Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
I bite back a retort and rub the creases between my brow. The last few days before I shipped out, all we did was argue. She didn’t understand that I wanted to provide for her, that I needed to be able to put food on her table, buy her pretty things, or I wouldn’t be able to allow myself to love her.
“Vasey, I don’t want to argue with you. Tell me what you need and I’ll fix it for you.” I’ll get her list of wants later.
She adjusts her purse strap, appearing to think on it, and then says, “Nothing. I was foolish to come here. Goodbye, West. I’d say it was good to see you again, but it’s not really.”
I slam my hand against the door so she can’t open it. “I’m not letting you leave, Vasey. You sought me out for a reason even though you despise me for abandoning you. Get some of your lick back by making me do something for you.”
“Or what? You’ll lock me in this office?”
“Yeah, if I have to.”
“You can’t do that.” Her eyes spark with fire. My cock hardens instantly. It’s always been like this between us. Instant attraction.
“Don’t test me.”
“Are you actually getting turned on?” She pushes me.
“Yes. Why are you surprised? I sported a woodie a good 95.5 percent of the time I was near you and the other 4.5 percent of the time was because I was passed out.”
“I don’t care.”
“Your body says something totally different.” Her nipples are poking through her shirt. I drop my hand to cup one of them.
She hisses when I pass my thumb over the pert tip. “See,” I whisper hoarsely. “Nothing’s changed between us, sweetness. Tell me what you need from me. I’ll take care of it. I’ll take care of you.”
I bend down to kiss her, to take her tender mouth with mine, but she ducks out from under my arm and out of my grasp. I bang my head against the door once before twisting around to see her take her phone out of her purse.
“Is it Ware you’re calling or the police?” I’m hoping it's the police because if she runs to Ware when she feels in danger, then we’re going to have problems.
“A cab. I need to go pick Jasmine up. What would Ware do?” She scowls.
It’s the first positive sign she’s given me. I adjust myself and back away from the door. “Come on. I’ll drive you.”
“No. Jasmine won’t get into a car with a stranger.”
“You can introduce us, and then we won’t be strangers anymore.”
“We’re strangers because you made it that way, and that’s how it’s going to continue to be. Leave me alone, West. It shouldn’t be hard. It’s what you’ve done for the last ten years. You have a lot of practice.”
Chapter Seven
VASEY
Coming here was a mistake. My desperation has put me back in West’s hands, but it’s not how I ever pictured it. His hand holds my wrist tightly, not letting me go. I knew I wasn’t going to win the battle of calling a cab.
I should've known better. It’s the reason he now has me by the wrist, leading me out of his office. The headmaster lady watches us walk by over the brim of her glasses. She still has that annoyed expression on her face. I know it’s pointless to even try to break free.
“Mr. Evers.” She tries to snag his attention.
“Handle it.” West doesn’t spare her a glance. One of his fingers drifts back and forth, stroking the inside of my wrist. My thoughts and emotions are already all over the place, his touch isn’t helping. I’m still trying to process some of the things he’d said to me.
“But there—” She tries again.
“I don’t care,” he snaps with a finality that makes even my spine stand up straighter. The woman's brows shoot up. It’s not until we enter a garage bay with a line of fancy vehicles that he releases his hold on me. “In,” West orders, holding open the door to a fancy SUV.
“West—” I try to talk some sense into him.
“Get in, or I’ll put you in.” I glare at him, but his expression is unwavering, giving nothing away.
When he moves to grab me by the hips, I quickly get in before he can. I don’t think I could handle his hands on my body right now. I’m already a mess inside.
“Where to?” he asks as he leaves the bay.
I bet all those fancy cars belong to him. West really did make it. It was a struggle for me to finish college. I was always trying to find grants and loans to help pay for it while still keeping a roof over my head.
“The museum on Lincoln.” I pull out and check my phone again.
I should have told him to go to the bakery down the street from the museum, damn it. Now he’s going to drop me off right out front. Everyone will see, including Jasmine. I was hoping to somehow maneuver my way out of this before then. But I can’t think straight with him so close to me. I need to get it together.