Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Then I’m crazy, because I don’t have a choice.”
“Life is all about choices, baby. You can choose to tell me.”
“You’re right. I could ignore Liam’s threat…and then I’ll lose everything important to me. I’ll lose you.”
“Novalee,” he warns, pinning me with an insistent gaze. “We can’t have secrets between us.”
“Well, I can’t tell you this, no matter how much I want to, so please stop pushing.”
With a frustrated growl, he pivots, both hands raking through his hair. “I can’t believe this. He’s always going to be in the way, isn’t he? Just because he put his fucking hands on you first. He’s never going to go the fuck away.”
I reach out to touch him, but at the last second, I yank my hand back. The ground beneath my feet is fragile as it is, and his rejection would only punch a hole through it.
“I’m sorry.” Biting my lip, I fold my arms around myself. “It’s just…I’d do anything to be with you.”
With a sigh, he lowers his head before turning to face me again. “Jesus, Novalee. You’re my home. Don’t you know that? Don’t you know how miserable I am without you? All I can fucking think about is you—worrying about you, craving you, loving you. It’s gutting me, and I just can’t…” As his face blanches, he makes his way to a chair and sinks into it, looking spent.
“What are you saying?”
Lowering his face into his hands, all he can do is shake his head. Panic grips me, and I press a fist over my thudding heartbeat, but the reality of his dead silence twists around my vocal cords, making it impossible to speak above a hoarse whisper.
“What are you saying?” I repeat.
“I don’t know.”
Focusing on his blond head while he’s bent over, avoiding the sight of me, I swallow hard. “Do you want me to…to leave?”
“I want you to confide in me.” He glances up, his blue eyes tortured. “I want you to trust me.”
“I do trust you,” I choke out, my red-rimmed eyes threatening to erupt again.
As if he senses my weak grip on composure, the severe line between his brows relaxes. So does his tone. “Then just tell me what he wants from you, baby.”
“Not telling you is part of his condition.”
“C’mere.” He beckons me to him with the crook of his finger, and my feet carry me to the only place I want to be. He yanks me astride his lap, his hands sliding under my dress to grip my bare ass.
My breath catches.
His pupils dilate.
And yet, the sizzle between us does nothing to soften his anger. If anything, his determination to drag Liam’s blackmail from me hardens every part of him.
Especially his cock.
“I’m fucked in the head enough to punish you.”
“You’ve threatened to punish me before,” I point out.
“That sounds like a challenge. You don’t think I can follow through this time?”
“Is that really how you want to spend our last morning together?”
“Ford and Tatum gave us the day, so we have plenty of time.”
Regardless of his threat, hopeful excitement storms through my veins. “How much time?”
He quirks a brow. “I know what you’re doing, but it won’t work.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re trying to distract me from…certain agendas.”
“I’m not—”
He presses a finger against my lips. “To answer your question, we have to be back by dinner.”
“Oh.” I nibble on his finger for a moment, drawing his heated gaze to my mouth. “You’re right. That’s…plenty of time.”
“Yeah…” And just like that, he is distracted, his cock nudging my slit through his pants.
I resist the urge to rub against him. “A lot can happen between now and then.”
“Like you distracting your way out of trouble?”
“I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Liar,” he growls before stealing my lips in a hard, much-too-brief kiss. Refusing to let me devour his mouth, he rises to his feet and sets me on my own, the move happening so fast my head spins.
“What are you doing?” I whirl as he takes off toward the kitchen.
“Making us breakfast.”
“But…” I hurry after him, my mouth falling open. “Why?”
“Because I’m hungry?” From over his shoulder, he flashes a knowing grin. “You must be, too.”
“I’m hungry,” I say, a frustrated growl rumbling in my throat, “for you.”
He pulls a carton of eggs from the refrigerator. “Until you spill the chancellor’s bullshit, you’re not getting me.”
“So this is your idea of punishing me?”
“Yep.”
Leaning against the center island, I watch him set the eggs on the counter. “You know, Liam also denied me in the name of punishment.” I shoot a glare at his back. “You should try something original next time.”
He turns around, nostrils flaring. “You don’t want to push me right now, princess. Not so long as you’re keeping secrets.”
“You know that’s not what I’m doing.”
“What you’re doing is distracting the shit out of me.” He nods toward the bedroom. “You should get ready for the day while I finish breakfast.” His tone makes it clear it’s not a suggestion. I let out a frustrated huff and stomp out of the kitchen.