Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
He was going to call me ‘princess’ whether I liked it or not, so it was just better if I saved my energy for a battle that I stood a chance at winning.
“This is not what I came here for. I came for Bertha.” I eyed the dildo on the bedside table.
Well, at least he hadn’t used it. Not that he hadn’t tried, but after a swift explanation that Bertha is a tool, not a toy, he gave up and used himself instead.
“I said I’d give it to you—I never specified what it was I was giving.”
Semantics, semantics.
“And, once again, you consented.”
Oh, look, more semantics.
“I never said I didn’t,” I grumbled, leaning over and reaching for my phone. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a fucking animal? I can’t believe I had to run away from you just to make you stop groping me.”
“Run away? Rose, you locked the bloody bathroom door. From the outside.” He sat on the bed next to me, fixing me with an amused look. “Not your finest moment.”
“I panicked. I might break if we have sex again.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Must you?” I muttered. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
He grabbed my phone out of my hand and put it back on the bedside table, then climbed over me, lacing his fingers through mine and pressing my hands against the headboard so I couldn’t escape. “Do I have to keep going until you compliment me?”
“I don’t think you have enough stamina to fuck me until I compliment you,” I said, completely deadpan.
Oliver stared for a moment before laughing out loud. “I feel like that has less to do with my stamina and more to do with your lack of intent to compliment me.”
“You’re a smart cookie.”
“Hey, look at that—a compliment!”
Shit.
“It was sarcastic,” I drawled. “If I compliment you, then you might accidentally think I like you. That would be a tragedy.”
He grinned, drawing his face closer to mine. “The worst thing ever.”
My heart skipped at his wide smile, and I waved our clasped hands. “Move. I need to pee.”
With a chuckle, Oliver rolled off me and dropped onto the other side of the bed. I got up and shuffled into the adjoining bathroom, flapping my hand in front of me to disperse some of the steam left from his shower.
The shower.
Huh.
Well, that wasn’t clean anymore.
I did my business and brushed my damp hair using the brush Oliver had given me earlier. I’d almost whacked him when he’d pulled out a backpack of necessities after he’d led me to this cottage on the estate, but it’d ended up coming in surprisingly useful.
A hairbrush, shampoo, snacks, water… it was hardly the end of the world, but this sneaky bastard had always intended on getting me into bed tonight. He’d tried to deny it, but this little bag of tricks gave him away.
I walked back into the bedroom, adjusting my towel, and grabbed my hairband from the bedside table so I could plait my hair. Oliver was lounging on the bed with his head propped up on his hand, and his gaze followed me as I moved around the room.
“Going somewhere?” he asked when I grabbed my bra.
I eyed him. “Um, home?”
“It’s almost midnight.”
“And?”
“It’s pitch-black out there.”
“Ah. Don’t worry, I’m more likely to get attacked by a badger than a person.” I paused. “I’d rather the person, though. Badgers are feral little fucks.”
His eyes darkened at my words. “I’d prefer neither. Stay here.”
I froze, holding the unclasped straps at my waist. “What?”
“Stay here,” he repeated.
“I didn’t even stay with you the night we met, and I liked you then. What makes you think I’ll stay now?”
He sat up. “Then I’ll go back to the main house and come and get you in the morning.”
“No, that’s too much of a hassle. I’ll just go now. It won’t take me long to get home.” I dropped my chin to focus on my bra, but it was yanked out of my hands, and Oliver’s arms snaked around me from behind.
“Stay,” he murmured, brushing his lips over the sweet spot just behind my ear. “I really will leave if you want me to, but I don’t like the thought of you driving home this late by yourself.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have kept me here this long.” I prodded his hands.
“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault.” He pressed his face into the side of my neck and squeezed me back against him. “So, stay? Please?”
Who was this clingy Oliver?
And why did I like it?
What was wrong with me?
I sighed, succumbing to his pleas. “Okay, I’ll stay.”
“Do you want me to go?” He nuzzled his face into my neck, and my heart skipped a beat.
No.
I didn’t. I didn’t want him to go at all.
For one night, I wanted to give in to my actual feelings. I wanted to stop pretending that I absolutely hated him. I wanted to let myself feel what it would be like to stay in his arms, what it would be like if we could have a normal relationship.