Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“I can see why you wanted to keep Sol’s filthy paws off this one,” the man with the familiar voice declares. Michael. The other sick bastard in the room watching while Solomon defiled the girl. “You’re a delectable little treat, aren’t you?”
He laughs at his own joke, sauntering past, going farther down the hallway. I shoot Caius a disgusted look and he gives me an imperceptible shake of his head, features annoyingly placid. Right. We’re pretending. No going off on monsters for behaving like monsters.
We follow Michael until we enter an opulent dining space. A single, twenty-foot table runs lengthwise in the middle of the room set with fine china, linens, and freshly cut red roses in crystal vases. No one’s seated yet. There are a handful of people already here, but I don’t recognize any of them. At first glance, they’re sophisticated and normal. But if they’re on this boat, I know there’s something horribly wrong with them.
Several pairs of eyes find their way over to us. Any belonging to the males all find great interest in my sparkly necklace squished between my boobs. I nearly shudder in disgust.
“Everyone’s noticing how beautiful you look, love,” Caius says lowly, stopping abruptly. “Come here and let me make a statement.”
I gasp as he pulls me to his chest, one hand delicately cradling the side of my neck while the other is aggressively palming my ass over the thin material of my dress. I’m shocked to feel his cock between us, thick and aroused. My cheeks heat as I gape up at him. His hand on my neck slides up and he gently runs his thumb along the sore bruise Gareth gave me hidden beneath my makeup. Then, without warning and in front of everyone, Caius crashes his lips to mine.
This kiss—wild, hot, and claiming—does wonders in convincing everyone, including myself, that we’re a couple.
I’m his.
And no one better doubt that for a second.
Romy
I’m dazed by the time the kiss ends.
Caius is great at playing pretend. He had me half convinced there for a second that he truly loves me. Of course he doesn’t, but I was momentarily swept off my feet.
Now that reality bleeds back in around me, my flesh heats with embarrassment. I snap my parted lips shut, unable to meet Caius’s intense stare. He makes a chuffing sound.
Was that a laugh?
Before I can investigate further, I hear several voices excitedly yapping. I whirl around to see Ava sashaying our way. Despite the sexy smile on her pouty lips, I recognize a gleam of hunger in her green-eyed stare.
She wants Caius desperately, and clearly, I’m standing in her way.
With every step, her jiggly breasts threaten to spill from her tight, low-cut green sequin dress. Where my boobs are a tease, hers are the star of the show. In fact, I’m pretty sure I see a hint of nipple peeking out.
She doesn’t register my gawking because she’s too busy prowling toward Caius. Based on the photographs I found online, I’m assuming she’s at least thirty years Caius’s senior. However, because of magic or plastic surgery or really good genes, she looks closer to his age than his father’s.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Ava croons, eyes boring into Caius. “I heard you and Sol had a pleasurable meeting earlier.” She playfully winks at him. “I’m sad I missed it.”
As if finally realizing I’m standing beside him, her eyes cut over to me. She dips her gaze to my necklace and barely contains a sneer. Caius drapes an arm over my shoulders and kisses the top of my head.
“I endured,” Caius says plainly. “Playtime’s a lot more fun with this one.”
Ava flinches as if his words hurt her. As though she can’t understand why Caius would prefer an adult woman over one of her girls.
“I see,” she says sweetly, grimacing slightly. “Well, now that I know your type, prepare to be teased with something in the future you’ll have a harder time coldly dismissing.”
This woman is something else.
“I think he’ll be too busy for games,” I blurt out, unable to stop myself. I rub my stomach and then gaze up at Caius under my mascara-painted lashes as though he’s my entire world. “Right, love?”
He wants to lie and pretend I’m pregnant to keep Solomon off me? I can do the same to keep Ava off him.
“You do keep my hands full,” Caius rumbles, eyeing my lips like he wants to eat them. “Gareth says you’ve put me under your spell.”
I know it’s all for show, but I can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Gareth essentially told me the same thing by his cabin.
Taking hold of his tie, I tug him to my mouth. “When do we eat? The baby’s hungry.”
Caius kisses my lips because they’re right there. The tongue action was probably unnecessary but not unwanted. By the time he peels away from me, Ava has walked off. Caius smirks at me and we share a knowing look. I hate that it shoots a thrill through me.