Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
I’m not sure I believe what he says, but I offer him a curt nod before pulling Grecia to me. Her body fits against mine perfectly, and I pray she can’t feel my hard on. Her tension eases when I drape my arm over her shoulders. She doesn’t say a word to deny she’s mine, and I’m thankful for that.
“Here’s the folder with all the information you require,” Heinrich tells me, offering me the folder Grecia found lying on his desk earlier. “Everything I have in relation to the Calverts is in there. Including information about your mother and father.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, so I nod my thanks.
“Thank you for allowing me to play,” Grecia says graciously.
“We have to go,” I tell Heinrich before he can respond to her.
I need to get her out of here before he comes up with more duties for her to fulfill.
“I was hoping you’d stay for the initiation of our two newest members,” Heinrich replies, and I can hear the disappointment in his voice.
“I would love to, but we need to get to the airstrip. I’d like to be back in Tynewood by tomorrow.” It’s a lie, I don’t intend to go home yet, but I don’t feel as if we’re completely safe here anymore.
“No problem,” Heinrich agrees. “You’re both welcome to visit any time. I’ll have my men walk you out. Please, don’t be a stranger.”
I nod once more and tug Grecia behind me as we leave the darkness of the circular crypt. We make our way up the old concrete steps and leave through the wooden door that leads out to the parking lot.
Once we’re settled in the back seat of the car, the driver pulls away, and I turn my attention to Grecia.
“What the fuck was that?”
CHAPTER 7
GRECIA
I can’t look at Tarian. I’m so turned on by his show of possessiveness, and I know he’ll see it the moment my eyes lock with his. I admonish myself for my stupidity.
It would be much safer if I stayed silent, but I feel compelled to respond to his question—What the fuck was that?
Curiosity wins out over common sense, and I turn to him. His black hair is a mess, sticking out in all directions, and his eyebrow and lip piercings glint as the car passes under each streetlight. His sky-blue eyes are dark and foreboding as he watches me. He’s too good looking to be this angry all the time.
“What do you mean?” My voice comes out a breathy whisper, and I internally scream at myself for being so weak around him.
“You and the cello,” he clarifies.
His gaze burns into me, and my body is on fire with flames licking every bare inch of my skin. Tarian is somehow managing to touch me with his stare. It’s as if his palms are on me—stroking, claiming, owning.
My heart responds by thudding against my chest in an attempt to break free and leap into his hands.
“I learned to play when I was a kid.” I shrug it off. “My skills are nothing special. I don’t practice enough to play professionally, but I enjoy getting lost in the music.”
“I noticed,” he says, his voice sounding gravelly. “Will you play for me?” Tarian’s tone is filled with hope, but his question shocks me into silence. “I mean, you’re good, and I’d like to hear you play again… if you’re up to the challenge, of course.”
He’s trying to exude nonchalance. It’s not working, though, because something tells me he was affected by my performance. I’ve never been turned on by playing the cello before, but knowing Tarian was there woke something inside me, and now all I can think of is him watching me play while I’m naked.
“I may be up to doing a private show if you’d like to watch,” I sass him, which makes the corner of his mouth tilt upward.
The double entendre makes butterflies awaken in my stomach. Thankfully, he doesn’t have a moment to reply, because we’ve arrived at our destination.
Once the car comes to a stop, the driver opens my door and offers me his hand, which I gratefully accept. I swiftly exit the vehicle, hoping for a moment to collect my thoughts, but before I can, Tarian is already standing beside me.
Tarian isn’t usually attentive to me, and he’s certainly never rushed to my side like he has tonight. I can’t stop the smile on my face as we make our way to the plane we left only a few hours ago.
Weariness takes over the moment I’m seated, and my eyes feel heavy. Thoughts of Tarian are still running rampant in my head as the aircraft whirs to life.
It isn’t long before we’re on the runway and taking off.
“Are we really going home?” I ask, glancing at Tarian, who’s seated across the aisle on the other side of the plane from me.