Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 158635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 793(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 793(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Cecily’s expression is aimed downward as she types her reply with fast, elegant fingers.
Cecily: Group study. I’ll be late. Please check on Ava @Glyndon King. Put a bucket by her bed and give her a painkiller. Also, wipe her forehead with a cold towel and make sure her alarm is set. You should go to sleep, too, Glyn, it’s late. Didn’t you say you have an important class tomorrow morning?
Glyndon: Yes, Mum! *salute emoji*
Cecily releases a long breath and I lean over, causing it to get caught before being fully expelled.
“So I’m a group study now?”
She slaps her phone to her chest and slowly glances at me like a character from a horror movie. “Is the concept of privacy foreign to you?”
“Possibly.”
She puffs out an exasperated breath. “I have to go back and check on my friends.”
“They’re adults, and unlike what Glyndon said, you’re not their mother.” I round the sofa and sit beside her.
Cecily scoots up and glues herself to the edge, trying and failing to put some distance between us. I can feel the warmth radiating off her and the hot energy that mirrors mine.
“Don’t,” I grind out.
“W-what?”
“Your nervous energy turns me on, so unless you’re up for riding my cock, tone it down.”
Her ears redden again and she rubs the side of her nose. “What makes you think I’m nervous? Maybe I’m disgusted.”
I know this aggressiveness is a reply to how much coercion I put her through, and usually, I don’t rise to provocations. But then again, my system has never been the same since she came into the picture.
I reach a hand out and she flinches, but I’ve already grabbed her hair and slid her across the old leather sofa that creaks underneath her weight.
Cecily’s eyes widen as I glare down at her. “You seem to have a misconception about certain terms. Should I give you a real reason to be disgusted?”
She purses her lips.
“Answer the fucking question, Cecily. Should I?”
“No.”
“That’s right. No. Don’t ask for something you can’t handle.” I release her for the sole reason that touching her, having her shiver against me, is enough to make me want to fuck her.
And I actually don’t want to hurt her when she must be sore.
Cecily clutches her towel so tight that her knuckles whiten, then she rushes back to sit against the other end of the sofa.
The sound of the burning logs fills the living room and mixes with her quickening breaths before she releases a sigh.
“And what am I supposed to do now? Drown in your broody, emotionless company?”
“Here’s what you’re not supposed to do. Sarcasm. Didn’t I tell you to drop it? If I repeat myself again, it won’t be with words.”
Silence, fidgeting, and more silence. Then she abruptly stands up. “I’m going to look for some clothes.”
“You look fine the way you are.”
“I’m sure you’d think that,” she starts to mock, but then clears her throat. “Do you have to rip my clothes?”
“No, but it’s more thrilling when I do.”
“Wow. Okay. That was direct.”
“I’m nothing less than direct.”
A weird expression covers her features, almost like resignation, or understanding.
Or maybe I’m imagining both.
“I can see that,” she says with revering calm. “But you’re not impulsive or reckless, so why did you make us play that game earlier? It’s out of character for you to put your life in danger. You don’t seem suicidal.”
“I’m not.”
“What if one of us died?”
“We wouldn’t have. I removed the bullet before you started.”
Her lips part and she stares at me as if I’m Lucifer himself. “You…you…”
“No rush. Take your time in finding the words.”
“I really thought I was going to die!”
“Which made you more honest. Aren’t you glad I was creative to find a way to make you open up?”
“Screw you,” she mutters, then trudges to the stairs and disappears at the top.
She must’ve taken a discovery tour around here the last time. I’m not worried that she’ll escape since the balconies and windows are high.
I remove my jacket, throw it on a nearby chair, and text back and forth with Ilya about security details.
Preferably, this should’ve been done in person, and I should’ve also plotted to inflict more damage on the Serpents. But the thought of leaving this place to do all of those chores holds no appeal.
No, not this place. Someone in this place.
“Why…do you have these?”
I lift my head from my phone to stare at Cecily. She’s wearing a pair of jeans and a black tee that molds against her tits.
The items in question are a few mangas she probably found on the nightstand. Even as she holds them, her hands aren’t completely steady.
I raise a brow. “Don’t you love reading about boys' love? I did some research and that’s apparently a thing a lot of women do. Reading and watching gay men material.”
Her face turns a deep shade of crimson. “So what? We’re not hurting anyone by cheering on gay men to get together. I won’t allow you to shame me.”