Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
I crossed to the other room, forcing myself to go straight to my wardrobe and not linger on the other empty bed. I threw it open, and froze.
“What the—?”
Something poked out of the corner of my eye. Stuck to the door was another note tag. I plucked it off and read—
“From Ronin. Something to make you feel more at home.”
I goggled at it, the sight before me, and then back to the note. “Oh my gods, you fucking asshole!”
RONIN
Tristan banged his head on his mantel as Charlotte’s obscenities poured from the mirror. “Let me get this straight...” Tristan gritted, turning on me. “I told you to perform a grand gesture, so you broke into her room... and stole her clothes.”
“I didn’t steal her clothes,” I snapped. “I returned her clothes. The ones I took after I made her accept the sub bond. She’s lost a lot since she came to hell. My grand gesture was giving at least one thing back.”
The mutt heaved a sigh, pinching his nose. “What’s sad is that you got the intention right, but everything else so fucking wrong.”
“What’s wrong! She loves those fucking clown clothes! She wore them every day!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he burst out, throwing out his hands. “Whatever, it’s done. Just move on to step three. That’s the most important one.”
I was shaking my head before he finished. “I’m not doing step three, so give me step four.”
The mutt shook his head right back. “There is no step four without step three, because step four is what you do after she gives you a second chance, and she won’t if you don’t do step three.”
“I can’t.” My voice was flat. “Maybe it’s the love curse, but I just can’t do it again. I can’t... lie to her.”
Tristan rocked back, brows high—then he nodded. “I get it. I don’t want to understand anything about you. But this... I do.”
I said nothing. I just took my mirror and turned to go.
“Hey, maybe steps one and two will be enough,” Tristan called. “Try them again, and do them fucking right this time. If you do, she might forgive and take you back.”
“Yeah,” I said to the door. “Maybe.”
But even as the words came out of my mouth, we both knew I didn’t stand a chance.
Groveling 101
Step One: Gifts That She’ll Love & Shows You Care
Step Two: Grand Gesture
Step Three: Apologize
Chapter Fourteen
Charlotte
I trudged out of my room dressed in black pleather chaps, beaded shorts, and a jean corset.
Our eyes locked.
“Seriously? What are you here to do now?” I barked. “Stealing my clothes and giving me a box of severed heads obviously wasn’t enough, you must be here to deliver the noose you fashioned out of my shaved hair!”
“No, no,” he cried, throwing his hands up. “No more gifts and gestures. I’m clearly not good at it. I only came because— because I—” He scrubbed his face—that same annoyed and uncomfortable expression twisting his handsome looks.
But just as suddenly, the discomfort disappeared. Straightening, Ronin looked me in the eyes and said, “I came because I love you, Charlotte.”
I froze, the breath leaving my lungs.
“But the fact is I don’t know anything about love,” he admitted. “I’ve never done it before. I’ve never even seen it before you. I don’t know how to do it right, so I asked for advice. I was told that gifts and grand gestures are what women want, and then I was told I gave you the wrong ones—but I didn’t.”
My brows shot up. Excuse me? Didn’t? You absolutely went wide of the mark!
“This is who I am, Charlotte. I’m a demon. And if someone hurts you. If they even hold the thought in their head that they can, I will separate that head from their fucking shoulders.”
I shook, hands trembling.
“And even though I don’t understand your fashion taste.”
I flushed in spite of myself.
“If you want to dress like a freak, I’ll buy all the strange and clownish clothes that exist in the realm,” he whispered, taking a step closer. Then another. “There’s nothing about you that I want to change, because simply seeing you smile has changed everything about me.”
Step.
“So, I’m doing what I should’ve done in the first place, and asking you what you need.” Gentle fingers stroked my cheek as the tenderest light shone in Ronin’s eyes. “What can I do to make it up to you, Charlotte? All I want is to ease your pain. Tell me how.”
“Oh, Ronin,” I whispered. “Did you really mean all of that?”
“Every word.”
Reaching up, I curled my fingers around his—
—and twisted.
“Arrgh!”
I wrenched his arm over and down his shoulder, twisting it into a position it was never meant to go.
“Ahhhh!” Ronin bellowed, collapsing on one knee.
“Hmm,” I sounded off over his noise. “What do I want to let you back into my good graces? I want my sister back. Until you make that happen, don’t touch me. Don’t follow me. And don’t waste my fucking time with your cheap love confessions and sleazy seduction routines. Get it through your fucking head, Ronin. I want you”—I punched him in the nose, breaking it under my fist—“to disappear from my life! Just die!”