Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Perhaps that’s why she was so exhausted. One run surely wasn’t enough to have her feeling like she could crawl into bed and sleep for a year.
She hadn’t been able to eat much. After breakfast, Jonathan had drawn her into a meeting with Prince Tavi. He was another man who was hard to read. Very polite and pleasant, but she got the feeling there was a darker side to him. They’d briefly met Prince Matek, but he hadn’t said a word to them.
She was disappointed that she hadn’t had a glimpse of Pippa. But she needed to get over that.
She wasn’t a celebrity for her to ogle over.
As they stepped out of the meeting, Chloe jolted as she saw Owen and Beck waiting.
“Right, seems we’re off to a couple of meetings in the city,” Jonathan said to Beck. “Are you both accompanying us? Is that necessary?”
“Better to be safe than sorry,” Beck replied easily. Not much seemed to ruffle him.
She wondered if he’d be that calm and collected during sex?
An image of her on her knees in front of him, sucking his cock, filled her mind.
Shit. What was wrong with her? She didn’t like sex. Didn’t want to give anyone a blow job.
So why would she think that about this guy who was so stiff and formal with her?
“Of course, of course,” Jonathan said jovially. He acted like he didn’t have a care in the world. But she knew he was annoyed that he’d been meeting with two of the younger princes and not Kassim.
He likely viewed it as a snub, but they’d let him into Escana when they rarely allowed outside visitors, so he surely had to see that as a win.
Problem was, maybe he’d taken that as a sign that this trade agreement was almost a given.
And he was having to work for it instead.
She sighed quietly, wishing she was feeling better.
Just make it through today. Things will get better.
Jonathan moved up ahead with Beck trailing him. Suddenly, she felt Owen move up beside her.
She shot him a startled look. “You move really quietly.”
“I know.”
Right. She guessed he did.
They walked through the palace in silence for a moment and she racked her brain for something to say. She should make small talk. She was supposed to be keeping their attention on her and away from Jonathan.
Although Owen seemed pretty focussed on her anyway.
“Nice weather outside today.”
He turned his head to stare down at her. Then he moved his gaze back out around them.
Okay. That didn’t work.
“That ATV ride was fun.”
“You want to talk?” he asked.
Um. Well. She didn’t really know if she did. But she thought she should.
“I guess.” This felt like a trap.
“I don’t do small talk. Pointless.”
Right.
“But we could talk about the fact that you’re very disobedient.”
She sucked in a breath. Had he really just said that? Or was it her imagination? Was she finally losing her mind? She nibbled at her lower lip.
“Stop,” he commanded.
She froze.
“I like the way you obey me.”
Dear Lord. This man’s voice was potent. It turned her insides to liquid honey.
Made her want things that were impossible. Like wrapping herself up in his arms, his safety.
He wasn’t the biggest guy in their team. He was built far slimmer than Beck or Judd. But there was something about him . . . something that screamed he would do whatever was necessary to protect someone who belonged to him.
“Didn’t mean you should stop moving. Keep walking, little girl. Before someone notices and thinks something is wrong.”
Something might well be wrong with her.
“When I told you to stop, I meant for you to stop chewing on your lip.”
“Why do you care?”
“Wouldn’t want you to harm yourself.” His gaze was intent on her mouth and she stumbled over her feet, nearly falling. He had to reach out to grab her.
Jonathan and Beck were at the front door. There was a butler standing there, holding it open. Everyone was watching her stumble around like an idiot.
Her face burned as she carefully stepped to the side. But to her shock, he didn’t let go. His gaze moved over her face.
What could he see? She swallowed heavily. “What is it?”
“You were told to rest.” He let go of her and started walking to the door once more.
She was told to rest. What did he mean by that? Wait . . . she hurried to catch up to him. “Is that what you meant when you said I was disobedient?”
Unfortunately, she said that louder than she’d intended to. And Beck was far closer than she’d realized. Jonathan was already outside. Shouldn’t Beck be out there with him? Wasn’t he guarding him?
But wasn’t this what Jonathan wanted? For her to steal their attention away from him? She still wasn’t sure why he wanted that . . . and she didn’t know that she should do it. It wasn’t that she thought he was up to something bad . . . but she also didn’t fully trust him.