Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
However, before I can take her soft mouth with mine, she rips away from my hold. I watch as she backs away, placing a gap between us. I mentally chide myself for pushing too hard, too soon. I can see the wariness in her eyes. I also see so much scorn.
“How can I need someone who I don’t even know?” She shakes her head as if saying the words to herself.
“You know me better than anyone does. We know each other better than any two people can know each other. From the beginning, we’ve been able to finish each other’s thoughts. None of that has changed just because of a little distance,” I reply.
More tears stream down her cheeks as she laughs like a madwoman. The laugh comes from deep within. It’s throaty and sexy, but I push that thought to the back of my mind.
To another, she would look on the verge of losing it, deranged even. To me, she looks gorgeous even in this moment. When her laughter dies down, she looks at me with so much loathing, I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut.
I feel like shit on the bottom of her shoe. I never thought I’d see those sweet eyes look at me in such a way. For the first time, I question if the love she once had for me is completely gone.
“You don’t know me,” she seethes with so much salt in her words. “You know nothing about me. How could you? You left me with the world on my shoulders and more hurt than any woman should have from the man of her dreams.”
“Baby—” I start, only to have her lift her hand to halt me.
“Don’t,” she barks. “Show me the direction of the bedrooms. I need a hot bath and a bed. I’m here because of my sister. Whatever you thought this…”—she points between us—“would be, it will never be. I can never feel anything for you again. Don’t ask me to. I’ll do what the contract asks of me, but you better be able to fix Ally’s enrollment and this bullshit with my finances.
“If it weren’t for her, I’d say fuck it and test my luck with the shit coming for me. You got lucky, Brodi, but not that fucking lucky.”
I hold my tongue from reprimanding her. Flexing my jaw and clenching my fists. I get the eeriest feeling that I’m missing something bigger here.
Her anger is so much greater than I expected. I can literally feel it coming off her. Yes, I knew she would be pissed at me. I even knew she’d give me that sass and fire, but there is something else, something I haven’t put my finger on yet.
I rant and rage in my head about the brief time after I left that I have no details of. Chloe was so different from the woman I knew when I finally started to get reports on her. I tried to tell myself that there was something else going on.
I wanted to believe our breakup had nothing to do with how much she had changed. I feel like a coward now for ignoring what was right in front of me. Chloe was hurting more than I wanted to admit.
Now, here she stands, and it’s evident that I hurt the woman I love more than I’ll ever be able to stomach. I walked out on her. I still believe it was the right thing to do.
I couldn’t ask her to leave her life behind, but I would never have become my own man had I remained here under my father’s thumb. Our timing has just always been off.
Not this time, this time I’ll make it all right for her. This time our hearts will have what they desire most. Which is why I nod my head toward the bedrooms, honoring her request.
“The master is at the end of the hall. Your things are in there,” I say tightly.
“Stay away from me,” she calls over her shoulder, as she starts for the bedroom.
I run a hand through my hair as I narrow my eyes on her back. For now, yes, I’ll stay away. Only because I know if I don’t, I’ll go after what’s mine. I know for a fact; Chloe won’t be able to deny us for long. We’re a force together.
I see the hurt in her eyes, but I also see the flame for us. It’s still there, but I want more than her body. I’ve come for my woman, mind, body, and soul. I’ll take the pieces, the ones I’ve broken into a million shards. I’ll be the one to make them whole again.
“You’re going to need a fucking miracle, Gregor,” I mutter to myself as Chloe disappears from my sight.
Chapter 8
Turmoil
Gregor
After cleaning up the mess from Chloe’s outburst, I spent the night on the couch, but I didn’t get any sleep. I could’ve slept in one of the guest rooms, but I didn’t want to chance Chloe making a run for it. I know she signed the contract, but last night… it’s haunting me.