Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Thank you…” It felt out of place to say that, but it felt even more awkward to say nothing at all. I held his expression as he stood in front of me, seeing the green eyes along with the stubble on his face. My nipples hardened inside my bra and pushed against the fabric. Thankfully, the bra was padded so my hardness wasn’t visible.
His hand slid into his pocket, his thumb hooked on the outside. When he created these tense moments, he didn’t seem to be bothered by the stern silence the way everyone else was. He was naturally intimidating, a skill that affected everyone else but him. Maybe he was aware of it. Maybe he wasn’t.
I refused to allow myself to be cowed, to allow this man to make me stand on pins and needles. But when he wore such a handsome expression mixed with distinct darkness, it was hard not to.
Was I afraid of him? Or was I attracted to him?
Could it be both?
“Why are you uncomfortable?”
Like I was words on a page, he read me like an open book. I didn’t like being transparent, but maybe I wasn’t. Maybe he just had a powerful skill of reading human emotion. “I’m pretty much naked right now…”
“And what’s wrong with that?” He held himself with perfect posture at all times. Even when he stood at the table and stared down at his notebook, his shoulders were still squared. He practiced what he preached, never slouching.
Everything was wrong with it. “It’s unnatural…I hardly know you.”
“Unnatural?” he whispered. “A woman’s naked body is the most natural thing in the world. It’s beautiful, erotic, sensual…breathtaking.” His eyes glided down my body again. “You should never feel ashamed of that beautiful skin. No woman ever should be. You have more power than you realize. I make beautiful things, but I can only be inspired by something just as beautiful. You have all the power in every situation, Ten. Men would gladly lay down their lives just for a look at your perfection. When you walk across that stage, you should own it. You should burn with confidence and power. I will make you look like the goddess that you are—but you have to be the goddess. Don’t ever feel ashamed or insecure when you stand there like that in front of me. I think you’re stunning. You hardly know me now, but that will change very soon. Soon, you will trust me more than anyone else on this earth.”
His words immediately changed my perception, immediately made me feel more at ease standing like that in front of him. I suddenly felt invigorated, no longer on display. A new burst of confidence shot through me.
“My job isn’t just to make a woman look beautiful—but feel beautiful.” He stepped closer to me, officially in my personal space. It was the closest he ever had come to me, his mouth lingering just inches from mine. “I like to fuck women, so I know exactly how I want them to look when I’m fucking them. I know what men want. I know what fantasies they have. So I design lingerie that fits those desires. Any woman who wears my clothes will feel gorgeous—because she’ll know it’s what a man wants.” He tilted his head slightly, looking down at my body.
I felt the bumps form on my arms, felt my breath come out shaky. It was like standing in front of an inferno where the flames licked my skin. A combination of his power, authority, and confidence wrapped around me. He paralyzed me.
He brushed the backs of his fingertips against my shoulder and slowly dragged them down my arm. He moved slowly, stopping at the crease in my elbow. “You inspire me…because I know exactly how I would fuck you.”
6
Conway
I left my building and walked through the quiet, dark streets of Milan. The tall buildings were cast in shadows as the short lamps only highlighted the street. A couple passed me as they enjoyed their gelato. I was dressed in a navy blue suit with a matching tie, and my outfit was worth thousands of dollars. If someone was desperate for money, just my clothes had enough value to change their life forever.
But no one was stupid enough to cross me.
I didn’t just have a famous face, but a respected power. I could make things happen with the snap of my fingers. I could make people disappear if I wanted. I had the authority to change the course of the future—if I wanted to.
I turned the corner and approached the entrance to the club. The bass of the music thudded from the inside, reaching the street and the people waiting around to get in. Women stood outside in heels and sparkling lingerie, the humid temperature keeping their delicate skin warm.