Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
But I had no idea what to say. “Thanks for letting me know.”
I opened my laptop at the dining table and stared at the search bar.
I typed it in—Alexander Moreau.
But I didn’t hit enter. Something held me back. Guilt…or something.
I closed the laptop instead and stared blankly at the wall, my heart still racing in my chest. Then I glanced at my phone beside me and texted him. Are you busy right now? It was eleven in the evening, so pretty late for a random text.
His response was immediate. Never too busy for you, Pretty.
I stared at the screen for a while, thinking about my next move. My heart was in my throat and my stomach at the same time. I could just break things off and not get into this at all. Might be the easier option. But that didn’t feel right. Can you come by?
Be there in 10. I’ll bring a pizza.
I’m not hungry.
But you’ll be hungry in a couple hours.
I highly doubted that.
I sat there in my silent apartment and waited, replaying the conversation with my father over and over, picking apart his words. Axel hadn’t only been accused of heinous crimes, but he’d actually been found guilty of those crimes…and served time behind bars. That was a fact—and I was sleeping with him. I should have been disgusted. I should have texted him and told him to stay the fuck away from me.
But I just couldn’t believe it.
He walked through the door a moment later, wearing black sweatpants and sneakers, in a gray t-shirt that fit his sexy body so perfectly. His eyes quickly swept across the apartment until they found me, sitting alone in the dining room. He set the pizza box on the counter as he drew close, his eyes taking in my appearance with appreciation. “Damn, I really like that dress.”
He gripped the back of my chair and leaned down to catch my lips.
I kissed him back automatically, muscle memory.
He took the seat across from me. “Where did you go tonight?”
“The opera.”
He gave a slow nod. “Fancy.”
I sat back in the chair, my arms automatically crossing over my chest. Now that he was across from me, I felt so uncomfortable.
He watched me, and slowly the brightness in his eyes faded and he turned serious. He cocked his head slightly as his eyes narrowed. “I guess you won’t be hungry in a couple of hours.”
I swallowed.
“At least you’re facing me like a man this time.”
“Axel…”
“We had a great weekend together. Talk about whiplash.” Now his arms crossed over his chest.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
The anger left his eyes, and now he just looked confused. “I’m listening.”
“When I was at the opera with my father, he mentioned something about you.”
It only took a second or two for the confusion to pass. He looked angry again, and he gave a slow nod. “Of course he did.” He seemed to know exactly what I spoke of. “And how did this come up?”
“Said something about work being bad…and he didn’t like you.”
He rubbed his fingers across his jawline as his eyes dropped to the table. Then he smirked, like he knew something.
“Then he told me that you went to prison…for rape and assault.” My voice cracked slightly as I said it out loud because it hurt me to say those words.
His eyes lifted to mine. “Yep. That’s true.”
“You—you don’t deny it?”
“I can’t deny facts,” he said simply. “I was found guilty of those charges and went to prison for it.”
“But—but did you do it?”
His eyes narrowed once again, and now he looked baffled by that question. “What did you just say?” His voice had deepened in anger. It looked like he might stand up and start yelling.
I swallowed, nervous around him for the first time.
“I’m sure you already looked it all up. Why are you asking me that?”
“I didn’t look it up,” I said quietly. “I almost did, but…I wanted to hear it from you.”
He sank back in his chair, and he just stared at me. Stared at me like he didn’t know if he should speak…or walk out…or throw the chair. “What did you just say?”
“I know we don’t know each other very well, but it just doesn’t seem like something you would do.” I was probably the dumbest girl alive, wanting to believe a fantasy rather than the truth, but something didn’t feel right to me. This man had the biggest smile, had the gentlest touch, made me feel only good…never bad.
His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, and his face hardened, his cheeks tinting red as if his blood surged with anger. He inhaled a slow breath and then released it, the cords in his arms popping even more now. “Are you serious right now?”
“I—I think so.”
The silence was shattered by a laugh, a laugh that was big and unexpected. “I can’t believe this shit.”