Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
She starts to say something at that last line, and I have to cut her off.
“Not when I can help it.” She looks at me warily and then settles down.
“I wanna be good for you though, Emma. I always have.”
“I don’t know.” She swallows thickly, and I can tell she’s so close to letting it go.
Don’t tell me no, sweetheart. Just give in.
“Come on in with me,” I tell her, taking her small hand in mine. She lets me bring her hand to my lips, and I kiss her knuckles. That gets me a small smile at least. “I just wanna feed you.”
Emma laughs gently, shaking her head and leaning the back of her head against the window but staring at me. “Don’t lie to me, Derek,” she says playfully.
“Me? I’d never lie to you.” My heart stutters in my chest. I’d keep the truth from her. That’s for damn sure. But I’ll never lie to her outright.
“You don’t just wanna feed me,” she says softly, biting her bottom lip.
“Oh yeah,” I say and lean forward, resting my hand on her thigh while still holding her other hand. My thumb rubs soothing circles on her wrist. “And what is it I wanna do to you then?” I ask her. I lean closer to her, daring her to say something. My lips are only an inch away from hers.
“You wanna fuck me,” she says in a breathy voice.
My cock hardens instantly. She’s right about that.
“Well, I wanna feed you first.” She smiles softly and then quickly gives me a peck before opening the door and sliding out, leaving me hard as fuck and wanting more.
CHAPTER 7
Emma
I’ll give him just one chance. It’s only one night. I can handle this.
As I climb out of the car, I pull my coat tighter around me. It’s so cold. He shuts the door behind me, still holding my hand and pulling me close to him.
He wraps his arm around my waist, and I lean into him. I can feel his warmth through my jacket.
I’m so fucked. Nothing he admits will ward me away. I already know it. Even as I asked him if he’d ever killed before, I was already making excuses for him. My heart stopped beating, and my body felt cold. I wanted him to deny it, even though I already knew the truth.
I was ruined the day he took me home five years ago. That day changed me forever. I’ve never stopped wanting him, even knowing the person he truly is.
“So this is your place?” I ask him in a whisper as we walk up the snow-dusted path.
“I only own fifty-one percent, and I don’t really do the work. I’m more of a financial investor,” he answers as he opens the door. I’m instantly hit with a wave of warmth, the faint sounds of chatter surrounding us as the door closes and we’re finally inside.
His restaurant is beautiful. I’ve never been here before, and it’s definitely new. I love carbs and every Italian dish I’ve ever met. I want to ask him how this all happened, when it was built. But I don’t want to question him if it means prying into…the other business. I grip my wristlet and gently clear my throat, taking in the luxurious atmosphere.
The deep mahogany floors and matching trim contrast with the cream-colored walls. Round café style tables fill the center of the room that’s bordered by booths. The tables are all covered with deep red linen tablecloths, with a candle and one white rose in the center of each. Ornate wrought iron chandeliers hang from the exposed beam ceiling.
It looks so much bigger inside than it did from the outside.
He nods at the maître d', who obviously recognizes Derek, and then continues to lead me back, not stopping for a moment. His hand is splayed on my lower back as he walks us to a corner booth in the rear of the restaurant, away from everyone else.
I’m trying to calm down, but it suddenly hits me that this is more intimate, more serious than anything we’ve ever done.
This is a date. Like a real live date. My skin pricks, and anxiety flows through my blood as if just realizing what this is.
A public date. Not a secret. My heart beats a little faster as I peek up at him from the corner of my eye, a violent blush lighting my cheeks on fire.
Derek Wade is…taking me on a first date. My heart flips, and I nervously tuck a bit of hair behind my ear, turning away from him.
“It’s quiet back here,” I say timidly as he slides into the middle of the curved booth, facing the crowd. I sit down at the end of the black leather bench, but he motions for me to sit next to him, not across from him.