Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
The tension from being overwhelmed is knotted in my neck. I roll my head on my shoulders, but it does nothing to release the pressure. Suddenly, a warm, heavy hand begins to massage my neck.
I turn to find Clayton’s eyes on me. The level of heat I find in his gray eyes is enough to sear me. Yet, I sag into his touch as if it’s natural for me. I don’t even want to ask myself why that is.
I turn away from him, feeling silly for blushing. I hope he didn’t just notice the change to my cocoa-brown skin. I shift in my seat a bit as places other than the one his hand is connected to start to tingle.
The SUV stops, pulling my attention outside the window. We’ve stopped in front of a downtown luxury apartment building, not my uptown apartment. I turn back to Clayton.
“This isn’t my home. You told me you would be taking me home,” I say tiredly.
I just want to crawl into my bed. It has been a long and emotional night. I never want to see another pair of cuffs in my life.
I need answers. Tonight was only the beginning of round two. I need to find out what’s really going on and why this keeps happening to me. Who has it out for me?
Clayton says he can help. Well, I plan to find out how, but I plan to do so tomorrow. Tonight, I need sleep.
“Yes, I did, and I have. Our New York home,” Clayton says, with that wolfish smile of his.
“Wait, what?” I shake my head slowly.
He removes his distracting hand from my neck and tips my chin up with his fingertips. “I told you to read the contract, Sidney. If you would’ve read the contract in its entirety, you would have read that you’ll be living with me,” he replies, placing a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.
“Excuse me?” I breathe.
“Oh, this is priceless,” Chloe huffs from the back seat, where she demanded to sit when we entered the SUV. “I’m guessing I signed up for the same crap.”
Clayton chuckles and moves to get out of the car. Not answering me or Chloe. I look back at her, but she rolls her eyes and turns away from me.
We need to talk. I need to know what’s going on with her. My head’s pounding with the overload that it’s on. Chloe starts to climb out of the car after Clayton. I sit for a moment, trying to find my bearings.
I wish I could rewind this evening or at least not go into it blindly. Resigning myself with the fact that at this point, I can’t go back, only forward, I blow out a breath and slide to get out of the SUV. Clayton holds out his hand for me to take.
I wrap my fingers around his and regret it instantly. A charge zips through me. I shiver as I get to my feet outside the car. Without a thought, Clayton shrugs out of his suit jacket and wraps it around my shoulders.
As if the jacket isn’t enough, he wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me into his side. His body is so warm, his heat is still inside of his jacket, and I can feel the heat coming off his body as it penetrates the garment.
My lids grow heavy just from being wrapped in his blanket of warmth. We all move into the lobby of the building quickly. The doorman greets Clayton by name and has a big smile for Chloe and me.
“George, this is my fiancée, Sidney, and this is my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Chloe,” Clayton introduces.
“Yes, Sir, I was so pleased for you and your brother when I read the sheets this evening. I have your keys ready for you right here,” he replies, handing over two key cards to Clayton.
“Thank you,” Clayton nods.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ladies.” George nods his head to us both. “If you need anything, I’m here most evenings. The other boys are just as helpful.”
“Thank you,” Chloe and I say in unison.
Clayton ends the conversation by tugging me toward the elevators, Chloe following silently behind. When we get into the elevator, I turn to Chloe to see she’s scowling at Clayton. I look to Clayton to find an amused look on his face.
“You don’t like the way I introduced you?” He tilts his head.
“I don’t know you, Clayton. So, I will save the words I have to say for your brother,” Chloe clips.
“Well, you will need this.” He holds out one of the key cards. “We live on the same floor. You can access all three levels from this elevator, but you will need that card. The main entrance is on the top floor. It’s the one we prefer to use.”