Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Uh huh...” She pushed herself up, clutching the covers to her breasts as she did.
Before he realized what he was doing, he had already tugged the covers off her body. Another second, and he had her flat on her back, caged between his arms while he loomed over her. “Don’t cover yourself when you’re with me.” The possessive note in his voice felt strange and right at the same time, as if it only came natural where she was concerned.
“Why?” Daria had wanted the word to come out tough. She wasn’t an idiot. She had taken one look at her Greek lover’s face and knew he had been planning to dump her. However, the word rolled past her lips like a breathless taunt, which she regretted – until she saw that it had made heat flare in Nik’s gaze.
Oh.
Well, in that case, she would just speak like she was always lacking in oxygen. An idea occurred to her. If this little could affect him, then what if—-
She impulsively tested her idea, wriggling under him, causing her naked breasts to shake.
Nik’s breath hissed out.
Oh!
The way her eyes gleamed with wicked satisfaction made Nik shake his head. “Vixen.” In response, she pouted and shook her breasts some more, causing Nik to swallow back a groan.
With his eyes still glued to her breasts, he heard her say, “You were leaving me. Did you really think I wouldn’t do anything to stop you?”
The last words managed to make him lift his gaze to her face, and he cursed under his breath when he saw that even though she sounded as provocative as ever, it was still mostly an act. There was uncertainty in her eyes, and the knowledge that he was the reason for it didn’t please him at all.
“I don’t do this,” he bit out.
“I don’t do this either,” she protested.
He gazed at her then, and even though she was dying to say something – anything, really, because this kind of silence chafed at her – Daria managed to stay silent and wait with bated breath. Nothing had hurt more than seeing Nik fully dressed and ready to leave her, but she had her pride, too. He might be God’s personally delivered gift to her, but she would not beg for him to stay.
When Nik finally spoke, his voice was harsh. “If we do this, it must be on my terms. My rules.” Even as he spoke, a part of Nik was disbelieving, unable to credit him for going this far and breaking so many of his self-imposed rules just to allow Daria into his life.
Daria swallowed. “What kind of rules?” Please make them about BDSM, since that would be so cool—-
Then she caught him frowning in exasperation. “You were thinking out loud.”
She turned red. “Sorry.”
“And it’s not about that.” His jaw clenched. “Rule number one for me is that I don’t share.”
Oh.
She smiled tentatively at him. “I don’t like sharing either.”
“I must be in full control of this thing we have between us.”
This thing between them, she repeated to herself. Wouldn’t it be easier to just call it, well, a relationship? She thought of telling Nik so but again decided against it at the grim look on his face. Instead, she said obediently, “You’re in control.”
His gaze turned skeptical, as if doubting her capability to be completely obedient. “You will be in control. I mean it. I’ll make the perfect Sub, I mean—-”
But he had already caught on, and Nik was torn between amusement and exasperation. “What is it with you and BDSM?”
Instead of answering, she said breezily, “Next rule, please.” She was barely done speaking when Nik cupped her chin and made her look into his eyes. Her smile faded at the intense look in his gaze, and she knew that whatever he was about to say, this was truly the rule that mattered.
“I don’t like liars.”
Ah.
“I’m not a liar.” Mostly. There was the thing about the Gatorade bottle, which she hadn’t yet told him about, but surely that didn’t count?”
“I mean it, Daria,” he warned. “There are no second chances with me for people who lie.” His gaze bored into hers. “So if there is something you want to confess now...”
She seriously tried to think of something to confess, just to be on the safe side. “I honestly think I’m pretty? Is that bad?”
His lips twitched, but he managed to keep his voice solemn as he answered, “No.”
She sighed in relief. “Then that’s the only thing I need to tell you about.”
“Are you sure? There are no other skeletons you believe I should know about?”
She thought about her mother. “Umm, no.” And there goes Lie #1.
When she didn’t say anything else, he decided it was up to him to ask what he cared most about. “I told you I don’t like sharing. I want to own you while you’re with me – your mind, your body, your soul. And that means...” His face hardened. “I don’t want even the memory of past lovers lingering while you’re with me.” Releasing her chin, he moved his hand down, stroking her neck before settling to cup her breast, his large palm more than enough to cover the entire globe.