visible through the thin linen of his dress shirt was a massive black shape which stretched over his right shoulder blade and down the center of his back.
Holy shit! The man had some serious ink!
I squinted but couldn’t make out what the image was.
He turned to face me, a drink in his hand.
I faced forward so fast it caused a crick in my neck.
Greyson’s deep voice penetrated the gloom. “So you’re finally awake.”
I lifted a hand to rub the sore muscles of my neck. “I’m not your little bird.”
He extended his arm, holding the tumbler filled with amber liquor a few inches from my face.
I ignored it.
He gave the tumbler a small shake, causing the ice to rattle. “Drink.”
I huffed and cast an incredulous look at him before turning my head away, cringing when my still-sore neck protested. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to drink anything you give me.”
His hand slipped beneath my chin. He turned my head back toward him, then lifted it so my eyes met his hooded look. “It wasn’t a request, Hailey.”
I hugged myself, missing the warmth of his suit jacket. “I don’t want it.”
His hand shifted to stroke the edge of my jaw before drawing the tip of his finger over my bottom lip. “Later, it will be my great pleasure to satisfy your every want and need, but for now, I didn’t ask what you wanted. I told you to drink. Now do it.”
I resisted the urge to lick my lip where he’d touched it and reluctantly took the drink from his hand. To appease him, I took a small sip. He placed the tips of his fingers under the glass and tilted it up, forcing more of the fiery liquid past my lips. I choked before wiping the back of my hand over my mouth. Glaring up at him, I asked, “Satisfied?”
He tugged on one of my curls. “Not yet, but I soon will be.”
This time, I willingly took an inelegant gulp of the liquor. My throat burned and my vision blurred as it warmed my stomach.
Greyson took the glass from my hand. “Easy now, that’s hundred-year-old Scotch.”
Despite his admonishment to me, he drained the glass and set it aside.
He sat on the glass-topped coffee table in front of me. His knees splayed open to rest on either side of my thighs, trapping me.
The room swayed. I pressed my palm harder into the cushion.
Unable to hold his stare, I focused on my fingers, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “Where am I?”
“My home.”
“So you’ve basically kidnapped me.”
“I wouldn’t call bringing a woman who fainted in my arms to my home kidnapping.”
“So I’m allowed to leave?”
“No.”
One word.
No.
That was it, no explanation or apology, just no.
“Is this some kind of hostage situation?” I bit out.
“Why? Would someone pay to get you back?” The way his eyebrow cocked made me want to slap him across the face.