Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 62847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
It must have been set on a timer, because I was alone.
I lifted the blanket and looked down at myself.
Mostly naked and alone.
I groaned and grabbed my head. It was throbbing. My mouth was dry and felt fuzzy. What the hell had happened last night? I was not ready to eat a bagel, but I did notice more writing on the back.
I picked up the note and flipped it over.
‘OJ in the fridge. Drink it all.’
I forced myself to stand and padded barefoot over to the kitchen.
I noticed the pets had been fed and watered. Good. Because if I had to bend over I had a feeling I would upchuck all over the nice hardwood floor.
I swung open the fridge. A bottle of OJ sat there with a smiley face post-it note stuck to it. I wanted to punch that smiley face.
Instead, I pulled out the OJ and poured a glass. I leaned against the kitchen island and drank half of it. Then I filled the glass again and shuffled back to the couch.
The sound of the chain clanging against the floor reminded me that Connor was a bastard. He had left me here alone and hungover. Chained up like a dog.
Still, he had fed me.
I sat down and forced myself to eat a bite of the bagel. I chewed slowly and took another bite. I thought about turning the TV on and decided it would hurt my head too much.
I wondered where Mason was and if he was mad at me. I wondered where Conn was and why he was such a bastard. I wondered why I had been naked when I woke up.
I wondered why I wasn’t more concerned about that.
PING.
I glanced down. There was a text on that locked phone of his. I put the bagel down and picked up the phone.
You alive?
Barely.
I could almost hear him laugh. I wanted to talk though. I had a few really weird memories that were all a blur.
Any news? How’s Mason?
He’s safe. That’s all I can say ATM.
What happened last night?
You don’t remember? I’m offended.
Dude, I am not wearing clothes. Did we… do anything?
Sweetheart, I promise you that you would know if we had.
I chewed my lip, staring at the phone. He was being daft. Or deliberately obtuse. I decided to keep pushing. Besides, texting with Connor was strangely fun.
But… why am I naked?
You were not naked when I left.
Okay, almost naked.
Oh that…
Yes. That.
You really shouldn’t drink so much. We played strip poker. You were losing.
Oh. So I was naked and you were a gentleman.
I didn’t say I was a gentleman. But I would not take you the first time when you were black out drunk.
I stared at the phone.
Take me. He said take me. Images of his huge hands lifting me up and throwing me over his shoulder came to mind.
PING.
The phone beeped again and I realized I was gripping it so hard my fingers were turning white. I’d been trying to think of something witty to say, with zero luck.
No matter how tempting it was.
Oh. My. God.
My breath was shaky as I stared at the phone. I set it down and scooted away from it. Like it was a snake and I was afraid it would bite me.
But I wanted it to bite me. I was hungover and confused and trapped and worried. But that didn’t change a thing about the heat building low in my belly.
All I could think about was what he had just said. That he had been tempted.
And how badly I wanted him to give in.
I realized my headache was fading and finished the bagel. I put the volume on low as I flipped through my favorite channels. I drank two more glasses of orange juice before I fell asleep with Cheeto on my lap.
Connor
“You are free to go.”
“Like fucking hell I am.”
“Mase, if you won’t talk, it’s going to have to be her.”
“I didn’t see anything. And she didn’t see anything! She would have said something to me dammit!”
“Trust me, Mase. She did.”
“Don’t fucking call me that. Only she calls me that.”
Mason ran his hands through his hair. He sat down heavily. I crossed my arms, waiting for the inevitable to sink in.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. She’s scared out of her mind. Mostly about you.”
“Promise me one thing, DeWitt.”
“If I can.”
“You won’t hurt her.”
I nodded slowly. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt the beautiful girl. That’s why I had hidden her away and risked my job.
I wanted to protect her. I needed to. Among the many other things I wanted to do with her. Less noble things.
Filthy, dirty things.
But there was no reason to tell Mason that. Besides, he already knew I wanted her. He just had no idea how bad.
There was a sharp knock at the door. Micky’s face appeared in the window. I went out into the hallway to talk to him. He handed me a plastic box with Mason’s personal effects.