Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
She’s perfect for me.
Her rosebud lips press together, as though she’s debating another retort. She wants to see how far she can push me.
“Go on.” I dare her to try it. “Defy me, and see what happens.”
She blows out an exasperated sigh, but she sways toward me, drawn in by my cruelty.
I lift her hand to my lips and brush a kiss over her knuckles. “Such a good girl.”
I’m baiting her. I’d love a reason to hurt her again, to indulge in the darkest parts of our intense connection.
She practically squirms at the praise. She likes it, even if my patronizing tone makes her bristle.
I’ll break her of those notions of pride and independence. She doesn’t need them anymore. Not when she’s mine to care for.
She shakes her head. “I’m not falling for that. Bait me all you want. I’m not going to give you a reason to punish me so easily.”
I press another reverent kiss to the back of her hand. A strange, giddy thrill soars through me. I’m more pleased by her response than I could’ve imagined. She’s not defying me, but she is trying to deny me. Abigail won’t walk into my traps so easily. It makes our game more complex, and I’ll never get bored.
“Are you forgetting the part where I can make you suffer at my whim?” I challenge. “I don’t need a reason.”
“Dane!” My name is a breathy admonishment. “We’re in public. This is too much.”
“I rather like seeing you blush and squirm for me in front of all these people. Do you think they know how wet you are right now?”
“Dane!” She’s almost alarmed this time, but that flush deepens to the prettiest shade of pink, and she licks her perfect lips in open desire.
My arrogant laugh seems to affect her even more, because she tears her gaze from mine and stares out at the ocean. Her chest rises and falls more rapidly as she draws in little panting breaths. I shift my hold on her hand so that I can test her pulse at her wrist. It’s racing for me, elevated with lust and an edge of fear at public exposure.
“I can be a merciful master,” I allow, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ll discuss this more later.”
She releases some of her tension on a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”
I caress her cheek, lingering on her pretty freckle. “Such a sweet, grateful pet. How did I get so lucky?”
Her teasing smile is wide and brighter than the summer sun overhead. “You’re welcome.”
I hum my approval and wrap my hand around her nape to pull her closer. “I’ll tame this sassy mouth later.”
I press a quick kiss to her parted lips, relishing her little scandalized gasp.
“I am lucky to have you, Abigail,” I say earnestly.
One way or another, she was always going to be mine. But I captured her with such ease. I didn’t even have to remove a man from her life to gain access to her.
Although, there is still the irksome issue of the man who hurt her in the past. The one who made her thorny about financial control and skittish when I kissed her the first time. Someone has abused her, and I won’t be satisfied until I make him suffer. His actions made it more difficult for me to win Abigail’s trust. He’ll pay for that.
“Tell me about your relationship history,” I say. “How is it possible that such a stunning woman was single and waiting for me to come along?”
The question is meant to soften my intense inquiry, but she edges away from me slightly. I’m not sure if it’s my compliment that’s making her uncomfortable or the prospect of talking about her painful past, but I won’t relent until I have answers. I want the name of her abuser.
“You don’t want to hear about my past boyfriends,” she says with a dismissive wave.
“I’ll be the judge of what I want to hear,” I admonish. “Tell me.”
Her brows lift. “Is that an order?”
“Yes.” I don’t bother to hide the warning, cold edge to my tone.
She considers me for a moment, then shrugs. “There’s not much to tell. I’ve only had one boyfriend, and it wasn’t that serious. We dated for about six months during my freshman year at College of Charleston, but he transferred to a different school for sophomore year. The relationship was never significant enough to warrant trying long distance.”
“Is he the one who hurt you?” I ask, my voice dropping even colder.
She blinks, as though caught off guard by my question. “No. He was a nice guy. We just didn’t have much chemistry.”
Some of the violent tension eases from my muscles. “So, he’s the one who couldn’t satisfy you.”
I’m still annoyed that the fumbling fool is the one who made her think that her body isn’t capable of experiencing pleasure. She was painfully tense when I was gentle with her that first time. He probably reinforced that stiffness with his inept attempts at seduction. I wonder how many times she forced herself to endure the pain to soothe the boy’s ego, the way she’d tried to do with me when she faked her orgasm.