Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
“We need to talk,” I say, gesturing away from the ears of the kitchen staffers.
She nods, her voice barely above a whisper. “Massage room?”
We don’t wait. We slip out the side hallway. The spa wing is empty this time of day, the staff busy setting up tiki torches or folding napkins into swans for whatever ridiculous theme Evie has decided on for the parties.
I turn to her. “How long has the number been texting you?”
“That was the first one.”
“And you’re sure you don’t recognize it?”
“I would have deleted it if I did,” she snaps.
She paces to the massage table and leans against it, arms folded tightly over her chest.
“You think it’s him?” she whispers. “Your father?”
I hesitate. “I swear to God I didn’t tell him, but he has his ways. It’s possible.”
“Jesus.” She presses her palm to her belly.
He doesn’t know.
He can’t know.
He would never let her out of his grasp again.
“You haven’t told anyone?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“I thought I had time,” she says. “To figure it out. To disappear after this event wraps. The guys are paying me an ungodly amount for this. Enough that I can move somewhere he’ll never find me. Rebuild my career after that fiasco that nearly cost me everything. And now—”
The phone buzzes again in her hand.
She doesn’t look at it.
She hands it to me.
I flip it over and read the second message.
I left something for you.
EPISODE 229
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD
River
She’s ready. So ready.
Emily.
My Emily.
I can’t stand that she fucked Sebastian, and though I’ve already punished her, she has no idea what she’s in for now.
I’m going to fuck her so violently that she’ll never even think of fucking another man again.
Never.
Not fucking ever.
I grip her tighter, my fingers digging into her soft skin. I bring my mouth to her ear, my voice a low rumble. “You’re mine, Em.”
Her breath hitches, her body shuddering against mine. “Always.”
“You’re goddamned right. Always.” I take her to the bed, throw her onto it, face down. “And that gorgeous alabaster ass is mine. Mine to spank.” I bring my palm down on her.
Hard.
She squeals.
But not in pain.
I want her pleasure, but damn…
I want to hurt her too.
Hurt her the way she hurt me.
Hurt her the way I hurt Brett and the others.
Fuck…
This is…
This isn’t just about Emily.
It’s about me.
All those damned years ago…
I did what I had to do to save Jake’s life, his future. I had no idea Brett had feelings for Jake other than friendship. At least not until much later.
I bring my palm down again, this time harder.
And this time—
Emily raises her head, looks over her shoulder. “For the love of God, River!”
But I smack her again, again, again…
She glares at me, her blue eyes on fire.
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
And her eyes soften.
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
Her ass is cherry red, so gorgeous, and my cock is raging hard. I could slide between her ass cheeks right now, truly make her mine. Rip her virgin hole to shreds with my massive dick.
I meet her gaze.
And she nods.
Only slightly, but she nods.
I slide my fingers between her legs.
Still so wet.
And she…
“Go ahead,” she says. “Take what you need. Do to me what you need to do. I deserve it all, River. All of it. If this is what I must endure to prove my love for you, I’ll bloody suffer it.”
My rage is still inside me, but it’s quieter now—less like a scream and more like a whisper echoing through an empty room. It coils low in my gut, not gone, just watching. I breathe, and for the first time since I realized what Emily and Sebastian did, the air doesn’t taste like blood and betrayal.
I wanted to hurt her. I wanted her to feel what I felt, to break where I broke.
But now?
I just feel hollow.
Because somewhere between the anger and the obsession, I stopped being the one who was wronged. I became the weapon. The one who wronged Sebastian. Alex. Most of all, Brett.
And now, Emily.
The heat inside me is flickering. Not out. Not yet. But changing. Cooling into something heavier, something that hurts in a different way.
I don’t want to hurt Emily.
I don’t want her to suffer. Why the fuck did she use that word?
You don’t hurt a person you love.
This isn’t new to me. I’ve always known it.
I do love her. I love Emily.
And though I’m angry with her, I’m angrier at myself for something that has nothing to do with her.
Yet she’s willing to let me do what I need. She’s willing to let me hurt her.
I slide down onto the bed beside her. “Forgive me.”
Her eyes widen. “For what?”
“For trying to hurt you. That’s not me, Em.” I sigh. “I’m a damned mess.”
“You’re not a mess, River. You have every right to be angry. Just as I had a right to be angry with you. But I do love you, and sleeping with Sebastian was a mistake. I regretted it as soon as it was over.”