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)
He combed his fingers through my hair, smoothing it away from my face. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. No one can know.”
My brow furrowed. “That’s strange…no, that’s not the right word…it’s wild…no…crazy. That’s crazy! We have to tell what’s-his-name…numbnuts. And the media, we should alert the media. And... and... we need to...we need to...” My mind became fuzzy, my words jumbled together, loose and clumsy. My momentary burst of alertness and energy faded back into a drunken haze.
“Get some sleep,” he murmured.
I shook my head, fighting the effects of the warm bed, the Scotch, and Greyson’s soothing touch. “No. I can’t. I must save Madison. She’s not guilty. People need to know Jameson’s not dead. You have to help me tell them.”
“I’ve already told you that’s not possible.”
I forced myself upright, but my arms shook. Everything pitched sideways and I grabbed at his collar, but my fingers wouldn’t close and I fell back against the pillow.
Madison. I had to stay awake for Madison.
The thought was sharp and clear even as everything else went squiggly around the edges.
I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyelids and burrowed deeper into the covers, only half listening to him now as traitorous sleep crept over me. “Why?” I mumbled. “Please.”
Greyson leaned down and kissed my forehead before whispering, “Because I’m the one who helped Jameson fake his own death.”
CHAPTER 24
MADISON
My body had been saved, but my soul still careened over the cliff’s edge, smashing against the rocks on the way down.
It was the only explanation I could think of for why I was surrendering to the unholy embrace of Pierce Worthington. I should’ve hated his touch, his kiss, his invasion of me. But I didn’t. I wanted more.
This wasn’t making love. This was fucking. His body had taken possession of mine with all the savagery of a predator. There were no soft caresses or sweet words, just dominance. He had claimed me. Another trophy, won with cold-blooded detachment.
This was not just “I might regret this in the morning” wrong, but certifiable, completely depraved, I need therapy and a possible seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold level of wrong.
By sheer force of will, he captured and held my eyes. They were unreadable as he thrust harder and harder, taking me closer and closer to the pleasure I craved but was too afraid to truly want.
I bit my lip to try and suppress the moan working its way up my throat.
We were so close to the drop I could feel the salt spray of the ocean mixing in with the relentless rainfall.
Several tendrils of my hair were caught in the wind and whipped about us, as if to spur him on. I dug my heels into the earth and lifted to meet him, thrust for brutal thrust.
He was too alluring, his strength too easy to bend to. The way he looked at me, pushed into me, there was nothing I could do but give in to him. He wouldn’t accept anything less. There was only the Madison before Pierce fucked me in the mud, and the Madison I’d become after.
That was a thought for later.
For now, I wanted to just feel.
I wanted his rough hands on me, grabbing, clawing, pinching, slapping—anything to make me feel more.
I wanted his even rougher thrusts, claiming my body in a way no other man had dared.
I craved him, his complete domination and control.
Craved the darkness he promised with his eyes.
I didn’t fall. I wasn’t pushed. I jumped into that darkness.
My hips bucked a second time as my thighs tightened around his hips.
Pierce bit the side of my neck, adding a lethal edge to the dark pleasure already consuming me, then he licked the bruise, soothing away the sharp ache. “That’s it, baby. Come for me.”
I hated him with every fiber of my being, but I wanted to stop fighting.
Damn him. If I let him make me come, he’d have won.
A small shred of sanity returned, and I wrenched my head to the side. With all my might, I shoved him off me. Willing to deny us both rather than give him the satisfaction of seeing me come from what he did to me.
I flipped onto my knees. “Leave me alone. This is over.”
Pierce wrapped his arm around my waist, his body covering mine from behind. “It’s over when I say it’s over,” he snarled into my ear.
His knuckles brushed the backs of my thighs as he positioned himself at my entrance.
He thrust inside me so hard, I would have fallen forward, if not for his firm grip holding me in place. A strangled cry tore from my lungs.
He fisted my hair, pulling my head back as he once more seized me.
My jaw clenched as I ground out, “I hate you.”
His breath was hot against my cheek as he fired back, “No, you don’t, baby. Admit it. You’re drawn to me as much as I’m drawn to you. You are as fascinated by my dark motives as I am by your sweet innocence. You were made to be mine.”