Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Thank God I finish blending it just as he comes out. I put on some mascara and avoid eye contact with him. He moves around the space like a bull waiting to be let loose. He demands the room, takes control of it, and I do my best to not get in the way.
I slide my cut-off shorts and an oversized button-up on over a black two-piece swimsuit, slipping on my sandals. When he finally leaves the room, I release a deep breath.
I want nothing more than to dive headfirst off this boat and swim off into the damn horizon so I can escape this world, but instead, I just look in the mirror. My brown eyes are a lighter shade now that my tears have dissipated, and I say out loud, “This is your life. Born into it and will die in it. Only death will set you free, Emelia.”
With that, I spray on some perfume, grab my sunglasses, and head up to the deck. Nico is in a similar shirt to mine, a lightweight button-up, with darker jeans and some white casual shoes. Seeing him dressed down almost makes him seem like an everyday guy, but the second he turns and looks at me, I’m hit with the realization he is anything but a normal man. His black hair, light eyes, and James Dean look hits me, and I realize he is a god among men.
No, more like the devil.
He is untouchable, a walking daydream.
A casually dressed nightmare.
“Let’s go.” He’s sharp in his tone, and I nod. I’m tired of fighting the man, and quite frankly, I don’t dare try after what happened back there. He showed me how he could be when he caught me with Damian—merciful, but the tables turned on me fast, and he showed me that I can easily become a casualty in his wars.
My desire for him? Gone.
The wondering if we could make something of this? Gone.
Any bit of humanity I was starting to see in him and cling to? Gone.
He is once again just my captor. Sex was all we had, and now we won’t have that. I won’t let him touch me anymore. Not when I’m clearly not as safe as I thought I was in his hands.
God, who am I kidding?
I’m no freaking better. He was giving me himself, while I was preparing to betray him. We were both sleeping with the enemy.
I follow him to the boat, and I take the same spot I did when we took it here to the yacht yesterday. Expecting him to do the same, I'm shocked when he sits next to me. Purposefully, I keep my eyes on everything but him. Nico doesn’t talk for a minute or so, but then his hand possessively grabs my thigh. I freeze, and my back stiffens.
Leaning into me, his lips touch my ear.“Don’t try anything stupid, Emelia. I see that look in your eye. You fear me now, and if you try to run, I will find you. Anywhere you fucking go, I will hunt you down and bring you back.”
Swallowing, I nod. This side of him is different. He is eerily controlled, but there is a storm under there, and anyone who can contain that with such finesse and grace—those are the ones to fear. Those are the people who make up nightmares. They are the enemies you never want to have. Today showed me the tip of the iceberg of just how dangerous a man I’m in bed with.
I choose him.
In this moment, I choose Nico.
My father wouldn’t torture me for betraying him. No, he’s too much of a coward to do that. He would be quick.
But Nico? He would be ruthless, and I don’t want to suffer through my death. I want it to be painless and quick, so it’s Nico I choose to be loyal to.
I realize I didn’t respond, and quickly, I nod, keeping my eyes forward and holding back any snide remark that would make him angrier. I’ve now met the devil in his human form, and I never want to strip the flesh and meet the real him.
When my father comes, I will tell him I’m no longer his inside man, and he can do what he needs with that information. But it will not be me who helps him take down Nico.
My husband keeps a tight grip on my thigh and goes back to taking in the sights. He releases a deep breath and says into the open, “What a beautiful day, isn’t it, Emelia?” His smile is cunning and all knowing. He acts as if he isn’t practically paralyzing me with dread.
“Very.”
“We will shop a little, then enjoy some lunch. Then we can relax on the beach,” he states.
I’m not sure what to say, so I go with the easiest thing I think up quickly. “Thank you.”