Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
He leans close, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “I’m not giving you a choice. You’re my date for the night so get used to it.”
Ryan has never talked to me this way before and I kind of like it, especially the way it makes his voice harsh and growly. I wonder why a smart woman somewhere hasn’t already claimed him. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend hanging around?”
“I’m too much like Captain Kirk, an irresistible ladies’ man.” He takes my hand and puts it in the crook of his arm.
I feel small and delicate next to his much larger frame. “Then who would you say I am from the show?”
We step through the gate and into the side entrance of the opulent hotel where the masquerade is being held. In the distance, I hear the soft strains of music coming from the dance.
“Definitely Spock,” he answers quickly.
I frown. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are a set. They might be total opposites, but they’re considered a classic and enduring pair. You can’t have one without the other. Is he trying to tell me something?
“You try so hard to stay detached,” he explains.
The words deflate the last bit of hope I had been clinging to. It doesn’t matter. I learned a long time ago that there was no point in getting attached to people or things. I definitely shouldn’t get attached to Ryan or read into the way he’s always so nice to me.
When a waitress passes by, I reach for two flutes of champagne.
“Put them back.” His voice is a rumble in my ear.
I take a quick sip of one. I’ve never liked the taste of alcohol. But something to help me forget that I’m on a pity date with my brother’s best friend is nice right about now.
He plucks both of the glasses from my hands and passes them to a different waitress before frowning at me. “Don’t pull that shit with me. You’re underage.”
“You’re not Captain Kirk. You’re Captain America,” I protest, feeling the humiliation burn in my gut. Not only is this a pity date but he can’t even recognize that I’m a grown woman. “Why do you have to look at me and see a kid?”
“I don’t,” Ryan’s words are quick and harsh.
He pulls me onto the dance floor as a new song starts or at least, I’m assuming that’s what it is. All of the music here at this stuffy event sounds exactly the same to me.
He slides his hands low on my bare back, letting them rest just above the start of my dress. I can feel the heat from his hands branding me and I wish he would run them just a little lower and cup my ass.
Then I would put my legs around his waist, and he would back me up against the wall. He’d have his way with me right here in the ballroom, both of us oblivious to the gasps of shock from these high society people.
“Then what do you see me as?” I finally ask when the horn section interrupts my naughty imaginings. “Your best friend’s annoying kid sister, right?”
“I see the delectable woman I’ll be feasting on tonight.” His words are soft, but they may as well have been shouted for the way they jolt me.
My breath catches in my throat as my panties grow damp. I lick my dry lips, noting the way it makes his gaze darken. “Don’t tease me.”
“I’ve never been the teasing type,” he says. “I prefer to get straight to the good part.”
I fight a whimper and wonder if this is all some cosmic joke. Just like the almost family on Stonewell Drive. I’ll be allowed to get just close enough to Ryan before he realizes how damaged I am.
“I can see the doubts on that pretty face of yours.” He cups my cheek as the music swells to a crescendo. “But I am sincere, kitten.”
“Why are you acting weird tonight?” I force the question out from lungs that are suddenly too tight.
“You don’t have to pretend you don’t want this.” He strokes a thumb across my jawline. “I see it in your eyes, feel it in the way you pressed up against me this morning, hell the way you were putting your pretty tits in front of my face at the office today.”
I step back from him as the song ends and shake my head. “I need to freshen my makeup.”
Then I turn and flee to the safety of the women’s restroom like the coward I am.
4
LACEY
Inside the bathroom, I take deep breaths and try to calm my racing heart. I had to have imagined that conversation with Ryan.
He can’t just want me. Not like that.
I wish I could find Katie. She’s written all of these cool romance stories. She’d know if he was serious or not. She’d help me figure out what to do next.