Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 64640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“She isn’t.”
“You can find that information as well?” I ask, amused.
“Yes.”
“What have you learned about me?”
“You…” He sits back and eyes me up and down. “What makes you think I did research on you?”
“Oh, you did. Now, tell me… What did you learn?”
“When you were born, you were born addicted. Your mother was high throughout her pregnancy. She left a note pinned to you that said she couldn’t handle your screams, so she dropped you off at a fire station and never looked back. As far as I can tell, she is still high as fuck to this day. And from the age of two, you went from foster home to foster home.”
His words jolt me. I don’t know anything about my mother. Not even what she looks like. I never really cared to ask or search for her because someone who loves you wouldn’t treat you that way. “It’s why you don’t do drugs, am I correct?”
“Correct,” I answer quietly. “Plus, alcohol works just fine for me.”
I raise a brow.
“You also like it when I touch you. Any touch of mine…me holding your leg, my hands between your legs—”
“Well, I should go,” Louise says, obviously feeling slightly awkward.
“No, stay and eat.” I reach for her hand, and she sits back down.
“You also hate to be touched, especially with affection. But not by me.”
“Oh, yes, she hates it when I cuddle her, so I make sure to do it every time I see her to get her used to it.” Louise laughs.
“You do it on purpose?” I question.
“Of course I do. And because you are the best friend a girl could have. Even if you hate cuddles, I love them, so you will take them.”
“I’m gonna start kicking you now every time you cuddle me,” I threaten, just as the food is placed in front of us.
“You won’t. You love me too much.”
Damn! She’s right. I do.
I look to both of these people who are now fixtures in my life and I wonder how I got here.
I’ve never had anyone—it’s always been me against the world.
But now, I have two people who look after me. Granted, one wants to kill me when he fucks me.
But even then, I keep coming back for more.
THIRTY-ONE
Zuko
“How much longer is this going to take?” I’m sitting on her bed, watching her while she perches on the floor in front of her full-length mirror doing her makeup. Her hair is already curled and arranged in some half-up half-down style.
Her narrowed eyes meet mine in the reflection of the mirror. “Beauty takes time, Zuko.”
“Well, okay then.”
“Do you think women just throw together a look and hope for the best? No, we have to shave, wash areas that need to be washed, apply moisturizer everywhere. Dry our hair, style our hair, and hope to God it works. And then we do our makeup.”
“I’ve seen you get ready before. You usually throw things together and hope for the best.” I wink and she gasps.
“I look fabulous. But yes, you are correct. On a normal day, I would do that. But for a gala, I want to feel like a princess. Are you denying me that happiness?” she bites back.
Fuck. Okay.
“You know I wouldn’t deny you.”
“I do not know, hence why I asked.” She turns her attention back to her task in hand and continues swiping something on her eyelids. “You do look very handsome, though. Did I tell you that?”
I glance down at my all-black attire. My shirt is silk, and my slacks probably cost more than my watch. But having her compliment them makes me want to go out and buy twenty outfits just like it and wear them every day for her.
“You didn’t,” I say, hoping how much her words affect me doesn’t come through in my voice.
“Well, you do.”
I lower to the floor and crawl over to her until I’m at her back. She’s wrapped in nothing but a big, fluffy towel. Not able to resist touching her, I place my hand on her bare shoulder and slide my fingers over her smooth skin.
“We can’t have sex. That will require me having a shower after, and I can’t get my hair wet,” she says as my lips touch her neck. She visibly shivers at my kiss, and the brush she was using to apply her makeup pauses an inch away from her face. “Zuko,” she says in a breathless whisper. “You don’t want me to make you late, and this will definitely make us late.”
“Mm-hmm…” is all I can think of as a response.
I reach in front of her and undo the knot in the towel, letting it drop to her lap. I see the top of her ass and am happy to report she is not wearing underwear. When I check over her shoulder into the mirror, I see her eyes darken. She uncrosses her legs, and my eyes pan down her reflection, taking in all of her. And she is beautiful. My hand slides up and grips the back of her neck, pulling her backward until she’s lying on the floor. I stand, hovering over her, and slide up my sleeves as I stare down at her.