Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Fucking truth,” he says, stepping on the gas and tearing down the driveway and onto the main road. Someone beeps behind us, but he doesn’t seem fazed.
“It’s not the correct way to ask for a date,” I chastise him as I look at my nails.
“It’s a half date,” he corrects me.
“What even is a half date?” I ask, confused. If I’ve learned one thing about River Bently, it’s that he’s about as unpredictable as I am.
“It’s where my mother is also joining us.”
“Fucking hell, River.” I throw my hands in the air. “Parents don’t like me. It’s just the nature of the beast. They hate me, and why would I want to sit awkwardly with your mother?”
“Because you two are the most important people in my life. I want you to like her, and her to like you.”
His honesty catches me off guard. Am I really that important to him?
I’d usually flippantly think “why would I care,” but the thought doesn’t rear its ugly head.
I like the way it sounds, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t do well with parents. Not that I’ve ever tried. But considering my own estranged relationship with Meredith, I don’t do first impressions well.
“What if she doesn’t like me?” I ask. “Because that’s a high possibility. Mothers hate me.”
“She won’t once she gets to know you,” he says with unrelenting confidence. “She’s only here for a short while this time, and I’ve already spent most of my time with you.”
“Breaking into my house, I might add.”
“Yeah.” He smirks.
“How did you even get past my guards last night?” I ask, baffled. Anyone else who tried—and there were only two previous attempts—was shot dead before they even made it past a window or door.
“I have my ways.” He winks. “That and I hacked all of your security cameras and had a key made for your front door.”
My jaw drops open. “You just used a key to let yourself in?”
“Yes, Anya. It’s how people used to do it back in the day. You should try it someday,” he says smugly. “I’m not against you firing your bodyguards, though.”
“I’ll get rid of you before them,” I say defiantly.
“I feel much the same way about my dogs,” he says with an arrogant smile. “My mother loves Mexican food. I hope you’re okay with that?”
I sigh. I’m out of my fucking mind actually doing this. But it might be an interesting distraction to watch how a normal mother interacts with their adult child since mine is currently trying to fuck me over at every turn now that Alek isn’t around.
“I’ll be sure to bring my sombrero,” I say, exasperated.
He chuckles as he grabs my hand, rubbing his thumb over it.
I stare and stare and stare.
I really have gone mad.
CHAPTER 42
Anya
“It seems strange you’re not forcing your mother to your god-awful restaurant,” I say as we pull up in front of what looks to be a popular Mexican restaurant. I wouldn’t know because I rotate between a select few that I already know I like.
“It doesn’t hurt to try different things, Anya. Besides, we ate there last night,” he says, rather smug. “You’re going to enjoy it.”
“Lucky me, because we all know how much I love margaritas.” I roll my eyes as we get out of the car. He locks it and places his hand on my lower back as the valet comes to take his keys.
“Let your hair down,” River orders.
I stop walking and look at him.
“This won’t work if you tell me what to do.”
“I love your hair down, and you always have it up. Put it down.”
“It takes a lot of effort to get it like this,” I say, pointing at the bun. It’s slicked back and got a lot of product in it.
“And while it’s beautiful, I prefer it down,” he growls, and it’s that tone that promises sweet, sweet pleasure. I bite my bottom lip.
“Don’t give me that look, Red,” he says, his voice gravelly. “We can at least say hi to my mother first.”
“And after that?” I ask innocently as I start to unpin my hair. He watches me intensely. I hate those eyes, how they stare into me, make me forget who I am, and get me to do whatever he wants. That is way too much power for my liking.
“After that, I’m going to break into your home and fill that sweet little cunt of yours. I’m going to tie each of your limbs to a bedpost and torture you into oblivion,” he says. My pussy throbs and floods at the visual. “Since you’re behaving like such a good girl.”
Once my hair is free, he places both of his hands at the back of my head and pulls me in for a kiss. We stand in the middle of the walkway, two people oblivious to anything around us. His tongue slides in my mouth and takes over. I moan into his mouth, and he pulls me closer. I can feel his hardness through his pants, proof of how badly he wants me.