Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Every second of this morning has been like walking on eggshells, waiting for Sebastian to come bursting through the door, throw me over his shoulder, and drag me back to his mansion. I’m like a bug caught in a spider's web, waiting for it to come out and eat me.
I perch on the edge of the freshly made bed and stare out the window across the room. It's a lovely room, and I’d gladly stay here if I had no other option, but there’s a certain security I feel with Sebastian, and I need to figure out what I'm going to do about everything.
He scared me. No. That's not right. He's scary, sure, but some part of me knows, even with the brutality, the knives, and his sharp words, that he'd never hurt me. Not like others have. I wasn’t necessarily scared of him, but more of him finding out I stole the test from Tanya and having to admit it.
What if that’s the tipping point in all of this? What if he kicks me out of his house? What if I have nowhere else to go? No one to protect me from Yanov?
It seems stupid since I’m working to pay off a debt, but everyone has a point where whatever they’re trying to achieve no longer seems worth it. I don’t want Sebastian to think I’m no longer worthy of being kept around.
My thoughts shift from the pregnancy test, as the memory of what we did pops back into my mind. It took a long time for my body to come down from the high he instilled last night. How he touched me in ways I didn't even know I'd enjoy.
How could I when my life had been one step away from rape most of my teenage life. I never wanted to do anything that might draw Yanov's attention. Not even when I was alone for fear he'd catch me and see it as some kind of invitation.
As a result, I barely know anything about sex and what I might enjoy in that area, but it’s something I still want to explore. The connection I have with Sebastian is one I’ve never had with anyone else, and especially not a man. Even while I’m afraid of it, I’m more afraid of losing it, so I need to pull myself together and tell him the truth.
I'm about to gather the toothbrush Bel gave me and the clothes she thrust into my arms and told me to keep and head home when a knock against the heavy wood door jolts me out of my thoughts, sending my heartbeat pounding through my body on a wave of adrenaline.
“Come in,” I call, having to clear my throat at the end to hide the squeak.
What the hell do I say if Sebastian walks in? I know I said I needed to get my shit together, but I thought I’d have more than ten minutes to do it. I don't get to think about it for long since, to my relief, Drew walks in.
I notice almost immediately that he’s dressed very differently compared to his normal attire, wearing a black hoodie, jeans, and high-top sneakers. Dang, he's pretty, but there is an untamed quality to him that terrifies me and seems so at odds with Bel's pure sunshine personality.
I stand and face him, smoothing the short gray dress over the black tights Bel gave me. “Thank you again for letting me stay here. I was just about to grab my things and head back to Sebastian’s. I can’t even put into words how much it helped to have some time to think things through.”
He studies me, his dark eyes clawing into the depths of my soul. Drew has a habit of looking at people in a way that makes them want to spill all their secrets. Stalking forward, he comes to stand beside me, his frame resting casually against the banister of the bed.
“There’s no need to thank me. If you need a bed to sleep in, we have one. Actually we have a lot more than one, but you get the point.”
I smile. “Of course. Well, I’m thankful, nonetheless.”
He shrugs. “If it would help, you can move in.”
I know without a doubt he’s not offering because he wants to. This is not his idea.
I shake my head, sending my loose hair around my waist. “No, but thank you, really. I hate inconveniencing people. I need to figure this thing out with Sebastian, and I can’t do that while living here. I also don’t think he would be very happy if I did that.”
I don’t bother sharing with him that the only place I truly feel safe is with Sebastian. It’s bad enough I’ve shared tiny bits and pieces with Bel.
He nods, his hands stuffed into his front pockets. “I mean, whatever you need help with, Bel and I are here for you. I hope you know that.”