Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
He hasn’t said anything about it, though. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he paces the kitchen floor waiting for me every morning.
I put on a pair of denim shorts and a white top that ties in the front. The shorts are a bit shorter than those I normally wear, but the boutique didn’t have anything longer. I haven’t been keeping up with the latest styles, which I suppose Sarah found rather amusing.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifts through the first floor and hits my senses as I descend the stairs. Someone is milling around in the kitchen and feel myself getting excited about the idea of seeing Chris, but when I turn the corner, I see one of his henchmen helping himself to a cup of coffee. Chris is nowhere to be seen.
“Good morning,” the man says. He openly stares at my legs and licks his lips.
“Morning.” I turn to leave, suddenly feeling more than uncomfortable. I’ve been alone with Chris so many times, but I’ve never felt unsafe with him. Not like right now.
“Don’t be shy, little darling. Come on and get yourself some coffee. Here, I’ll even pour it for you.” He pours a second cup and holds it out to me. I reach for it and he wraps his hand over mine. The only reason I don’t pull my hand back is because I’m scared of spilling hot coffee on myself. “I said don’t be shy. What’s your name, pretty girl?”
“Get out.” Chris’ voice is low and menacing behind me.
The man turns white as a ghost and retracts his hand.
“S-sorry, boss. I was just saying good morning.”
Chris rests his hand on my shoulder and gently pushes me to the side. The man is near his height so they’re eye to eye when Chris fists his collar and lifts him off the ground. “No one comes anywhere near her except me. Who the fuck do you think you are chatting with her and touching her like she’s not my guest?”
“I got it, boss. I-I didn’t know,” the man stutters.
“Get out.” He doesn’t wait for Christ to repeat that order. The man shuffles toward the back door, not even looking back.
Chris straightens his back and turns his attention to me. “Don’t speak to them. If they speak to you, you come and tell me and I’ll handle it.”
“I tried to leave but…”
“But what? He forced you to take that cup from him?”
“I was trying to be polite.”
“Don’t. These aren’t polite men. These are dangerous criminals with even more dangerous appetites. You don’t owe them anything. I’ll let them know this house is off-limits to them.”
“I’m sorry.”
“If you do it again, I might need to punish you.”
“Are you mad at me?”
He advances toward me and doesn’t stop. Thinking he might walk right through me, I back myself up against the counter. With a hand on either side of me, he pins me in place and stares down at me. He’s so close I feel the heat coming off his body, and a different sort of heat builds in mine.
“While you’re here with me, it’s my job to keep you safe. This is why you need to do as you’re told. I’m not angry with you but I will be if you don’t do as I say.”
“Alright. I just don’t want you to be mad.”
He reaches down and tucks my hair behind my ear before he grazes my jaw with his finger. With his eyes on my mouth, my breath quickens, especially when he runs his thumb down the column of my throat.
“You don’t understand what you do to men, do you?”
“Me? What?”
“When a man looks at you, the first thing he does is undress you in his mind. He imagines every inch of your hot, naked body. Then he starts thinking about all of the things he’ll do to you. If you let a man do that for long enough, he’s bound to try to bring those fantasies to life.”
My heartbeat pounds between my ears as I try to catch my breath. No one has ever spoken to me like this before and I don’t know how I’m supposed to react. He’s not looking me in the eyes anymore. His gaze is focused on the open top two buttons of my blouse. I summon the courage to speak and ask the one question that’s burning inside me. “Do you do that when you look at me?”
He lowers his mouth next to my ear and whispers hoarsely, “You have no idea.”
My legs go weak beneath me and my head begins to spin. I don’t hear anything else except our ragged breathing and my pounding heart.
He rests his forehead on mine, our mouths just inches apart. He’s going to kiss me. Please, let him kiss me.
Desire is probably written all over my face because he lifts my chin and claims my mouth. Finally. The kiss starts slow and unhurried, but when I clutch his shoulders and stand on my toes, everything explodes.