Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“I understand that too.” Duck pointed to Monique. “Since she must be by your side, should I have gowns and shoes brought up for her for the dinner? Or will we hide her from our aunts?”
I had no idea what my aunt’s thoughts or actions would be towards Monique’s presence. I just knew that I didn’t want to be away from Monique. It was odd that I was becoming dependent on her.
Surely, it was wrong and unhealthy to attach myself so easily to a stranger. But life was fucked up and I was dealing with each day the best way I could.
“Yes.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Get gowns, shoes, and undergarments. Monique can’t wear the bloodied Cookie Monster top to dinner.”
With the mention of the top, she gazed down at it and shivered.
Her father’s blood is on the fabric. I shouldn’t have brought it up.
“I will get several men to go to the best dress shops in Glory.” Duck bowed. “And I will also see you at dinner.”
The rest of the men and him backed out of the suite.
The door shut.
Then, it was only Monique and me.
Finally.
That comfortable sensation returned, telling me that I could take off my mask and let my core’s pain and rawness spill out.
I stared at the cuffs keeping us connected.
Monique kept her voice low. “I can give you alone time too. I promise my days of jumping off the roof are long past me, Lei. You don’t have to stay handcuffed to me anymore.”
I faced her. “You think I want you away from me?”
“You want to be alone, and you have been trying to get everyone to understand that—”
“Correction. I want everyone gone, but I want you next to me. Just you.”
“Why?”
“You bring me peace.”
“Okay.” She swallowed. “Just let me know when I don’t. I know you are going through a lot.”
“You too.”
“But I don’t have to kill my father.”
A cold shiver ran through me. “Let us talk about something else.”
“Alright.” She lifted her cuffed hand. The metal clicked. “Maybe we can discuss taking these off.”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“The cuffs bring me calm too.”
“Perhaps, you can cuff both of your hands together. It might make you calmer.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“But us handcuffed together, does make sense?”
I tilted my head to the side. “Is it odd for a woman to jack a man off with her feet?”
She widened her eyes. “What?”
“You looked at me weird when I mentioned it in the hallway, so I’m wondering. Is it odd for a woman to jack a man off with her feet?”
“Oh. Well I mean. . .” She shrugged. “Do what you like.”
“But why did you give me the odd look?”
“Your being a virgin shocked me more than the whole feet thing.”
“Why?”
“I get your devotion to Chanel I just never met a man that was so. . .disciplined.”
“Don’t give me too much praise. It wasn’t difficult at all. If I could not have Chanel, then I simply would not have anyone. It’s not a big deal.”
“But. . .sex.” She grinned. “It’s really good.”
I quirked my brows.
“Really, really good.”
My body warmed.
I looked away and cleared my throat. “Do you have to go to the bathroom?”
“Why?” Horror hit her face. “Are you going to come with me?”
“I can have the door open and stand on—”
“Lei, we are taking these handcuffs off when I go to the bathroom. If I ran, you would catch me. You’re fast. There is no need to keep me cuffed to you.”
I gritted my teeth. “It is not that I am scared that you would run.”
“Then, what is it?”
“For some reason. . .” I lowered my voice. “I just don’t want to be away from you.”
She parted her lips.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good, but I will take the cuffs off for you to go to the bathroom.”
“And when I shower and change, will the cuffs be off? Or do you plan on standing in the shower with me, handcuffed and passing me the soap?”
It shouldn’t have, but a possible view of her naked body hit me. I found myself, thinking about that waitress outfit she said she had to wear to work.
It didn’t happen much, but lust twisted in my core.
Monique frowned. “Lei?”
I pushed the sensual images out of my head. “Yes?”
“We are taking the handcuffs off when I shower and change?”
I cleared my throat. “Of course.”
She sighed. “Good.”
Her cellphone rang.
She jumped a little, telling me that there was still some anxiety running through her. I should have known that she was still on edge. She had just been on a hunt to find her father, stumbled into my serial killer one, and then later found her father grotesquely maimed and dead.
Her nerves would be jittery for the rest of the day.
The phone rang again.
I shook my head. “You do not have to answer.”
“I do. It’s probably my sisters wanting to know more about today.” Monique dove into her pocket, pulled out the phone, and checked the screen. “Oh shit.”