Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
The moment he reaches for the zipper of his pants, Miss Blakely’s features tighten with fear.
“Fuck,” I snap as I swing around and make a run for the room they’re in.
I slam the door open and order, “Get him out of here!”
My eyes lock on Miss Blakely, whose breaths are rushing over her parted lips, her eyes wide with terror.
Jesus fucking Christ. She’s having a panic attack.
Crouching in front of her, I keep my tone as gentle as possible as I say, “You’re safe, Miss Blakely.”
Seeing how pale she is stirs something in my chest, and the urge to hold her almost overwhelms me.
Don’t touch her. It’s the only request she has.
Fuck.
“You’re safe,” I repeat. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The promise falls over my lips before I can even think about it.
I watch as she fights to regain control over her emotions, and it makes me respect her so much more.
Christ, she’s strong.
Seeing the woman who’s given me attitude at the office in such a vulnerable state makes another wave of protectiveness wash through me.
Samantha
My breaths keep bursting over my lips as my eyes lock with the staff member’s worried brown ones.
There’s something familiar about the man, and when I manage to calm down a little, it sinks in that Kevin is no longer in the room.
“Take your time,” the masked man murmurs, his tone still soft. “Just know that you’re safe.”
I nod as I glance around the room before looking at the man crouching in front of me.
He made himself smaller so he wouldn’t come across as a threat.
The thought has me calming down some more until I’m able to force a trembling smile to my face. “Thank you.”
His dark brown gaze is locked on me as he asks, “Do you feel better?”
Weirdly, I do. There’s just something about the man that makes me feel safe.
Nodding, I whisper, “Yes. Thank you.”
He shakes his head. “No thanks needed. I apologize for what happened with Mr. Forester.”
I nod again before taking a much-needed deep breath.
Rising to his feet, he moves to the bed, where he takes a seat on the edge. “You still have thirty minutes left. I’ll sit with you if that’s okay?”
I nod again, and then the realization sinks in that I didn’t completely lose my shit. There was a hiccup, but I think I can do this as long as the man doesn’t try anything.
Knowing he’s a staff member of Paradiso helps set me at ease, and slowly, the chaotic emotions in my chest fade away until I’m just nervous.
Instead of undressing me with his eyes, like Kevin did, the man just stares at the wall.
He’s bigger than Kevin, and when my gaze moves over his muscled frame, I wonder if he’s the same man I saw the other night.
“Am I allowed to know your name?” I ask, my tone still tense from the little panic attack I had.
He shakes his head. “Unfortunately not.”
Nodding, I ask, “Is it to protect your identity?”
“Yes.” His eyes settle on me, and once again, I’m struck with the weird sensation that I’ve met him before.
His tone is still soft when he asks, “Do you feel better?”
“Yeah. I just didn’t expect…” My hand nervously gestures between me and the bed, “…ah…that to happen.”
“Again, I apologize.”
I nod and glance down at my lap.
Silence fills the air, but this time, it isn’t uncomfortable.
I close my eyes and focus on filling my lungs with deep breaths of air.
This is better.
Maybe it’s because I know he’s an employee of the club and not a member who’s looking to get laid.
“You’re doing very well,” he praises me.
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Only twenty minutes left.”
Curious to hear his answer, I ask, “Don’t you think I’m weird for requesting to sit in a room with a man for an hour and do nothing?”
“From what I witnessed tonight, I think you’re brave.”
His reply has my eyes snapping open and locking on him. “You think I’m brave?”
Still staring at the wall, he nods.
I don’t know a single thing about this man, but his words mean a lot to me.
Feeling a hell of a lot more comfortable with the employee than I’ve felt with any man since I fled Houston, I continue to stare at him.
“Do you like working here?” I ask.
He shrugs, and his tone is still gentle when he answers, “It pays well.”
“You won’t get in trouble for sitting with me, right?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
My teeth tug at my bottom lip, and I wonder if I’m allowed to request to meet with him whenever I come to the club.
It won’t hurt to ask.
“Next time I make an appointment, can I request that you join me?”
He stops looking at the wall, and when his eyes rest on me, I feel a little awkward.
“As long as you don’t request anything sex-related.”