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)
“Hang up.”
“I—”
Radu dragged my attention back. “What I’m trying to tell you, my Charlotte, is that I’ve come around to your way of thinking. At first, I didn’t think we should have a sexual relationship. You’re twenty-two-year-old food, after all. It’s like naming the cute little piglet you plan to slaughter. Morbid.”
What I wouldn’t give to punch this guy in the face.
“But after pleading, and begging, and beating me for sex while I fed—”
“I did that because you drugged me!”
“—I was left conflicted.” Radu went on like I hadn’t spoken. “Yes, I’m centuries older than you, and yes, our relationship is forbidden, but if a creature as beautiful and tasty as you stirs equal fire in my loins as you do in my belly, what right do I have to deny either thirst,” he said. “It wasn’t until I broke in your room that—”
“Excuse me?” I sliced in. “You broke into my room? When! Why?”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he replied. “It wasn’t for a weird reason. I only broke in to steal a pair of your undergarments to smell while I masturbated.”
I almost fell off the chair. What the fuck is this guy’s definition of weird?!
“But you see, honey, that’s when I knew,” he said excitedly. “The pleasure that I felt as I ejaculated in my palm to your sweet, musky, addictive aroma was equal to the satisfaction I feel when you feed me. It’s clear to me now that I want both your body and your body, Charlotte Hunter, so you win. You needn’t beat me for what’s yours anymore, my love. I am yours wholly and absolutely.”
“Wait, hold on—”
“So when will I see you again?” he breathed—sounding waterlogged like he was talking through drool. “Tonight? Tomorrow? Or should we not plan it? Let’s be spontaneous. The time of impending consummation will not be known to you or I, but it will be soon, and it will be glorious—”
“Professor—”
“Wait for me, my sweet honey, I’m coming for—”
The phone was plucked out of my hand and dropped on the floor. I didn’t have a chance to cry out before Ronin brought his boot down on the screen—crushing it to bits.
“What are you doing?” I whisper-screamed. I was keenly aware of all the eyes on me. “That was the phone you gave me!”
“And I’ll get you another one.” A firm hand seized my chair leg and dragged me to his side. Goose bumps rippled down my spine as his lips pressed to my ear. “And when I do, don’t even think of giving that leech the number. You’re done with him. If he even comes near you again, I’ll kill him.”
I stiffened, hating myself to the core of my being that his nearness stoked the fading embers of desire in my body. What was wrong with me? How could I crave a monster?
“Okay, seriously,” I said, instinctively leaning away, “enough with the mutts and the leeches stuff. It costs you nothing to call him what he is—a vampire. So do it.”
“Uh-oh,” Ronin crowed, smile dancing on his lips. “Look who’s giving me orders now. All right, pet, since you’re so comfortable giving them out, I’m sure you won’t be hypocritical about taking them.”
“That’s not the same,” I cried, swinging my head away. His eyes were so dark, glittering, and intense, it felt like I was looking into the dark heart of a curse. “You don’t need to insult Radu, but I do need him.”
A faint crack hit my ears as Ronin’s grip tightened on the chair leg.
“I need his protection,” I quickly added, once again hearing the alarm bells ringing. “He’s an Elder. He’s the only reason the other vampires have stopped coming after me.”
“I’m the reason that everyone has stopped coming after you. You think I’ll let a few vampires,” he spat the name like it was an insult, “take you when the princesses of hell couldn’t? If my protection is so flimsy and worthless to you, why do you bear my name?”
My patience snapped. “Are you kidding me right now!?” I hissed. “I bear your name because you tricked me! You blackmailed and threatened me into giving you what you wanted, and now you’re doing it again to make me entirely reliant on you!” My eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t think that just because I fell for it once, I don’t see through you, Belphe.”
His eyes crossed following the finger I pressed against his nose.
“You are transparent, Ronin the Devourer,” I whispered, “and no matter how many glamours you wear, you always will be.”
Ronin snatched my wrist, yanking my hand away from his nose.
Fear shot through my chest thinking, for one horrible second, he was going to hurt me for touching him—
—and then he snapped my hand down.
My eyes popped out of my head when I found myself with a hand full of erection.