Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“I’d make one for you, too, little bunny, but I don’t know what you like in yours. Show me.”
I remain still.
Derek leans forward slightly and orders, “Show me, Chloe.”
“Fuck you,” I manage.
He stares for a moment and I’m wondering if I’ve just made a grave error.
He takes a bite of his taco.
“Mm.” He chews, swallows, and wipes his mouth. “Pretty good. We have a girl who drops food off when we need it. Me and my siblings here, I mean. One of my sisters cooks, went to culinary school, but she doesn’t use her condo here much. Lives in Phoenix with her husband. My other sister doesn’t cook at all. Paulina’s versatile, can make pretty much anything, so I use her whenever I don’t feel like going out while I’m in town. Whatever you’re in the mood for, I can have done in a few hours most days. I’ve already got plans for our next dinner. Have some.”
He takes another bite and chews, makes more sounds of enjoyment, then sips the wine before looking at the glass. “Too sweet,” he mutters and then he takes the last few bites of the taco before going to the fridge and pulling out two bottles of water. He sets one in front of me and kisses the top of my head. “I’m already sweet enough. You should eat some tacos. It’s Tuesday, baby. They’re good.”
“No thank you,” I mutter, uncapping a water and taking a long drink.
“You want, we can fuck again now. We’ve still got a few hours,” he suggests, way too casually, eyebrows up high as he jerks his thumb toward the bedroom.
I say nothing, so he asks, “What do you want, Chloe? Tell me what you want most right now. Maybe I can make it happen.”
“I wanna go,” I croak out, on the verge of tears again.
He reaches out. I stare at his outstretched hand.
He wiggles his fingers.
I frown.
“Chloe?” He wiggles them again.
I reach out and he takes my hand in his, stroking my knuckles with his thumb. “You wanna go?”
An ugly sound comes out of my mouth as I fail to hold back an ugly-cry sound.
“You don’t want tacos? Don’t wanna fuck again?”
Another sob comes out of me.
“Okay, beautiful,” he says gently. “This time. Because I can tell you’re overwhelmed.”
I get to my feet and try to pull my hand away, but he doesn’t let go. He stands and uses the grip to pull me to his body, wrapping me up in a hug.
I’m stiff. I’m flustered. I want to bawl my eyes out some more.
“I want you to stop this, too, Derek,” I say brokenly.
He leans back to look at my face, then his fingertips are moving down my temple and tucking my hair behind my ear.
His head tips to the side and he leans down and touches his lips to mine. “No, you don’t. You just don’t realize it yet. I’ll message you with instructions when I’m ready to see you again. Don’t disappoint me, Chloe.”
I swallow, staring at his face.
“You’re a sexy, smart, capable, woman. So don’t do something stupid,” he warns in a gentle tone, touching my nose with the tip of his index finger. “Don’t tell Alannah what’s happening here. You can let her think we’re going to continue to fuck, but for the moment, nothing else. No texts about me. No notes. No sign-language or hiring skywriters, using carrying pigeons, or anything like that. Be smart.” He taps my nose with his index finger a second time. “Don’t test me, baby. I’m a hundred per cent serious. Our little arrangement is between just you and me. I mean that. The only thing you can talk about regarding us with her or anyone else is how incredible the fucking is. Because it is. Isn’t it?”
I try to break out of his hold, but he tightens his grip and moves in, so his mouth is just a few inches from mine. “You don’t want to defy me. Clear?”
I nod slightly, more fear spiking.
“No attempting to remove any of the surveillance equipment, no attempts to lose the tail I’ve got on you when you’re out. I am not joking. You don’t want me to get anxious about not knowing where you are or what you’re doing. That would be very, very bad. And I’m not talking the type of bad that earns you an erotic spanking, little bunbun, because there will be times where you get those… making me worry about you is different. I’m talking about consequences. Big.” He gestures with both hands in the air. “Big, Chloe. Understand?”
I step back.
He steps forward.
I step again and find myself against the wall.
“Tell me you understand,” Derek demands, gaze sharpening.
“I understand,” I reply.
“Okay,” he says, looking satisfied. “I’ll tell Kenny you’re getting ready to go.” He cages me in with both hands on the wall on either side of my face and then he drops his voice to barely above a whisper, mouth right by my ear. “Until next time, baby. It probably won’t be long. I don’t know how long I can stand to be without you. Good work on the Cavalier campaign. Keep up the good work. I’m replacing that ten k bonus. In fact, I’ll add a zero. Hallman didn’t deserve it. You do. I’ll drop it into your savings account tomorrow.”