Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
“Sorry about your dad and all, but living in this shell of a penthouse and never struggling a day in your life doesn't make you a poster child for misfortune. People die all the time, Devlynn. Having your parents die doesn’t make you eligible for the world humanitarian award.”
“And what does that say about you? You think you’re making such a massive political statement by spray-painting your little murals around Tiffany’s, but if you gave a shit, you’d know that the biggest philanthropist in the city just died, and with him, his cash flow. I’m supporting my mother through a breakdown, so forgive me if I don’t have time for your stereotypes about my life.”
I shot to my feet, red splashes of wine covering my hand as I invaded her space, lust-fueled frustration lacing my veins. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, Devlynn? You think that man told you everything?”
I set the glass at my side, caging her in the broad span of my arms until my nose was only a breadth from hers, our breaths heaving as we shared air and intense gazes.
Her chest rose with breathless pants, and her eyes finally averted. I caught her chin in my fingers and forced her lips to meet mine. The kiss was a combustible force of everything toxic, compiled with hate, frustration, longing, and misery. I hated everything she stood for, but I also craved her like a hit of the most expensive designer drug.
“You drive me fucking insane, Devlynn Price. All I can think about since seeing you again is fucking you up against that same balcony window where you look down at the peasants below. Every soft inch of you calls out to me, begs for my hands, those sexy lips begging to suck my cock dry. And as much as I want to fuck you so hard that you forget your damn name, nothing has changed from five years ago. The reason we broke up is still there, glaring at us like a neon sign.”
I passed my nose up the length of her neck, enjoying the tremor that erupted inside her. Her nipples pebbled, and the soft hum of her heartbeat thrummed like a hummingbird under her throat. I darted the tip of my tongue out, trailing up the contours of her neck before dancing one fingertip in tiny circles around the faint outline of her nipple.
“Those eyes say yes to everything I want, Devlynn, but I can’t be trusted to be gentle with you anymore. I don’t want to make love to you, Dev. I want to fuck you hard, raw, and fast. I want to make you beg to be my slut. To be in control, to hurt you, Devlynn. To ruin you in ways a good girl like you shouldn’t be ruined. A toy for me to fuck at my leisure, to use and abuse. But I don’t want to make a habit of fucking broken dolls, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”
I stood, fists clenched at my sides as I left her stunned on her pristine designer sofa, my kiss haunting her lips.
Chapter 6
Devlynn
Anger vibrated through me as I stood frozen at the window. Elis’s shadowy black form disappeared into the night two dozen floors below me.
I gulped down the rest of my glass and then swiped for his at the table, downing that in one motion. The warm liquid loosened my aching body, and I was ready to collapse into bed and forget this day. My life. Him.
Everybody.
“Play The Nutcracker Suite,” I called out to the smart music system, comforted when the soft strains of the opening melody seeped into my body.
I remembered countless nights practicing this music on our baby grand piano in the entry. Mom always slammed the door as soon as we started playing, but those were some of my best memories with my dad. The long hours he worked left him hardly at home. Many nights I’d find him with his head bent over papers long after midnight, but as soon as my fingers stroked the keys, he stopped whatever he was doing to play with me.
Fresh tears blanketed my cheeks as I searched the sidewalk around Central Park, desperate for the freedom that Elis must feel. I’d never felt free enough to walk the streets all hours of the night. My life was too scheduled, and my reputation too precious, according to my mother. I only had time for studies, lessons, and charitable events.
I wondered about the thrill Elis must feel when he tagged a blank wall for the first time, the charge of adrenaline as he broke the law. I respected his crimes in a weird way. A lot of anti-establishment hipsters did because he made a statement without hurting anyone.
I had trouble figuring out why Elis was so bitter. I shook my head, cleaning up the wine glasses before heading to my bedroom at the back of the long hallway.