Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“What is it?” My heart races again as I expect the other shoe to drop.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I don’t want you to be my housekeeper anymore.”
“But I thought you said I didn’t need to go anywhere.”
“You don’t, and I won’t let you. I just don’t want you working for me. Especially not as some kind of indentured servant. You can have your pick of the suites on the second floor if that will make you comfortable, and I’ll have the service find us a real housekeeper. You weren’t meant to clean my floors and do my laundry.”
“I don’t understand. If you felt that way, why did you take me in?”
“You haven’t figured that out by now?” He caresses my face and gently kisses my lips.
“You’ve made me a very happy girl but there must be something I can do to contribute. Maybe I can learn how to care for the horses.”
“You’ll ride your horse and swim in the pool. If you want to go to school, we’ll get you enrolled. Whatever you want, just ask.”
It seems way too good to be true so I summon the courage to ask the burning question. “And what do you want in return?”
“I think that should be obvious by now too, little girl. I want you.”
“Why me?”
“Because you were made for me. Every last, delicious inch of you.”
It’s all so sudden that, once again, I find myself wondering if it’s just a dream. When he kisses me, though, it’s the realest thing I’ve ever felt. I can’t think of anything I’d rather be than his, and it has nothing to do with the fancy mansion or my new horse. No one has ever awakened these feelings in me before. Stephen Stockton is the most handsome, sweet, and terrifying man I’ve ever met.
We walk back to the house and find Samuel rummaging through the refrigerator. He looks up from his task and grunts. “Where were you? I thought dinner would be ready by now.”
“Sherry is off tonight so we’re fending for ourselves. She’s got plenty of food in there for you.”
“Sherry? Does that old bat still work for us? I figured she would have retired by now. You know, maybe I’ll go out to eat. What car can I take?”
“None. Your license expired while you were in prison. You can call a taxi.”
“Nah. This night calls for a trip to the wine cellar and a skinny dip in the pool. Where are you staying, honey? The maid’s quarters. Maybe you’d like to join my party.”
Stephen steps in front of me. “She was in the servant quarters, but tonight, she’s staying with me.”
Samuel grins. “Where’s the fucking gratitude? I take a loss on her father’s debts and hand her to you on a silver platter, but you won’t share?”
Stephen moves me aside and rushes his brother. He grabs him by the throat and shoves him against the refrigerator door.
“Disrespect her again and I’ll kill you,” he says with a tone so calm and steady.
“Whoa, chill man, I get it. I was just busting your balls. I won’t do it again.”
Stephen stares into his eyes, and the air grows thick from the tension exuding from his body. Then, he exhales deeply and releases his hold on his brother. He takes me by the arm and walks away so quickly that I have difficulty keeping up with him.
I should be terrified to have this giant of a man dragging me away like he owns me. Instead, I feel a throbbing between my legs that makes it difficult to match his stride. Until now, my insecurities have kept me from seeing the bigger picture. My attraction to Stephen isn’t about his striking looks, his mansion, or his money. When I confront my true desires, I realize that I want him to use me to feed his passion. Yes, I want him to own me and I want to submit my will to him.
7
STEPHEN
Seeing Samuel flirt with Samantha ignites a fire in me, and I whisk her up the stairs without dinner. It’s time to seal the deal so there can be no doubt who she belongs to. Then, if my brother gets out of hand, he’ll do so knowing that he’s crossing a line. If he disrespects us that way, there isn’t a force in the universe powerful enough to save him from my wrath.
Samantha stands in the middle of the room and waits for me to lock the door and turn on the light. She turns to me and says, “I thought you were going to have me move into one of the other suites up here. Do you want me to sleep with you?”
I can sense her anxiety, so I try to dull the desire swelling inside of me long enough to provide her with some reassurance. “You can pick a room tomorrow, but for tonight, you’re staying right here.”