Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
She assumes that it’s the last time that she’ll see the chivalrous stranger, but soon he is everywhere she is. And before she knows what’s happening, the two of them are spending all their free time together bonding over their love of the ocean, scary movies, and homemade cookies.
Reese knows that a guy like Brodie Pierce could have any woman he wants and that becomes even more apparent when she finds out that he’s a pro hockey player that’s worth millions of dollars. So to save herself from the potential heartbreak she places him firmly in the friend zone.
If only he’d stay there.
The infuriating man starts pushing for more, lots more, and the worst part is she wants to give it all to him including her heart.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Prologue
Reese
I don’t know exactly what wakes me up, but when my cell on the nightstand beeps, I reach over and pick up my glasses, putting them on before grabbing my phone and bringing it close to my face so I can read the screen. Frowning at the notification informing me that Kirk finished a workout, I realize that I picked up his phone attached to his watch, which keeps track of his steps and how many calories he’s burned in a day. I glance behind me and find him gone. The two of us were up late studying for a test last night, so he stayed over rather than drive back to his apartment near our campus. It’s something he does on occasion when Richard and my mom are out of town like they are now.
Richard, my mom’s fiancé, travels a lot for work and likes Mom to go with him, leaving me alone in the house for days at a time—unless Richard’s daughter, Melissa, decides to stay here rather than on campus with her sorority. Which rarely happens.
I look at the time in the corner of the phone. It’s a little after two in the morning—an odd time to work out—but Kirk has been stressed about the test he has coming up. Maybe he needed to burn off some energy.
Sitting up, I toss back the covers and get out of bed to check on him. After I drag a hoodie over my sleep tank and shove my feet into my slippers, I leave my bedroom on the second floor, Kirk’s phone in hand. The house is dark and quiet, and, if I’m honest…a little creepy, which is why I often ask Kirk to stay over. I hate being here alone.
Hearing a bump as I start down the stairs, a sense of unease slithers through my insides.
I’m about to turn, head up the stairs, and go back to my room, but I freeze in the stairway when I hear a door open and then a familiar giggle. My heart pounding, I peek around the corner and watch Melissa, wrapped in the robe I got her for Christmas, kiss Kirk in a way I never have.
Pressing my hand against my stomach, I slowly back up one step and freeze again when the stair creeks under my weight.
“What was that?” I hear Melissa whisper, my heart pounding in panic.
I turn to rush up the stairs, but my slippers slide on the shiny wood, causing me to fall as I fumble for the railing. My glasses slide off my face as I skid down the steps, my footwear doing nothing to keep me on my feet. I land on my ass.
“Reese?” Melissa says in disbelief. I squint, unable to really see her.
“Shit, Reese, are you okay?” Kirk gasps, rushing up the steps to my side.
“I’m fine.” I shake him off when he grabs my arm to help me up.