Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“Help!” she screams. “Someone let me out.”
“Enough.” I pull her away from the door, spinning her around and stepping into her until she has nowhere to go. “Nobody out there is going to save you, Sasha. They’re likely to hand you over to whoever is hunting you. This world is violent and full of traitors just waiting for their opportunity to rise in the ranks. You’d provide the perfect chance.” I search her eyes for any indication that my words are sinking in. “You’re only safe with me. You can fight against that truth, but it won’t change the fact.”
“You’re no savior,” she spits. “You’ve stolen me from my life without my permission. I can take care of myself.”
“You couldn’t even manage to keep yourself safe roaming the grounds tonight. You want me to believe that you can save yourself from men who won’t think twice about using your body before ending your life?” She gulps but remains quiet. “You’ll stay here, and that’s the end of it.”
Her chest rises and falls, and then she exhales, her shoulders slumping forward in defeat.
“Good girl. Now go lie down. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
The thought of her in my bed is almost more than I can take.
17
SASHA
My head shakes back and forth, and that’s when the fog inside my brain clears, and I hear the words he just spoke.
They ricochet in my brain like a ball in a pinball machine.
He wants me to stay here.
In his room.
I can’t breathe.
The air in my lungs feels like shards of needles are tearing me apart.
This can’t be happening.
My hands hurt. My soul hurts. My pride is obliterated.
I couldn’t even manage to sneak out of here without being caught. I should’ve known better. If he has cameras in my room, he has them all over this property.
But that’s not the reason I’m dying inside. I’m being held here against my will, and now, I’m being forced to stay in his room.
He said I was here for my safety…
He lied.
They’re bad men.
Will he hurt me? Will he take advantage of me like the guard did the other maid?
Tilting my head to the side, I peer over his shoulder, taking in the entire space.
There’s only one bed.
Shit.
My hands start to tremble at my side, and all sorts of horrors circulate through my brain.
Does he expect me to have sex with him? Is he going to force me to?
“I’m not sleeping with you.” The words fly out of my mouth before I have a chance to rein in the terror. My voice shakes, and my palms sweat.
“Who said anything about sleeping,” he says, running his eyes from the top of my head to my toes in a way that has my stomach dropping. My legs wobble, and I lose my balance. “Relax. I’m not into taking that which isn’t offered freely. Especially when I have more offers than I care to have.”
Something about that doesn’t sit well with me, and I don’t even want to begin dissecting it.
“I meant…I’m not sleeping in that bed with you. Sleep, Gideon. Not sex.”
Lies. I absolutely meant sex, but I feel foolish now.
His grin tells me that he isn’t buying it. I avert my eyes, looking anywhere but at him or the bed.
“Have it your way, but for the record, the floor isn’t very comfortable. At least I’ve been told.”
What the hell does that mean?
Has he locked someone else in here with him before?
My brain is going a million miles a minute, but when I see the way that his lip tips up, I realize what he’s just done.
He’s baiting me, trying to rile me up, watching me a little too closely, and it pisses me off.
I hate him. “I’d rather sleep on the floor than next to you.”
He shrugs, grabs a pillow, and hurls it at me. “Don’t cry to me tomorrow when you’re in pain.”
“I’ll be fine,” I shoot back, looking around for the perfect spot. Somewhere that I won’t have to see him all night. “Do I get a blanket?”
“There should be a couple of extra ones in the closet.” He doesn’t even look at me as he pulls back his silk sheets, readying himself for bed.
“You have an extra one on your bed,” I say, pointing at the folded blanket at the foot of his bed.
“I get cold at night.”
For a second, I just stare at him in disbelief. I cross my arms in front of my chest and narrow my eyes.
“Seriously?”
He shrugs, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, watching me curiously.
He stares at me like he’s enjoying my discomfort, and I don’t want to give him another minute of my time.
I don’t want to see his smug face or twinkling eyes. Very alluring twinkling eyes.
“Ugh,” I groan out loud, only furthering his amusement.
Twisting around, I head toward the door he pointed to, swinging it open with more force than necessary.