Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Elena thinks she's living in limbo, but little does she know, I want all of this to be forever.
After we each have a piece of chocolate torte, I stand and offer her my hand. She looks at it with surprise, but slowly places her smaller hand in my palm. Each hour that passes, there is less fear in her eyes. By the end of tonight, I want as little trepidation as possible, and a hell of a lot more heat. I’ve seen little flashes of her attraction to me but she always quickly buries them, looks away or changes the topic, but that’s enough for me to work with. More than enough.
I might be a scary bastard sometimes, but I'm confident I can dredge up some romance from my black heart for her.
"Let's take a walk," I tell her, pulling her to her feet. Elena doesn't say anything, but she lets me lead her out the back door and down the wooden stairs that hug the cliff side and end at the beach.
We walk quietly for some time, her hand finds mine. Effortlessly. Naturally. The water is calm, the waves gentle, and Elena looks like a siren that has just stepped from the sea. We stop at the same time, looking out into the distance, and when she leans against me, it's all the permission I need.
Slowly, giving her ample time to pull away, I gently grip the back of her neck and turn her to face me, coaxing her closer. "You're beautiful, Elena Moreau."
She inhales sharply, "You shouldn't say that. We barely know each other, and I..." she trails off, pink tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip.
"Why not? It's the truth." I bring my lips closer to hers. "Does it scare you to know that I want you?"
Her heart is beating wildly against my chest, "I..."
"Tell me you feel it too. That this thing between us isn't just one-sided."
She moves like she is underwater, slowly, likely overthinking everything she does. But I can be patient with her. Finally, she places her hands flat on my chest, looking up at me through her lashes, "You're right. It isn't one-sided. I just--"
Not giving her time to talk herself in circles, I cup her jaw and kiss her. Elena lets out a small, surprised sound, and then she's melting into me, her hands gripping my shirt for dear life as I gather her against my body. She's all softness and sweet smells, and when I swipe my tongue over the seam of her lips, she hesitantly opens for me and lets me truly taste her mouth.
It doesn't stay gentle. I'm too hungry for her. I nip her lower lip and drink in her surprised gasp, my tongue sweeping in to claim her mouth completely. I kiss her like I own her, because, I do!Her body is flush against mine, and I can feel her nipples pebble through the thin fabric of her dress. The thought that she was days away from marrying some old impotent fuck shoots through my mind, and a primal possessiveness unlike anything I've ever felt takes over.
I break the kiss, both of us panting for air, and sweep her into my arms before she can voice a complaint. I need privacy. Now!
"Adrian!" she squeaks, "What are you doing?"
"Taking you to bed." I make a beeline for the wooden stairs, thankful that I've kept up my cardio, "My bed."
She doesn't protest, just buries her face in my neck.
I carry her through the quiet house and into my bedroom. It's the master suite, the best view in the villa, with a massive king-sized bed covered in black silk sheets. I set her down on the mattress and waste no time in getting my mouth on hers again, crawling over her until she's lying flat with my arms bracketing her head.
Elena's arms are around my neck, her fingers splayed in my hair, and her tongue in my mouth. Lowering my hips, I grind against her, my length as hard as stone. She gasps, but one tentative foot twines around my leg, pulling me closer, urging me without words to do it again.
I'm more than happy to oblige.
I'm finally able to break the kiss, but only to kiss a searing pathway down her neck, nipping at her collarbone and sucking at the sensitive spot behind her ear while my hands tug the straps of her dress down. Her skirt is hiked up around her waist at this point, and I'm eager to have the entire thing off of her. I want to see her. All of her. Elena, with her pretty, innocent eyes and her sweet smile. The girl who was promised to another man. The girl who was supposed to be my revenge.
But she's more than that now. She's mine.