Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I didn’t know you were capable of being human,” I say, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed.
He shrugs slightly. “I can turn it on when needed.”
“You were trying to win her over.”
“That’s what you wanted.”
“I know, but—” I hesitate, glancing back at the apartment. “She’s smart. Really smart. She’ll see through bullshit.”
“Who says that was all bullshit? Your sister’s a good kid.”
“I know that.” I let out a long breath. My heart patters quickly in my chest. “I just wasn’t sure you’d see it.”
He moves closer. His voice lowers. “I know what you think of me. You see a monster and a criminal whenever I’m around. But I can be more than that.”
“Yeah? You’re a good actor too?”
“I’m whatever you need me to be.” He touches my arm. I let his hand linger for a second too long before pulling back.
I have to remember. This is an arrangement. It’s not real. We’re not telling Gem that we’re in love—because we aren’t.
At best, this is mutually beneficial.
There’s physical attraction. I can’t deny it. All through dinner, I kept checking him out. Even now that he’s taking off his human mask, I still want this dark beast’s mouth on my neck and his hands on my hips. I want his body to pin mine to the wall. I want him to fuck me like the brute I know he is.
But instead, I slip away and open the door. “Thanks for coming. I appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you two on Monday.”
I sigh and glance upwards. God, I wish I had some excuse to make. But the truth is, that went more or less as planned.
Which means I’m screwed. “See you Monday,” I mutter and disappear back into the apartment, all those good feelings already evaporating to dust.
KIRA
“Holy crap, Kira, did you freaking see the size of this place?” Gem stares around with her mouth hanging open. She’s lit up like a firecracker as she wanders the halls of Stellan’s house. “It’s enormous! And look at all these old, original details? They’re beautiful.”
“Yeah, gorgeous.” I frown at the ancient crown molding and the hand-carved wooden banister. “Also probably a death trap.”
“No way. It’s been restored. Look at how everything shines.” She runs her fingers down an old grandfather clock resting in a corner. “I think this thing is at least a couple hundred years old. Look at the craftsmanship.”
Gem gushes throughout the tour. Stellan’s house is situated deep in South Philly in a quiet neighborhood. The street is narrow and paved with cobblestones. He owns almost the entire block, and the house is absolutely massive. It’s one of those ancient Philadelphia Victorians, most of which are in disrepair, but Gem’s right. This one’s been lovingly restored over the years, and now there are more rooms than a single man could possibly occupy.
The movers carry our things inside. Stellan appears intermittently, half helping direct our furniture and half showing us around. He takes us to the third floor and gestures at the hall. “This will be Gem’s.”
“Which room is mine?” she asks, poking her head into one.
“All of them.”
She turns around, eyebrows raised in alarm. “Are you joking?”
“I assume you’d be more comfortable this way. You’ll have your own bathroom, bedroom, an office, and a small library. The door to the stairs locks if you need more privacy.”
I swear, Gem starts vibrating with excitement. She’s mature and brilliant, but still a teenage girl who reads too much. I bet she’s freaking out at the idea of having her own floor at the top of a beautiful mansion with a freaking stairwell door that locks. She’s probably picturing herself going on adventures into Narnia or something.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him as we go back down to the second floor together. Gem’s still upstairs bouncing from room to room and trying not to scream. “She’d be fine down here.”
“The place is empty anyway. Someone should use the third floor. Might as well be her.”
I nod slightly as Stellan takes me to the far end of the hall. I pause, not sure I want to follow, but eventually force myself to step into the master room.
A huge bed dominates the back wall. There’s a dresser, an enormous walk-in closet, en suite bathroom, and beautiful furniture. “I thought you’d sleep in a coffin. You know, like a vampire?”
“Hilarious.”
“This is nice though. I mean, really nice.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I figured it would be more—” I shrug a little, gesturing around. “You know.”
“I really don’t.”
“You’re a single guy… living alone… with a dangerous job…” I trail off, realizing how silly I sound.
“You expected dead bodies and empty whiskey bottles?”
“Pretty much.”
“I hate to disappoint you. I could always procure a corpse if you want.”
“Pass. Thanks though.” I sit on the edge of the bed and bounce slightly. I glance over my shoulder and try to imagine him lying down beside me, his big body taking up all that space and putting out heat like a campfire. He watches me from across the room, clearly trying to let me acclimate myself. “This is weird.”