Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Dinesh, please.” I palm my face.
“Okay, okay. You want to give him a gift. It should be something that piques his interest. What did you learn about him last night?”
“Nothing.”
“Think, dear. You had to learn something. He tried to be engaging. It was very sweet of him,” Ms. Posh coaches.
I think back to last night. She’s right. He was very sweet to me. I’m still surprised by that.
I gasp. “Books.”
“Dear gods, I’m never going to get laid again,” Dinesh groans and drops down onto the bed.
“Shut it, you,” I snap. “He said he loves to read. His eyes lit up when he said it. I’ll give him books.”
Dinesh lifts his head. “Oh, that sounds promising, but I have a better idea.”
“Oh goodness,” Ms. Posh murmurs.
“Trust me.”
* * *
Argon
She has her cloak on again. I’m a little disappointed to see that. I’ve been warring with that fact since she found me roaming the halls.
“Are you taking me back to my cell?”
She tilts her head back to look up at me. I give her a smile to ease the tension. She blinks at me.
“No, would you like to return there?”
“Not particularly.”
She turns back to focus on the hall before us. My curiosity grows as we move down the long corridor. We stop in front of double doors and she hands me a key.
I take the key and lift a brow at her. She reaches up to pass a hand over her waves. Seeing that she’s nervous, I don’t press her.
Turning to the doors, I stick the key into the lock. When I push the doors open, I wave for her to walk in before me. She shakes her head.
“You first, please.”
I shrug and walk in. A smile comes to my lips as I cross the threshold. It’s a library. A vast one at that. I turn in a circle as I take it all in.
“This is a very nice library. I could get lost in here,” I say.
“Good, it’s yours. I hope it makes your time here easier. Again, I thank you for not leaving me to the wolves.”
I saunter over to where she stands watching me. She’s very small compared to me. She cranes her neck to look at my face.
I pull her into my embrace. “Thank you. This is kind of you.”
She tugs away, her cheeks on fire again. I think it’s so cute. She looks everywhere but at me.
“Yes, well, you’re welcome. It’s the least I can do.”
“Would you like to read with me?”
She begins to wring her hands. “I… you… Would you not rather be here alone?”
“No, I’ve been alone all day. Sit with me. We can pick books to read and keep each other company. That’s if you don’t have anything else to do,” I reply.
“Yes, I’d like that. I will stay.”
I close the distance between us and wrap an arm around her shoulders. The pulsing in my chest settles to a dull hum. It’s the first time all day that it’s settled.
“Come, I’m in the mood to get lost in some pages.”
* * *
Blaise
I peek up from my book to watch him. He’s sitting in the window seat with his head bent over a book. He’s gorgeous. Half of his hair is up in a tie. The other half rests around his shoulders. A few strands have come loose to play around his face and temple.
His lashes are so long I can see them from where I sit in the overstuffed chair. The sunlight coming in through the window highlights his face. He’s breathtaking.
“Have you picked a book that doesn’t hold your interest?” he murmurs but keeps his eyes on his book.
I drop my eyes to my own and turn the page with my tail. “I’ve enjoyed this book many times,” I reply.
“Then it must be that you have never seen a man before,” he says. This time he does turn to me and lifts a brow.
I shift in my seat. “I’ve seen a man before.”
He closes his book with a loud popping sound. It causes me to flinch. I frown at myself and close my book to place it on my lap.
“What do you do for enjoyment other than read?”
I chew on my lip. I have to think over his question. I don’t do much outside of playing my cello and reading books. I can’t remember the last time I could say that I enjoyed myself.
“I—I don’t do much.”
“Fine, then we will improvise. How are you feeling? Are you up for a stroll? I’d like to see these roses I’m serving time for,” he says.
I bow my head at the mention of his imprisonment and the roses. Argon stands and moves closer to me. He squats and places a hand beneath my chin.
Lifting my head, he stares into my eyes. I search his, not understanding this change. He tried to leave. He was angry when he had to take his father’s place.