Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Please,” I plead, my voice barely a whisper. “You can’t be the hero in this story.”
“Tell me.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
I push back, forcing him to release me, then I reach down for my keys, climb into the car and slam the door. With trembling fingers, I take off, not once looking back. I can’t bear to face him; I can’t look into his eyes when I know he can see right through me. No, I need to create distance, because if I don’t, he’s going to figure me out, and if that happens ...
My life wouldn’t be worth living.
I SHOULDN’T BE HERE, I know I shouldn’t, but I still put on the dress and came. Part of it is because I want to support their cause and Hope begged me to come, but the other part is because I will take any chance of freedom I’m given. Ethan is away, and it’s the only time that I can truly be myself for a few days. The moment he returns, the glass slipper disappears and I’m back to the broken, run-down Cinderella.
Tonight, though, oh, I get to be the princess.
I picked a gold dress, one I have had in my closet for some time, but it’s perfect for the occasion. Tightly hugging my body, it hangs low at the front in an exquisite dip that shows just enough cleavage for it to be sexy but not overly revealing. The material hugs every curve right down to my knees, where it slowly fans out and trails behind me on the floor. The material has sequence, making it shimmer under the lights.
I paired it with a dainty pair of white heels and decided I’d leave my hair down, curling the long locks and letting them fall over my shoulders. A soft, semi-see-through white coat drapes over my shoulders and halfway down my arms, to hide the bruises, but it only adds to the style. I look as though I’ve come right off the Titanic. I pray I’ve done my makeup justice, considering it has been a long time since I’ve dressed up like this.
Walking into the large hall that the club hired down the road from them, I stare in awe at the beautiful decorations that have been so elegantly placed. White ribbon and fairy lights drape off the ceiling, and flickers of light line the beautiful wooden dance floor. Tables and chairs are beautifully decorated with white cloths and red flowers off to the sides and a huge buffet has been set up along the back.
Walking toward the crowd of people, I don’t see him at first. Mostly because the man standing in a suit is so far from the man in leather that it takes me a moment to realize they’re one and the same. Coming to a stop, the air in my lungs whooshes out as everything in my body stops. My eyes rake over the man striding toward me, and I’ve forgotten how to breathe. I’ve forgotten how to think, how to feel, how to do anything.
My knees tremble, and my palms grow sweaty as I take him in.
Absolutely breathtaking.
He looks like a prince, with an edge of danger, that has everything inside me melting. It takes all my strength not to place a hand over my heart as he nears, because I’m terrified it might just stop. I’ve never felt this way looking at a man before, but something about him has my soul roaring to life. I don’t know if it’s the way that suit hugs his body, fitting perfectly against his narrow waist, or if it’s the navy-blue tie. Maybe it’s his hair, loose around his shoulders, or perhaps it’s the way his eyes dance beneath the flickering lights.
It could be one, or it could be all, but he is the most incredible man I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on, and he’s looking me in a way that I’ve never been looked at before. Like he’s hungry, prowling toward me with one purpose, and that is to scoop me into his arms and take me away. I’m certain it’s my mind playing tricks on me, but I allow myself to live in the fantasy for a millisecond longer.
Stopping in front of me, his eyes slowly move down my body before coming back up to meet mine. “Took my breath away just now, golden eyes. Didn’t think it was possible.”
My cheeks heat. “Ditto.”
His mouth twitches. “Save me a dance.”
With that, he walks off.
I let the breath out I was holding and stare down at my shaking fingers.
What is this man doing to me?
Whatever it is, I need to cut it off, and I need to do it now. It’s dangerous, and if Ethan ever found out, he would kill me. I don’t doubt that for a single second. I’m playing a deadly game, and though I know I should stop, the idea of Fury swaying with me on the dance floor is enough to make me wonder if I can just take one night for myself. One dance won’t hurt, surely?