Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
It took every ounce of control I possessed to keep my expression blank, to not jump across his desk and rip his throat out with my bare hands.
That’s what he anticipated, after all.
“Knox,” he greeted as if he were expecting me. I could see past his veneer of civility to the fury that lay underneath. It was in the stiffness of his shoulders, the tautness of his body, hand underneath his desk, no doubt touching the gun he kept there. He was scared and angry.
“You are full of surprises,” he said smoothly. “I knew you had talents, but artistry wasn’t one of them. With a paintbrush, at least. We all know your talents with a knife.” He turned his head to stare at the painting, to leer at the ridges and valleys of Piper’s form.
I stood stock still, noting the men behind me had their fingers on the triggers of the guns they were holding. I supposed they were ordered to shoot at any sign of movement.
Not that I cared.
After a long silence, Stone turned back to me. His expression was still pleasant, lips turned up, features relaxed but I didn’t miss the glint of fury in his eyes.
“And here I was, thinking that you had no sexual appetite to speak of,” he continued, his voice straining with fury as he lost hold over his faux civility. “And all it took was the right woman to wake you up. My woman.”
Anger gushed through my veins, but I didn’t move. “She’s mine,” I said, keeping my voice cold and even. “Not that I seek to own her. She belongs to herself first. Women are not possessions. Men like you unfortunately don’t learn that often enough. It’ll be my pleasure to watch you learn the hard way.”
Stone froze for a moment in fury before he threw his head back and laughed. I knew the gesture was forced, for his audience. His bodyguards. Because he was too cowardly to face me alone.
“Look at you, the heartless eunuch now an expert on pussy just because he’s been bewitched by a cunt.” He said the words in his trademark polite tone.
My insides roiled, thirsted for vengeance, to punish him for the way he spoke about Piper.
But that’s what he wanted. He saw me as a feral dog, and he expected that he could just dangle some poisoned meat in front of me and that’s all it would take.
“Should we end the theatrics?” I asked, sounding bored. “We both know this only ends one way.”
Stone looked at me with barely restrained fury before he sighed. “Yes, we know it does.” He stood, making a great show of taking a knife from the sheath at his waist. It shone in the light, polished and clean.
When he rounded the desk, the men beside me came in tighter. A cage. That’s what he thought he had me in, thinking it would be as simple as slitting my throat.
I wanted to smile, but that would‘ve given me away. So I waited.
“Such a shame.” Stone took his time, making his way over to me, the showman he was. “I really considered you as my own son.”
“Makes sense, since my father was a piece of shit.”
His brow twitched. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy this.” He examined the knife. “But remembering how you tasted my fiancée’s pussy before I had the pleasure reminds me I will.” His eyes locked with mine. “And you’ll die knowing that she’s going to be mine for the rest of my life.” He clicked his tongue. “Or hers, which likely promises to be shorter.”
There it was. Just a few seconds away from my moment. My body prepared, coiled, the beast inside me licking its lips.
But Stone didn’t take the step forward I needed. He stopped at the knock at the door, his irritated gaze turning that way.
“I was not to be disturbed!” he shouted. But once he saw who was at the door, his expression cleared.
Then he smiled. Truly smiled.
And it was the smile that sent dread through me.
I didn’t need to turn to know what had turned him so victorious.
I knew. I fucking knew.
“Piper,” he drawled, stepping back. “I’m so glad to have you here.”
And just like that, all of my plans, all of my control, went out the window.
Piper
My heart was throbbing in my feet as I walked into the room. And not just on account of the uncomfortable shoes. I felt the eyes of every man in the room on me as I slowly and with faux confidence walked into the opulent office.
Stone’s inky gaze coated me in filth, but that’s not what almost brought me to my knees.
It was Knox, standing there, flanked by two armed men, standing stock-still, almost shaking with rage, not meeting my eyes until I was almost right in front of him. I might’ve flinched had I not retreated into such a deep part of myself. He was furious. I could feel the rage emanating from him, lashing against his skin like knives. I knew that he’d been confident in whatever he’d been about to do, willing to die in the process and without regret. And I knew I’d gone and ruined all of his plans. Which was the point.