Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
His attitude might not have bothered her if she hadn’t been stuck in the grip of a wicked, sensual need since they first met. Her raven wanted him with that same primitive intensity, not at all hung up on the fact that he didn’t like her. The avian was much too intrigued by him to care, which was understandable. Tao had a very warrior-like mentality: he was fearless, brutally blunt, action oriented, and forceful, and he had no time or patience for diplomacy.
Many seemed to find his outspokenness off-putting, but Riley admired his refusal to tailor his judgments to placate others. She liked people who were up front and didn’t dance around what they thought or believed. That didn’t mean she liked waking up in bed with him after a one-night stand.
Well, as far as she was concerned, if they’d been drunk, it didn’t count. Nope.
Now what to do . . . The best option would be to wake him up and send him on his way. But there was nothing wrong with enjoying the view for a few minutes, right? It was an incredibly hot view, with his smooth jaw, prominent cheekbones, and broad shoulders. And then there was all that taut, toned skin . . . She hadn’t before noticed the caramel ribbons streaking through his tousled brown hair that made her think of liquid milk chocolate.
Asleep, he looked peaceful. Awake, he was constantly alert and watchful. Like those dangerous, menacing guard dogs that eyed strangers with suspicion and a snarl that said, “Fucking try me.”
When she’d first arrived, he’d looked at Riley with that same distrust. But after a month or so, things had shifted between them. The distrust in his gaze had been replaced by something else. Something just as intense that made her tingle in places that had no business tingling. That intensity made Riley a little wary, because she had super-bad judgment when it came to guys and didn’t always make good decisions—case in point.
And now she’d need to do something to address that dumb decision. She slowly and carefully eased out of the bed. The room spun and pain spiked through her head, wrenching a soft moan out of her. Tao’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing golden-brown orbs that reminded her of tigereye stones with their silky, lustrous quality. His gaze locked with hers and he stilled in surprise. Then those eyes drifted over her and, just like that, tension—thick, electric, and hotly sexual—snapped the air taut.
She probably should have grabbed her dress from the floor to shield her naked body, but there seemed little sense in trying to rescue her dignity now. That ship had sailed hours ago.
Riley swallowed, and there was an audible click of her tongue. “You should go.” No, it wasn’t a nice thing to say, but really, was there a nice way to kick someone out of your room?
One dark brow slowly lifted, but he said nothing.
“I say we agree to forget it happened,” she proposed.
“Forget it?” he echoed, voice deep and gruff with sleep. It made her a little tingly.
“No one has to know. We’re adults. We can have a one-night stand and not make a big deal out of it.” Even if she would have to look at him every day and remember how it had felt to have him inside her. It was fine. Riley totally had this. Really.
He looked at her through narrowed eyes for a moment. “All right,” he finally said. “We forget it.”
His easy agreement disappointed her, though she’d expected it. Her raven didn’t like it either. “Fine,” she clipped.
“Fine.”
Riley ran a hand through her hair. “Savannah and Dexter will probably be here soon. Be gone by the time I get out of the shower.”
Before he could say another word, she turned and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She fairly staggered to the counter, tripping over thin air. Apparently walking would not be her strong point today. God, she needed to lie down. Forever.
Riley cringed at her reflection in the mirror. Her mascara was everywhere, her eyes were bloodshot, and her hair looked like a bird’s nest.
She was never drinking again. Never. And she totally meant it this time.
Fumbling through the cabinet, she dug out the Tylenol and swallowed two with the help of the tap water. Staring at her reflection yet again, she frowned. Where had the bruises come from? And wait, had Tao actually marked her neck? Damn, he really must have been wasted.
Knowing that water alone would not get off all that mascara unless she was interested in rubbing her skin until it was raw, Riley plucked a makeup remover wipe from the pack. Cleaning off the mascara, she cursed herself for being such a—
The door hit the wall with a thud that made her jump. Riley whirled around so that the room spun once again, causing her knees to buckle. Tao stood in the doorway, his jeans on but unbuttoned.