Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“Who’s pretending?”
Valen
“Apparently, no one spends any time here, anymore,” Holden says, closing the empty refrigerator. “Guess we’ll eat on the road.”
I shrug. “Good with me.” It feels a little surreal being here. This house that was once full of life and parties and drama is now lifeless and stale only a year later.
Holden rounds the kitchen counter and lifts me by my waist before plopping me on top of it. I squeal when the cold granite hits the back of my thighs, and he steps between them, bringing my arms up to circle his neck. “What are the chances you’ll let me have my favorite meal before we go?” His hands slide down my sides before settling on the outsides of my upper thighs.
“Slim to none,” I say, as tempting as it sounds. I’m not looking forward to facing my mom after last night, and while I’d usually welcome the distraction and the chance to take the edge off, I’d rather just get this over with.
“Tonight then.”
He starts to back away, but I pull him down by the back of his neck, pressing my lips against his. I slide my tongue along the seam of his lips, seeking entrance, and he opens for me, groaning when my tongue glides against his. I don’t know how to tell him thank you for last night, for making me feel cared for and valued and safe for the first time in a very long time, so I try to show him instead.
By the time we break the kiss, we’re both breathless, and I can feel how hard Holden is between my legs. He looks at me, eyes searching mine, and I suddenly feel exposed. Like he knows exactly what I was trying to convey with that kiss.
“Is this your way of finally admitting that you like me?”
I shove him away. “Shut up.”
He laughs, backing away. “I’m going to grab my stuff, then we can go.”
I nod and he takes off for the stairs, but I hear footsteps approach not ten seconds later. “The answer is still no—” I start to say but stop short when I see that it’s Samuel who enters the kitchen. I hop down off the counter, hating the way his eyes zero in between my legs as I pull my skirt back into place.
“Well, hello again. Valentina, was it?” His eyes are bloodshot, his clothes rumpled, like maybe he slept in them. It’s a far cry from his usually polished appearance.
He walks closer in a clear attempt to intimidate me. I cross my arms over my chest and straighten my spine, refusing to shrink under his stare. I might be more afraid if Holden wasn’t right upstairs, but right now all I’m feeling is anger. This man is responsible for nearly every bad thing that has happened to Shayne and Holden in the past couple of years, and that’s just the stuff we’re aware of. With men like Samuel, men who live their whole lives doing whatever the fuck they want because they’ve never had to face any real repercussions for their actions, what you see is always just the tip of the iceberg.
“What do you want?”
He blinks in surprise at my brusque tone, but it’s quickly replaced with amusement. “Feisty. I like it. I get what my nephew sees in you.” His lecherous gaze travels over my body from head to toe, making me shudder with disgust. “Not that I didn’t before. After I witnessed the little show you put on out on my patio, I had to talk myself out of experiencing it firsthand. Maybe now is my chance. Do you believe in serendipity?”
He watches me carefully for a reaction, but I don’t give him one. I know he’s referring to the video from New Year’s. Where the hell is Holden? “No, but I believe in karma, you sick fuck,” I say, deciding to move past him and toward the foyer. I give him a wide berth, but his hand shoots out from his pants pocket, grabbing my upper arm.
“Watch how you talk to me.” His fingertips dig into my flesh as he squeezes.
“Or what? You’re gonna kill me, too?” I raise a brow, staring him down.
“Is that the story my nephew is spinning these days?” His eyes harden as he leans in so close that I can smell the liquor on his breath. Oh yeah, he’s spiraling. “He won’t be happy until he’s taken everything from me. It’s only fair I take something from him, too.”
“Let go of the girl, Sammy,” a masculine, bored sounding voice says from the foyer. I glance in the direction to find Holden’s dad, August, approaching. “That’s no way to treat a guest.”
I jerk my arm out of Samuel’s bruising grip and he reluctantly releases me, face red and eyes narrowed into slits. He’s practically shaking with his rage. He didn’t like being told what to do one bit.