Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“Isn’t that convenient?”
“I would be one hundred percent safe with other women.”
Doom had mistaken her sarcasm. The big, randy fool didn’t realize it was more of a jeer than her doubting he would stick to the rule.
“That’s good. Then you can make one of them your property.”
He raked his hand through his tumbled hair. “Fine,” he snapped. “I’d tell you first and get your approval. Are you sure you want to be there?”
“If I give permission, I’m there, or it’s a no-go. Why would it bother me to see you with other women? It’s not like I haven’t seen you lick a woman like she was your favorite flavor of snow cone.”
“She wasn’t my favorite flavor.”
Arden wasn’t fazed by the seductive smile he was giving her.
His hand moved back toward her breast. Arden smacked it away again.
“We play by the same rules, or we don’t play,” she stated firmly.
His jaw clenched, but he nodded. “As long as you understand I won’t be dealing with any hurt feelings or recriminations afterward.”
Why am I even considering this? Arden asked herself. She should say to hell with him, yet when she started to say exactly that, the look in his eyes stopped her. Doom wanted her as much as she wanted him. Would she just be a new toy to play with until he grew bored?
Don’t do this to yourself. Going along with this was like running full force into a semi and praying for it not to hit her.
Instead of putting on the brakes, she continued on her run. She could always swerve at the last minute, couldn’t she?
“Same.”
Doom eyed her critically. “You’re not as blasé as you’re pretending to be, Tink. I’m going to be upfront with you. Claiming you isn’t in the same category as getting engaged. There’s not going to be a wedding ring in the future, at least not with me. In a month or two, I’ll be leaving Ohio. The only reason I’m still here is because I’m waiting for the man I’ll be replacing to retire. I think we could have some good times until then, but I want you to keep in mind, regardless of how good this turns out to be between us, I’ll still be leaving… Alone.”
Arden shrugged. “Then if you don’t want me to grow attached, I won’t. I appreciate your honesty. This actually works for me. With my parents in such bad health, I don’t know how long I have before I’ll have to turn my main focus on them.”
“I’m still not buying it. I really don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Sounds like you’re changing your mind.”
“When I’m with a woman, I don’t want to leave any damage behind when it’s over.”
“You want a clean conscience when it’s over, then stick to the conditions we agreed to. I’ll wave you off when you’re ready to leave town,” she promised.
Doom didn’t seem convinced, but his hand moved toward her again, and as he leaned forward, her breast met him halfway.
“I’m cold, Doom, inside and out. I feel as if every part of my life is death. Lizzie…” she choked out. “My parents…” Her head fell to his shoulder. “I need to be warm again before I forget what it feels like.”
Doom stood up from the bed. Thinking he was going to remove his sweatpants, she was surprised when he picked her up in his arms. Holding her steady, he bent to pick up her cell phone from the nightstand then carried her out of the bedroom. Curious, Arden remained silent until he reached the apartment door and went out.
“Wherever we’re going, I need to lock my door.”
She heard Doom shut the door behind them, and then he carried her to his apartment.
“Like that would make a difference. My camera will pick it up if someone gets near your door.”
“I should get one.”
“Don’t bother; I’ll be there before any cops would be anyway.”
She felt the prick of tears at the reminder of him coming in time to keep her from suffering the same fate as Lizzie.
The sound of beeps had her glancing at the door as Doom pressed buttons on a computerized doorknob.
“I’m not going to ask how you got approval for that,” she said as Doom strode through the doorway.
He grinned at her as he shut the door. “I let Puck ask her for permission.”
The apartment was shrouded in darkness as he walked through his living room. She could only make out shadows of where she assumed he had placed his furniture.
Doom didn’t turn the lights on until they were in his bedroom.
Stunned speechless at what the light revealed had her taking it all in as Doom carried her to the masculine, tobacco-colored bed. A tufted leather headboard looked as if it were six inches thick and reached nearly to the ceiling. The nightstand was white on the bottom with wood the same color as the headboard it sat next to.