Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
“No book. I think we’ll find something to do,” Lou said, her eyes sparkling like she enjoyed having a secret.
He could work with that, and now he didn’t have to worry about her parents finding out before she was ready. The last thing he wanted to do was put pressure on her through her family. He gripped her hand. “Just make sure the privacy room stays private.”
Ross nodded. “Sure. You two take a nap or something. It must be weird.”
Yep. He was going to make a whole announcement. Maybe he would have like cards printed or something because the idea that he and Lou were together seemed shocking to his friends and family.
Lou was stifling a laugh as he got her into the room. “No one believes you would actually top me.”
What he heard was no one believes you can top me. He knew what she’d said, but he’d had a fucking day. It had started out shitty, and now he had to realize no one thought he could do this.
He was a joke to most of them. He was the funny fuckup who hadn’t gone to college like his sister, who hadn’t been as deadly as his cousins.
He could handle that from anyone but her.
He shut the door as she laughed.
“It’s kind of funny, if you think about it,” Lou said, still grinning. “They think we’re in here playing board games or something.”
TJ took her wrists in his hands and had her shoved up against the wall before she could take another breath. He loomed over her, hauling her wrists above her head, which made her breasts swell against the corset she wore and brought her on her tiptoes. That was where he wanted her. Slightly uncomfortable and fully aware of him. “Is this a joke to you, Louisa?”
Her eyes had gone wide, mouth open slightly as she tried to find a way to balance herself. “No. It’s just… I thought it was funny that we’re both all freaked out, and the truth is everyone who knows us thinks we’re pretending.”
“Are you pretending?” He was on the edge. He’d managed to keep it pretty together until they’d walked into the dungeon. Or until Lucas had flirted with her. It didn’t matter what had caused the break, he was there, and what she said next would either send him over the edge or calm him down.
“No.” Her chin came up. “No, I’m not pretending. You’re mad that they think we’re pretending. Why?”
“Because not a one of those fuckers out there thinks I’m serious, and I don’t think you do either. But you’ll understand how serious I am about this. I can be the happy-go-lucky guy who watches TV with you and who will haul his ass out to get you whatever you’re hungry for and I’ll be happy to do it. I’ll be every sappy fucking thing you want me to be out of this space. But here it’s going to be different.”
“Different?” Lou asked.
He nodded. “Yes, I told you how this was going to work. I told you I’m a different person here. Or rather I let this side of me out here.”
“I’ve watched you with subs. I know how you top them, and it’s still pretty much TJ.”
“Because they weren’t my sub,” TJ explained. “You’re mine. Unless you want to go downstairs and join the many women who float in and out of my cousin’s bed.”
She huffed. “You can’t think Lucas was serious.”
“I think my cousin is always serious about sex, and if he could get you into bed, he would do it.”
“That’s ridiculous. Lucas is…” Her mouth closed, and that bottom lip was behind her teeth as she seemed to realize she’d stepped on a landmine.
Oh, he thought she should probably finish that thought. “Lucas is?”
Her mouth became a stubborn line. “Lucas is no one I would ever sleep with.”
He didn’t buy that. “That wasn’t what you were going to say, baby. Tell me the truth.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Then we’ll start with a spanking.”
“Fine. Lucas is practically a Greek god. Why would he look at me?” Her jaw went tight, and he could see her stubborn side was making an appearance.
Excellent. He’d had plans to ease her into this, but if she wanted to jump into the deep end, he could do that, too. Luckily he’d planned for a lot of different scenarios, unsure of exactly what would work on her.
Now he would simply give her what she deserved.
He brought her hands down but didn’t let her wrists go. He could hold them both in one hand, controlling her easily since she wasn’t fighting him.
It was odd, but knowing if she decided to fight him she could give him real trouble made him more confident that this could work.
“TJ, you don’t have to be jealous. I don’t know where this is coming from.”