Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. The gentle scent of lavender and eucalyptus hangs in the air. It’s meant to be calming, but nothing about what I’m about to do will calm the beautiful Caia.
The tumbler sitting on the glass table is half filled with amber liquid that glimmers in the flames. I needed time to prepare, and now that she’s on her way with River, I feel as if it’s my first time.
I turn on the stereo. “Silence” by Beethoven greets me through the speakers, and I close my eyes to the melody of the piano. So ironic that soon there’ll be no silence in this room.
The beast inside me roars to life when the door clicks open and I inhale her. The scent of this girl lingers as she enters and exits a space. There are many vices in my life that I allow to rule over me, but this need for her, it’s something I can’t contain for too much longer.
I turn to her. She’s dressed in the white dress I asked River to give her. Purity. So fucking innocent. Too bad I want to tear her apart with my teeth. I hunger to drench that material in crimson.
I lift the tumbler to my lips, tipping my head toward my best friend who looks at me with sadness, knowing what I have to do. He leaves. We’re alone then, Caia and me. She glances my way, unsure, nervous, yet there’s a flicker of indignation in her pretty eyes.
She offers a smile, which shoves me off kilter for a second before I right my stance and set the glass on the counter behind me.
“Sit.” I gesture at the chair positioned perfectly where I need it. Silently, she obeys me, and I can’t help smiling. Such a good girl.
Her hands are splayed on her thighs, her legs pinched together, and her long, dark hair hangs down her back in a sleek braid. River always ensures the toys are perfectly made up for me.
There isn’t an ounce of make-up on her face, and I’m happy for that. I hate those fucking dolls that look fake when they’re crying as I use them. Father was adamant that she’s to remain a virgin. He told me to see if I can shatter her defiance, and I know that anything I do to her in here will not do that. She’s far too strong. But I’ll gladly give it a good try.
Her gaze finds mine. There’s a plea in those wide eyes. No, darling, tonight, you’ll not shock me like you did last night.
“Why am I here?” she finally questions. I find that most times, if you leave them in silence for long enough, they’ll break.
“You’re here to learn, little bird,” I tell her. Unbuttoning my suit coat, I shrug it off. Feeling her gaze roam over me, I turn and set the jacket on the chair. When I face her, she’s staring at me, her lips slightly parted.
“And is my learning meant to make this ordeal easier?”
I consider her question for a moment. Would it? Perhaps. Stalking toward the bar, I grab the Scotch along with a small glass, which I fill to the brim. I set the drink before her on the table and straighten.
“Drink that,” I command, watching her eyes narrow with suspicion. Fuck. This girl is utterly intoxicating, more so than the alcohol I’ve consumed.
“I’m eighteen.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I said drink it,” I bite out, my teeth clenched so tight it feels as if I’m about to crack them.
The song changes, and we’re met with the melodic sounds of Lucas King, classic, dark, and haunting. Caia lifts the glass, sniffing the contents before scrunching up her nose in disgust.
“I don’t have all day.”
She glares at me but swallows the shot in one grimacing gulp. When she sets the glass down, she sits back once more, waiting on me to make my move.
“Rise. Take off your dress.” My gaze roams her as she discards the material that was covering her body from my view. A shiver trails over her, and I know she’s feeling the heat of my stare violating her.
“Drake,” she utters my name, causing my body to heat at the word alone. Just hearing her say it in her sweet voice has my slacks tightening. “Please, this isn’t you. I know it isn’t.”
They all plead for their lives. Each one of them wants to go free, wants to be saved by the knight in shining armor.
Sadly, I’m not him.
I’m the beast that will devour them piece by piece.
I stalk around the chair where she’s sitting. Her gaze following me, but by the time I’m behind her, I feel the absence of her stare.
Leaning in, I place my lips at her ear and whisper, “There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, that will prepare you for what you’ll experience in here.”