Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Tabitha
Gabriel sits on the bed with me between his knees, my back to his front. He holds a tablet in front of me, ready to video conference my mom.
We’re in a stunning penthouse in Paris–another property owned by Gabriel. I’ve been in a lot of luxurious surroundings, thanks to my mother’s obsession with men who have money, but this has amenities I never even knew existed. Unlike the castle in Romania, the decor here is all ultra-modern. It features cool colors, sleek lines, and high-tech conveniences.
The bathtub is made of white quartz streaked with purples and black, and the floor is heated, so when you get out, you never touch cold tile. The towels also are warmed on a towel rack.
The bed appears to float over the floor although it’s an architectural illusion. The wall-to-wall windows look out over the cathedral of Montmartre. A flight of stairs leads to a rooftop patio with natural gas fire tables and torches, so that even now in winter, it’s quite comfortable to lounge on the plush outdoor furniture and sip champagne between rounds of sex.
“Remember the rules, my treasure. Our deal is off if you break them.”
I elbow Gabriel in the ribs. “Don’t be an ass, Gabriel. I already agreed to the rules.” The rules were not to mention where we are nor the location of his castle. Not to try to get any secret messages across to my mother.
I don’t feel the need to. For one thing, I know my mother will be too caught up in her own dramas to even pick up on a secret message if I tried to give her one. But I also feel safe enough with Gabriel. I trust he will honor our agreement. I may be his prisoner, but it’s not permanent. It’s the only way a possessive, old-fashioned dragon knew how to court me. I don’t love it, but I understand.
Besides, I’m starting to really enjoy my time with Gabriel. Right now, my body is languid with the multiple orgasms he gave me when we returned from our shopping spree. That was after he’d spent a solid two hours this morning worshiping my body before we left. But more than that, now that he’s opened up a little and I’ve seen what he hides beneath the slick surface, I feel I can trust him.
I hope so, anyway.
He nibbles on my neck. “Forgive me,” he murmurs against my skin. “I’m afraid of losing you.”
There he goes again. Opening up. I think he realized that showing me how much I matter to him softened me.
He hits call on the tablet, and it rings my mother. He has somehow signed in as me on the iPad, even though I never gave him my login information. It’s still early in the day in the United States. My mom should answer.
“Tabitha!” Her face looms close, then she pulls back as she realizes we’re connected. “How are you, my darling? I’ve missed hearing from you. You know I hate when you go–oh!” She catches sight of Gabriel when he shifts the screen slightly and stops with her mouth agape. “Who is this?”
“This is Gabriel. The man I’m…” Being held prisoner by. Supposedly fated to mate. Having mad, wild orgasms with. “...seeing.”
“You cannot be her mother. Sisters, surely,” Gabriel says, his charm and charisma turned to full blast. Just the sound of that sexy, suave voice makes my thighs snap together to alleviate the ache between my legs.
My mother loves it, of course. “You’re too sweet. I’m Celeste.”
“I see where your daughter gets her beauty.”
My mother flutters her eyelashes and waves her hand. “So, where did you meet? What do you do? You don’t look like the usual Taos resident.”
“You’re right, I’m not from Taos, but Tabitha has persuaded me to spend more time there.”
I shoot a surprised glance at him over my shoulder. He had told me he would go, but the conversation felt more theoretical. He says it now like it’s been decided. We’ll be together, and he’ll spend time in Taos with me.
I’m shocked by how appealing I find the idea. Could it be that I no longer wish to return home alone?
“What do you do, Gabriel?”
It’s always an important question for my mom to ask handsome men.
“A bit of everything,” he answers.
“Gabriel is independently wealthy,” I fill in. “I don’t think he needs to do anything unless he wants to.”
I expect my mother’s instant approval, and she doesn’t disappoint. Her eyes light with interest. “Well then, take good care of my daughter,” she instructs him.
Huh. I expected her to tell me to take good care of him.
“Speaking of which, darling, I have some wonderful news.”
I push away from Gabriel, wanting to give my mom some privacy for her wonderful news, but he catches me around the waist and pulls me back. Of course, he wants to monitor my every word.