Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Even now, after all these years, I can’t escape who I am.
As I hurry down the street heading towards my apartment, a black sedan pulls up alongside me. I glance over as the window rolls down and Renzo stares out at me. “Get in the car,” he says when I slow.
“No. Leave me alone.” We’re on a quiet side street away from the busy downtown area, but there are still people around, and they’re all staring.
“Maddie. Get in the car.”
“I gave you my answer already, okay? I can’t do it. I said no.”
“You said no, but your actions speak louder. You didn’t take the pill.”
“I’m heading home to take it right now.” But am I? The thought still hadn’t occurred to me, even though it should’ve.
All day yesterday, I agonized about taking it. I went straight from his apartment to the pharmacy and bought the pills, but they sat untouched in their blister pack on my floor. I had a thousand opportunities to swallow them, and each time I thought I should, another excuse presented itself.
I never consciously chose this, but he’s right, if I really didn’t want this, I would’ve taken the pills yesterday. Now here I am, not sure what the hell I want, but afraid of the path I’m spiraling down.
“You promised you wouldn’t,” he says and his tone is strangely sincere. “Please get in the car.”
I hesitate. It’s a mistake. I left the office to put distance between us, and climbing into that back seat will only make my decision harder.
But that’s the worst part. I want this. I want to sit on his lap and kiss him. I want his hands running through my hair. I don’t care if he’s dangerous and getting anywhere near him is the exact kind of risk I always swore I’d stay away from. I want to feel something for once in my life.
Like Mark said, I’ve been living for safety.
But I haven’t been living at all.
I walk forward and he opens the door. I climb inside, ducking down, and he puts his hand on my thigh as the car pulls back into traffic. The privacy screen is up, cutting us off from the driver.
“This is crazy,” I say, staring at Renzo across the seat. His hand remains on my leg. “You know that, right?”
“I’m aware you’re struggling with our situation.”
“I want you to make me a promise.”
“You’re negotiating now?”
“This isn’t an option. You make me this promise, or I start screaming until the cops pull you over.”
He smirks, head tilted. “This car is soundproof and the windows are tinted black. It’s almost a necessity in my line of work.”
A shiver runs down my spine. “Fine. Whatever. Just promise me something, okay?”
“Go ahead.”
“Promise I won’t be in any danger. Promise… if we do this, nobody will get hurt.”
He puts a hand on his chest over his heart. “I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to take care of you. Nobody will get hurt, Maddie. It’s only you and me.”
“And the baby,” I say softly, leaning my head back on the seat. I stare up at the roof of the car and his fingers tighten their grip on my thigh. It feels good, letting him touch me like that.
It feels good taking a little risk.
“Marry me,” he says, shifting closer. His hand touches my cheek. I could scream and throw myself at him, straddle his hips, grind myself down against his lap like I did Saturday night. “Don’t make me keep begging.”
I feel the last strings holding me back finally snap.
“Okay. I’ll marry you.”
He pulls me against him and kisses me. I groan into that kiss, let myself tumble, but stop before I really fall. I push my hands on his chest and push back, gasping for air. “But I want more money!”
He laughs, pulling my hair tight. “How much?”
“Twenty. Million. Ten up front!”
“Done.”
“And I want—I want—a new wardrobe! And furniture! And I want to keep my apartment.”
“Done. What else?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of more.”
“Good. Go ahead, bella topo, bleed me dry. I want to see how far you’re willing to push me.” And he sounds like he actually means it.
I throw my hips over and straddle him, my head bumping against the roof of the car. I laugh as he kisses me, and I kiss him back. He’s stiff between my legs, already hard at my touch, and I like that. I like the way he grips my hips and pulls me down against him like he needs me as close as possible. I like the way he bites my lip and lets out this sexy as hell grunt. I like that he’s scary, that he’s dangerous, that he’s a huge mistake.
Because I don’t make mistakes, but maybe that’s been my problem.
I need to remember why I’m doing this to begin with. I shimmy my hips and start to undress him. He helps unbuckle his belt, gets his pants down, does the same for me. Once I’m in only my panties, my pants down around my ankles, I straddle him again and take his cock from his boxer briefs, stroking him only once or twice as his fingers slide between my legs, teasing my pussy.