Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
I walked down the stairs into the mass of people below who greeted me by clapping and whooping over the sound of the music. I smiled, made polite greetings, and my eyes were constantly searching for her, the only person I cared about showing up. But she was nowhere to be seen, and even if my eyes had deceived me, I knew because I couldn’t smell her sweetness in the air.
I’d gotten addicted to it, her sugary sweet scent filling my nostrils and my mouth every time she was close. God, I needed so much more of it. If it was up to me, I’d fill my days and my fucking life with the smell of her. I wanted her night and day, morning and evening, I wanted her all to myself, and I wasn’t about to give up now.
Finally, my eyes settled on a familiar figure, and my mouth set in a thin line as I approached her.
“Martha!” I called out over the music, and she turned around.
She wore a gaudy tiara in her hair, and the thick layers of foundation she’d applied to make her look younger only settled in her creases, giving her an unappealing look. But it wasn’t that, it was the way she carried herself. Almost self-righteous, like there was nobody else in the world who could compare to her. That coupled with the way I’d seen her treat Ella turned me off the woman completely. I wasn’t even sure I still wanted her working for me, but I’d decided to take it up with Ella once she was officially mine.
“Hello,” she purred, approaching me and leaning in.
I took a step back, giving her a long look.
“So, you decided to come,” I said firmly, and she batted her fake lashes at me.
“Of course,” she said, waving a hand in the air. “How could I not after your invitation?”
“My…” I stared at her. God, the woman was just not getting the message. “I invited Ella.”
“Ella?” she laughed out loud. “Why on earth would you invite her?”
“A couple of damn good reasons come to mind,” I growled.
Her sweet pillowy lips.
The sugar taste of her pussy.
Her little mewls, the mere thought of which made me hard as a damn rock.
“So, where is she?” I asked, and Martha shrugged as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“At home, probably cleaning up,” she said. “But aren’t you happy I’m here?”
She batted her lashes at me again and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. What the hell was the woman thinking? I hadn’t invited her, hadn’t even thought about it. It was awkward enough as it was without her hitting on me, but now I was going to have to put my foot down.
“Martha, you are welcome to stay,” I said coolly. “But that invitation was for your stepdaughter, and we both know it.”
Her expression changed in a split second, from seductive and flirty to thunderous.
“Well, I’m here now,” she told me, sounding offended. “Why don’t you just make the best of it?”
She made her way towards me, raising her arms and trying to wrap them around my neck. I took firm hold of them and pried them away, giving her an annoyed look.
“Martha,” I said firmly. “Never. In a million years. Is this going to happen.”
“Well,” she said bitterly. “Ella doesn’t even care about you!”
“What on earth are you on about?” I asked her, feeling more annoyed than ever.
“She told me,” Martha said self-righteously. “Said she had a boy in town, and she wasn’t interested.”
Ella’s relationship with her stepmother didn’t strike me as particularly close, so I just rolled my eyes.
“Desperation is not a good look on you,” I said to her.
I turned around and walked away from her, leaving her standing there like a lost lamb. But I didn’t give a crap, I’d had enough of her nonsense, and I had more important things on my mind—like making sure Ella made it to the ball. She was the only reason I’d agreed to have the damn thing in the first place, and I was desperate for her to show up. I had to tell her how I felt, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.
I stalked around the room, looking for her. I was still set on finding her when a new wave of guests filled the room, the front door opening and showing me just a flash of tan fabric covered in beautiful crystals.
I could smell her.
The second she came into the ballroom, as big as it was, her fucking scent filled my nostrils, making me desperate to have another taste. I sought her out, pushing my way through the crowd, desperate to find my girl. Every once in a while, I’d catch a glimpse. Blonde hair in rich waves, a hint of beautiful pale skin. The dress… the clack of heels on the marble floor. I followed her like she was my lifeline, cutting my way through the room to get to her.