Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
"Who are you? Why have you been following me, and why were you in that alley when Andrew grabbed me?"
He shakes his dark head. "Drink, angel."
Oh my God, is this guy serious? "What? No!"
When he speaks again, his voice is so rough that I can almost feel it running across my nerves. "Alina..."
My name on his lips sends a rush of heat through my core, and I tighten my thighs against the pulse of arousal blooming there. It's ridiculous, but somehow hearing him say it like that—so deeply, so possessively—is insanely sexy.
"Please," I whisper, "Just tell me what's going on."
He sighs, running a hand through his hair, and for a second, I wonder what it would be like to do that for him. The dark locks look soft, and I'm overcome by a powerful urge to reach out and touch him.
"What's going on? Well, that's complicated."
"Complicated?" I repeat.
"Yes. Complicated. You see, I'm a very private man. But I've been watching you, and I can't seem to stop."
"Watching me?" My eyebrows fly up.
He leans forward, and his proximity, along with the intensity of his gaze, has my heart picking up its pace. "Yes. Watching you. And when I saw him touching you, I nearly lost it, Alina. It took everything inside of me not to kill him."
"So you, what, decided to beat him up instead?"
He huffs a laugh. "He's alive. Isn't that good enough?"
"Is it?" I ask, and his expression changes.
"You're angry with me," he murmurs, looking confused. "Why?"
"Because you're creeping around and scaring the heck out of me," I snap, glaring at him. "Look, I'm not sure how you know my name or what you're playing at, but this is messed up. You're messed up."
"Oh, angel, you know no idea how messed up I really am.” He leans in, invading my space, and I swear I can feel his body heat. “I'm also a man—a man who is deeply, irrevocably attracted to you.”
I stare at him. He stares back, his gaze unflinching and sincere. Flustered and not sure what else to do, I sigh, pick up my mug, and drink my tea like I've been told. Satisfied, the stranger crosses his arms and leans against the counter, watching me.
"Finish that and I'll give you something despite my better judgment."
"I don't want anything," I mumble, and he laughs darkly.
The tone in his voice has me shivering. I'm torn because I should be scared, but I'm not. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have by now. Slowly, I finish the tea and set the cup down. I don't know if it's the drop-off after the adrenaline rush or the tea itself, but I do feel more relaxed.
Unthinking, I take the honey-coated spoon and slip it into my mouth.
"Good girl."
I pull the utensil out and open my mouth to speak. The words die in my throat as I realize his gaze has dipped down, and his eyes focus on the motion of my lips, his expression darkening. I can feel a single sticky drop on my bottom lip,
"Here, let me."
In a second, he rounds the counter. He's in my space once more, and I'm frozen, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. His thumb brushes over my lip, wiping away a stray dollop of honey, and then he slides it into his mouth and sucks.
"Sweet," he murmurs.
"Who are you?" My voice shakes as I ask the question for what feels like the millionth time, and so are my hands.
He hesitates, his eyes never leaving my face. Then, slowly, his head dips, and his lips graze over mine. A bolt of heat spears through me, and I gasp.
His tongue is hot and aggressive, tangling with mine. I open up, letting him claim me, and the whole world dissolves. All there is, is the feel of his hands in my hair, his lips on mine.
It feels so good. So right, and I know that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't even know his name.
But the attraction, the chemistry is too powerful. It's pulling me under, and I'm drowning. My hands grip his shirt, and I press myself against his broad chest, craving the feeling of his body against mine. And in that moment, the realization hits me. I'm not afraid of this man. I'm not even afraid of the fact that he's clearly obsessed with me. What I'm afraid of is missing out on this. Whatever this is.
I can't think. Can't reason. All I know is that this feels good. Too good, and as he deepens the kiss, his hands are everywhere. Then, as quickly as it began, he pulls away, looking like it's taken all his willpower to do so.
"Let me get you home." He takes a step back, his breath ragged, and his eyes burning. I'm shaking, the desire and the confusion too much, and he sighs, taking my hand. "You're not ready for this, but you will be."