Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
So that was me shooting for the moon, but, hey, doesn’t hurt to try. The guilt of cheating on him might not stop eating me from the inside, especially since I have no idea who the man was, but the only way to move past it is to dedicate myself to the here and now.
I should be as faithful as he is. Even if we’re fake.
And then I’ll break his heart. Well, maybe spirit, since he doesn’t have a heart.
Eli watches me for a beat and I try my hardest not to crack under the pressure and compromise.
To my utter astonishment, he nods.
“Really?” I ask in bewilderment. “You won’t change your mind?”
“Do you want me to change my mind?”
“Nooo!” I jump him, my arms wrapping around his neck. My feet lift off the ground because he’s too damn tall.
He plants a hand on my waist, swaying back a step at my sudden attack.
It isn’t until his scent saturates my nostrils that I realize I’m hugging Eli.
Shit.
I fall back to the floor as naturally as humanly possible before I bolt to the door.
“I’ll see you in an hour!” I say with unabashed excitement, and I catch the most peculiar view in my peripheral vision.
Eli’s smiling, but it’s hauntingly…sad.
So when my husband mentioned putting on a decent dress, he didn’t specify the color, cut, or tightness level.
I gracefully descend the stairs, my feet lightly tapping against each step as I make my way down in a flowing maxi dress. The deep-red chiffon fabric drapes off my shoulders, exposing just a hint of my cleavage when standing up, but it will reveal half my breasts if I bend.
He doesn’t know that, though.
As I move, the high slit of the dress shows off my slender leg, accentuated by the stunning golden studded shoes that adorn my feet. My matching clutch bag dangles from my fingers while long red-and-gold earrings sway with every step, complementing the intricate design of my necklace.
I swept my hair into an elegant twist, leaving a few wispy strands to frame my face. A bold shade of red paints my lips, completing the glamorous look I've carefully put together.
While I felt beautiful when I looked in the mirror, none of that compares to the flashes of warmth that sizzle through me as Eli freezes upon seeing me.
He looks sharp and maddeningly masculine in a tailored tuxedo, black bowtie, and studded cufflinks that match my—and, apparently, his—favorite watch.
The trimmed sides of his hair are precisely groomed, while the longer top is styled to perfection, highlighting his rough and raw features.
His jaw clenches as he watches me while absentmindedly rolling his wedding band around his finger.
Savage energy radiates from him, drawing me closer despite my better judgment. Tension grows stronger between us as his piercing gaze roams over my face, lingering on my breasts and legs with a hunger that sends my senses alight. It’s as if his hands are shoving the dress off of me, caressing me roughly, manhandling me, taking me.
For a moment, I forget how to walk properly and I remind myself to do it one step at a time.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I keep my distance, afraid I’ll catch fire if I get too close.
“No need to scowl.” I try to lighten the mood with my joyful energy. “I was only twenty minutes late. That’s, like, a record.”
“You’ll change immediately.”
“But why?” I stare down at myself. “I’m perfectly decent.”
“You’re perfectly tempting.”
I swallow past the dryness in my throat. “I’m not changing. It took me a long time to get ready and feel beautiful. You won’t take that away.”
“Ava…”
“Either I go like this or I don’t go at all.”
“Don’t go at all.”
I release an exasperated sound. “Nope. I’m going. I didn’t get ready for nothing.”
Before he can lock me up in my ivory tower, I breeze past him to the door, where Leo is waiting.
He opens the car door, dutifully not looking at me, probably because his boss would sack him faster than he could blink.
“At least remove the lipstick,” Eli says as soon as he slips into the back seat beside me.
I pout. “But it’s part of the outfit.”
“Remove it, Ava.”
“Nuh-uh.” I blow him a kiss in an attempt to lighten the mood. “Relax, darling, it’s only lipstick—”
The words aren’t completely out of my mouth when his hand wraps around my throat, killing any protest.
His face is so close, I can taste the mint off his breath. “Don’t fuck with me, Ava. I do not appreciate sharing my things with others, am I clear?”
A tremor of fear and something unashamedly sexual course through me. He really will give me hell if he finds out about the cheating, won’t he?
I attempt to pull back, but he grabs a fistful of my hair until his lips brush mine with every word. “Am I fucking clear?”