Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
“They’re really gorgeous.”
She smiles, but it’s that kind of practiced smile that I most certainly recognize from growing up in the world I did. It’s a rich, snobby kind of smile. It’s a money smile. It’s the veneer on the outside while the eyes are boring right into me, trying to pierce through me.
“Well, I bet it’s a real treat to be here tonight, isn’t it?”
My brow furrows slightly, but I just smile back. “Yeah, it’s wonderful to see all of these pieces.”
“And so nice for your….father, to bring you?”
I smile widely, blushing as I shake my head.
“Oh, no, he’s…” I swallow. I know I could just go along with it. But, seeing as we just kissed right in the middle of the gallery hall, I think that might not be the best story to go with.
“He’s not—”
“Oh!” The woman mimes this fake looking embarrassment, though I can tell she’s not in the slightest.
“My mistake, dear. Your uncle them is it?”
She saw us kiss. I can see it right then in the glint in her eyes. She’s one of those types of rich older people. The kind who’ve truly been poisoned by wealth and who just for whatever reason enjoy tormenting people. She enjoying watching me twist on the line.
Well, fuck that.
“My boyfriend, actually,” I say flatly, the smile on my face only growing wider as her lips purse with disdain.
“How old are you?” She mutters.
“Eighteen.”
“And your…your boyfriend?” She says with a snobby tone.
I smile as I lean closer to her.
“Much older,” I say evenly, the corners of my lips turning up. “Much, much older.”
She bristles. “Well, it’s disgusting to waltz around in here parading it in front of everyone. It’s perverse is what it is. He should know better!”
“I should know what better?”
I shiver at the sound of Oliver’s voice behind me, and when his hand goes to the small of my back, I sink against him slightly, almost on instinct. The woman slides her gaze to him, her eyes narrowing.
“Parading around here with this…this child.”
I hear the growl catch in his throat.
“Ma’am,” he says quietly, his voice edge. “For one, she’s an adult.”
“She’s—”
“And the only one I see around here acting like a fucking child is you, madam.”
The woman’s face goes white, her jaw dropping as she quite literally reaches up to clutch her pearls.
“Pervert!” she hisses as she glares at his hand on me once more and then whirls to storm off.
“Bitch,” I mutter at her back, bringing a chuckle to Oliver’s lips as I turn to look at him. He smiles, reaching down to cup my jaw.
“You okay?”
I shrug. “Yeah, she just…” I make a face.
“You want to get out of here?”
“No, no, I….” I frown. “I mean, I don’t know. I love the works here, it just might be….” I look up at him. “Maybe it’s a little stuffy in here.”
He grins widely. “Agreed. Maybe we could come back when Queen Grouch and her ilk aren’t prowling around.”
I giggle as I move into him. “That sounds perfect.” I pout slightly. “But what about date night?”
“Oh, date night is still on,” he growls. “You’re not getting out of it that easily. I was going for culture tonight, but maybe this is a little too much culture.”
I smile, and when his hands slide over my hips, I press against him.
“I have an idea,” he says quietly into the top of my head.
“Oh?”
“Want me to tell you or do you want to be surprised?”
I pull back, looking up at him and those piercing eyes as my lip catches between my teeth.
“I think I’m starting to like your surprises.”
He grins.
“Good,” he purrs, his hands tightening on me for a second. “Let’s get out of here.”
* * *
“Okay this is perfect.”
I turn and beam at Oliver as I sink back in the big lazy-boy-style chair in stadium-seating movie theater. Oliver winks as he holds the popcorn out to me, and I grin as I grab a big handful of buttery snacks.
“How’d you even know I like horror movies?”
“I didn’t.”
I glance at him, one brow arched. “Lucky guess.”
“Nah,” he turns, grinning at me. “I was just hoping you’d be scared enough to climb into my lap and hang on tight.”
I laugh deeply as the lights go down, and previews begin to play across the screen. The theater is almost empty, considering it’s a Tuesday and considering that movie they’re playing—this campy slasher piece of trash—has been out for like three months. But, that’s a good thing. And it’s a good thing because the second he says it, I want nothing else but to climb into Oliver’s lap.
…But not because I’m scared.
The previews play, and as I glance around, I realize just how empty the big theater is. There’s only a handful of other people, and they’re all much closer to the screen, as opposed to us being in the second to last row. I pop another handful of popcorn into my mouth when suddenly, I feel Oliver’s lips at my ear, and I shiver.