Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
He tore his gaze away, but it was worth noting that his cheeks were flushed and his breathing was heavier.
“Well? Are you?” he prompted, his voice now a sexy rasp.
“Whu…?” She couldn’t form the word, but he didn’t seem to notice. He crowded closer, neck bent, head angled downward as he kept that intense focus on her.
“Do you think I should be flattered by the fact that you thought I would fuck you for money?”
Her lips were so tightly clamped between her teeth, they were starting to hurt.
“Because, if that’s what you’re thinking, you’re sorely fucking mistaken. Consider how you would have felt if our positions were reversed.”
Humiliated. Hurt. Outraged. That’s how Beth would’ve felt. She understood where he was coming from. She didn’t think that her mistake had been flattering at all. It had been an insult.
Yes, the misconception had been deliberately fostered by him, but she should have known—had known—that he was being facetious. It was only the constant stream of women coming to his door at all hours these last few months that had made her even think of that stupid, off-color remark he’d made so long ago.
But she didn’t know how to tell him that. She was physically incapable of offering him even a coherent apology right now. Even though she knew that that was exactly what was owed to him.
“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I…I fuh-fuh feel tuh-tuh…”
Oh no, please. Not this. Not now.
“What’s the matter, Lizzy-bit? C-c-c-c-cat g-g-got your t-t-tongue?”
The cruel mimicry of her stutter was familiar and ugly. A throwback to a time when bullies had made her life an unbearable, living hell. It made her stumble out of his grip. And she turned away blindly and staggered to the kitchen sink, hoping to find her composure once there was some distance between them.
Her breathing was loud and ragged as she fought to control herself. It was the only sound in the otherwise silent room.
His horrible, snide, taunting voice had gone silent. His last words hung between them like oppressive, polluted smog choking her with their poison.
She blindly reached for a glass from the drying rack and ran cold water into it. She took a look thirsty gulp. The physical task was a delaying tactic—busywork allowing her time to settle down and gather herself. Her hands were shaking badly, but she had her back to him and hoped he wouldn’t notice.
His continued silence confused her. He had gone quiet after mocking her and it made her curious enough to sneak a peek at him.
He was staring at her, his face unreadable, messy hair flopping forward over his forehead and over one eye.
He shut the fridge door, but didn’t move away from the appliance or make any attempt to bridge the gap between them. Instead he continued to watch her warily, pushing his hair out of his eye with a quick, irritable movement of his hand.
Beth swallowed past the thickness in her throat and exhaled slowly through her pursed lips.
“You…” The word was a whisper, but it was whole and perfect. She made another attempt. “You’re right, of course. It was an insulting assumption. And I apologize. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t react. Not by word, nor by gesture. He remained still as a statue and Beth wasn’t sure what else to say. She fidgeted restlessly with the hem of the tea towel hanging off the dish rack. Should she say more? Explain her misunderstanding?
Maybe that would prompt some kind of reaction from him.
“You just have s-so many women coming and going. It was stupid and insane b-but I thought maybe there was some tuh—” She coughed when she felt the stutter emerging before attempting the word again. “Truth to your words.” Still no reaction from him and she felt herself getting defensive. What more did he want from her? “It’s not like I’ve ever seen you doing anything else that looked like work.”
“Been watching that closely, have you?” He finally spoke and his words were every bit as infuriating as she had come to expect from him.
“N-no…I-I-I…”
Oh come on, man! This was getting ridiculous. She couldn’t remember the last time her words had failed her this badly.
She stared at him in dread, waiting for the humiliation, the hateful taunting, the hurtful mimicry. But he didn’t say anything. Instead he finally moved. Taking a step toward her. She instinctively shifted back, but her butt hit the sink and she knew there was nowhere to retreat to.
He spoke, his voice low and intimate, “I have something to tell you, Beth. This will probably come as news to you. A shock even but…”
He closed the distance between them so quickly, Beth barely had time to react. Before she knew it, his palms were folded over the edge of the apron sink on either side of her hips and his warm body was within a hair’s breadth of hers. He bent himself nearly in half to place his mouth right next her ear and for a long moment, all she felt was his warm breath washing against her skin before he spoke.