Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Sure they did. The funds that came from Garrett’s wallet. I forced a smile and nodded, then set the bag on Silas’s desk before walking out.
I would admit, as I walked away, I missed the way the purse had felt and had a moment of sadness that I’d never see it hanging on my shoulder again. But other than that, I felt good about how I’d handled it.
It was almost ten when Garrett Hughes walked into the Winchester Parlor, alone. I was carrying a tray of drinks to another small group of men. One of the men called out a greeting to Garrett as I set their drinks in front of them. I didn’t look back at him as I waited for the men to continue their conversation before asking if they needed anything else at the moment.
Garrett turned down their offer to join them and made his way to his lair. I glanced back at Leo to see him wiggle his eyebrows at me. Both he and Felix had teased me when I came into work about Garrett Hughes’s reaction to Eliana last night. They had replayed his reaction and how he’d talked to her, as if it was the best movie they’d ever seen.
I shot Leo an eye roll before heading to Garrett’s area. I had no doubt he knew about my meeting with Silas. I just wasn’t sure if he’d mention it to me or not.
Garrett was leaning back on the couch with his right ankle propped on his knee as he watched me walk into his semi-private space.
I gave him a polite smile. “Hello, Mr. Hughes. What can I get for you tonight?”
He smirked and slowly ran his thumb over his bottom lip. “That is a loaded question,” he replied.
I shifted my feet, suddenly feeling restless.
“Let’s start with your returning the purse and phone,” he began.
Ah. So, he was going to admit it.
“Yes. What about it?” I asked as professionally as I could.
A low chuckle came from his chest. “Are you always so fucking difficult?”
I tensed, and my attempt at politeness evaporated. Glaring at him, I tried to remind myself to remain calm. “Are you always so presumptuous?”
Those gray eyes seemed to dance with amusement. “It’s presumptuous to replace a woman’s purse and phone, which were ruined, with new ones? Most women would be thanking me.”
“I’m not most women,” I bit out.
He dropped his propped-up leg to the ground. “No, you’re not,” he replied, then stood up.
Why was he standing up? I watched him, unsure of what to do as he stepped around the table and closer to me.
“In fact, I’ve never met a woman even remotely like you,” he said.
I took a step back, unable to stop myself. “Is that right?” I asked, fighting off the fleeing reaction that was suddenly hammering in my chest.
“Prideful, difficult, hardheaded.” He began to list off all these things as faults, and as I heard him say them, they did sound rather bad. “So fucking beautiful that it’s almost painful.”
He reached out and ran the back of his finger over my cheek and along my jawline. I couldn’t breathe. When his hand slid down and gently wrapped around my throat, I knew I should be frightened. I should turn and run. Instead, a zing of pleasure lit up my entire body.
“I don’t like being told no. I’ve never been told no.” His voice was low and threatening as he lowered his head toward me.
His hand flexed on my neck, and I let out a small cry, although it wasn’t painful. His thumb caressed the skin beneath it, and his mouth hovered over mine.
“I’m not a patient man, Fawn.” His breath smelled like cinnamon as it warmed my skin. “I could force you. Bend you over and spread your legs, then bury my face between them. Lick, suck, and eat your pussy until you were screaming my name and your sweet cream coated my tongue,” he told me. “Bite down on those pierced nipples you flaunted without a bra in that sundress.”
My body trembled, and I wanted to reach out and grab him to keep from falling if my knees suddenly buckled. I’d been debating on taking my nipple piercings out. I was thirty-six, and it seemed like I had outgrown them. Maybe I needed to reconsider.
“But I won’t. Because when I take you, when I touch you, it will be because you asked me for it.” His hand fell away from my neck, and he stepped back.
I stumbled slightly, feeling lightheaded, and he reached out and grabbed my arm to steady me.
“Easy, pretty baby,” he whispered in a husky voice.
I stared up at him. I couldn’t decide what I felt. He caused so many emotions inside of me. Arousal even if I wished he didn’t. Anger at how he spoke to me, but then excitement by it as well. My chest rose and fell as my breathing quickened.