Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Hastings tipped his scruff-covered face to hers and smirked. “I’d love to put you over my knee, Curls. Smack that ass of yours as you cry and scream. I can just imagine how fucking wet you’d be with each strike of my hand.” He inhaled and moaned. “I can smell your arousal, Curls. I bet you’re fucking soaked now, that clit of yours just begging to be licked, flicked, hell, I bet you’d even enjoy a bite or two.”
Her entire body trembled, nipples taut and hardened like diamonds. All it would take for her to touch him would be to lean toward him the slightest bit.
She couldn’t give in. Her rules were in place for a reason. A damn good one, and if she could just have a moment, she’d think of it.
Curling the fingers of her left hand into her palm, she dug her nails in, snapping her attention from the arousal coursing through her system. Sort of. Once the pain had granted her a moment to rally her wandering thoughts, she blinked and glanced up at the sexy-as-sin man before her.
She allowed herself the indulgence, because, why not? Holding his gaze, she dropped her stare to his lips then back up to his eyes. “I have no doubt I’d enjoy every, what is it nine, ten inches that you have?”
Hastings’ gaze darkened as his nostrils flared.
Violet dragged her tongue along her lower lip, promptly ignoring the warning bells screeching in her head. “I’d love to feel you deep inside me, lifting me up on my toes, making me lose my voice. Hell, even seeing you on your knees before me, staring at my pussy like it’s your feast.”
A growl rolled from him and set her skin on fire.
“But none of that matters because, like I said, you’re military and so off limits.” She walked away, refusing to listen to her body’s need to remain close to him, and headed to the door. Never once looking back.
It took all of her fortitude not to run, but she refused to give him the satisfaction. Still, her steps were sturdy and as lengthy as they could be as she walked inside the building and made her way to her office.
A room which held two Rhodes brothers, one sexy PI and Paul, who stood behind her chair, his fingers curved into the black material.
“What is going on here?”
Four pairs of eyes looked at her. Bradford skimmed her with his gaze and smirked.
“Well, that’s depressing. I thought my brother was better than that.”
“I am,” Hastings growled from behind her.
Violet nearly jumped. How the hell had she not heard him?
“Yet you’re both here looking miserable.” Bradford leaned against the wall.
“Focus.” Livingston didn’t even have to raise his voice. A man used to dominating the boardroom and hell, every room he was in, he expected people to look at him and pay attention.
Violet noticed even Bradford straightened up a bit. She rolled her eyes and walked around the imposing males to Paul and gave him a small smile. The moment he returned it, a low growl rumbled through the air to her, and she turned her head to glare at the man she had no doubt emitted it.
Sure enough, Hastings stared at them, a deep scowl etched into his handsome face.
“Problem?” she snapped.
He didn’t say a single word, just strode toward her and wedged his large body between her and Paul.
“Not a one.”
Bradford snorted and she shot him a look known to quell lesser men. He grinned, and in her periphery, Violet noticed Livingston struggling not to smile.
“I’ll just stand over here,” Paul said drolly.
“Good.” Hastings didn’t even look at him.
“I’m sure,” she said, looking at the two brothers before her and not the one beside her, “there is a purpose to you both being here.”
“Of course there is. As we were telling Hastings on our way, the senator is why.”
Violet rolled her eyes. “The senator isn’t my concern. Bradford, I’m here as a favor to you, to get this place up and running once the doors are fully open. When I leave, and I will be leaving, I think Paul should be the one to take over. He was the one running things before I got here. Do what you will about the senator, I have other things to do than babysit a man who from what I can see and understand is only using his son to further his own career.”
Bradford pursed his lips then nodded, walking to the desk, reminding her of the other two Rhodes men who had the imposing look down—the one which overflowed with confidence, the one which, when she saw it on Hastings, prompted her to want to hand over her panties, simply on principle.
“I’m making an executive decision, Violet. Hastings is going to be here with you because, no, don’t argue with me,” he said, holding up a hand. “I’m not going to tell either of your sisters that something happened to you and have them gunning for my dick. He’ll keep you safe. All I ask is that you don’t kill him. I kind of like him around.”