Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
The closer he gets, the harder it becomes to breathe. His gaze stays fixated on mine, and I find myself trapped within his green depths.
Drowning helplessly in them.
Is there a more frightening feeling than being rendered completely incapable of saving yourself from certain death?
That’s exactly the way it is with Austin.
Every time we’re together.
“Ready for lunch?”
The haze clouding my brain gradually clears. “In the caf?”
It’s the last place I want to go.
All those people…
They’re still buzzing about what happened this morning. Austin and Jasper together in the same space will only add to it.
“Where else would we go?” There’s a pause before his voice dips. “How else can I rub you in Jasper’s face if we’re not sitting across from him?”
The deep scrape of his words is enough to turn my blood cold. Nerves burst to life inside me. “Can’t we go somewhere else?”
I’m tired of pretending that I don’t hear the whispered comments or see the sly glances aimed in our direction. It’s exhausting. All I want to do is hide and regroup.
When he remains silent, unmoved, I force myself to whisper, “Please.”
Austin is so intent on pushing Jasper over the edge. After the confrontation this morning, it wouldn’t take much. I’m afraid his plan will backfire, and Austin will be the one to bear the brunt of the punishment.
Which will mean expulsion.
I know how it works around here. The cards are neatly stacked against him. They have been from the very beginning. Contrary to what Jasper and his father proclaimed at the fundraising event, we are not one big happy family.
These people want the Hawthornes gone. And they’ll seize upon the smallest infractions and flimsiest of excuses to accomplish their agenda.
His eyes darken as he reaches out and drags a finger across my lower lip. Back and forth he strums. “You know how much I love that word when it falls from your lips.”
Arousal curls like a whisp of smoke in the pit of my belly.
“Can you offer something even more tempting than parading you around in front of your ex? If so, I’m all ears.”
Nerves detonate in my core as my mouth turns cottony. “What is it that you want?”
The smile that lifts his lips moves at a glacial pace. “Oh, I think you can guess.”
The ravenous look in his eyes is all the answer I need. Even if it weren’t written across his expression so clearly, I’d still know. He’s been nothing but upfront about what he wants and why.
It’s what pricks at me the most.
It’s also a stark reminder that this is nothing more than revenge.
A way to make me pay.
It doesn’t mean anything.
More importantly, I don’t mean anything.
When he steps closer, I lift my chin to hold his penetrating gaze.
“Just know that I’m hungry and need to eat. It can be you or lunch. The choice is yours.”
My breath catches at his blunt words and my mind tumbles back to yesterday and what it felt like to have him between my thighs. That’s all it takes for liquid heat to flood my panties.
He strokes a finger over my lip again. “What’s your decision?”
It takes effort to shake off the thick fog as it slyly wraps around me. This is exactly what Austin’s dominating presence does. It wouldn’t take much to forget my own name.
One look, one touch and I’m putty in his large hands.
“Ms. Pettijohn’s room? It’ll be empty at this time of the day. She always eats in the teacher’s lounge.”
He lifts a brow. “You sure about that? I don’t want to be interrupted when I’m dining on you.”
My belly plummets as that mental image flashes unwantedly through my brain.
“Yes,” I squeak.
His eyes glint as a smile simmers across his lips. “Then by all means, lead the way.”
It only takes a few minutes to weave through the hallway and find her classroom. My fingers tighten around the knob before turning it. When the door opens easily, I peek my head inside and find the room empty.
I jolt when his hands slide around me and he growls near my ear, “Better hurry up, sweet girl. I’m famished.” He cups my breasts through the fabric, palming the softness.
Even though it’s tempting to close my eyes and enjoy his touch, I slip from his embrace before backing into the sun-filled space. He follows me in, closing the door quietly behind him.
My eyes widen when he clicks the lock. “What if she returns before the end of lunch?”
“If we leave it open, my guess is that she’ll catch quite the eyeful.” He jerks a thumb toward the narrow window that allows people in the hallway to glimpse inside the room. “We’ll need to sit in the corner where she—or anyone else walking by—can’t see us. How embarrassing would it be to get caught having your pussy eaten?”
I gulp.