Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
He reminded me of a statue.
Perfectly polished, yet completely dead inside.
You once described Zach that way. What changed?
I swallowed the question, focusing on Oliver. “How do you know he likes me?”
“For starters, he no longer looks like life is pushing lemons into his rectum, two at a time, twenty-four hours a day.” I stumbled over his feet. He caught me by the waist, a chuckle rolling from his throat. “God, you’re adorable. All rough edges, just like him.”
“It’s my first waltz.”
“For the sake of every pair of feet in the state, I hope it will be your last.”
“Do you always find people not in your class so amusing?”
“Not at all. I usually find them completely insignificant.”
God help the poor girl who managed to tame this beast. What a handful.
The song came to an end.
We pulled apart, about a foot.
Oliver bowed, claimed my hand, and brought it to his lips. He peered up, staring right into my eyes as his lips grazed my skin.
“Remember, little Fae. No hurting Zachary’s feelings. I can be a teddy bear, but make no mistake—I can also become one hell of a lion.”
I mustered a smile that must have resembled a grimace. “As I said before, von Bismarck, I won’t be intimidated by a fat bank account and the mediocre dick it’s compensating for.”
He laughed all the way to the bar. Great. Now I couldn’t get a drink. Asshole would think I followed him.
His ego needed its own zip code.
I turned toward the kitchen instead, pushing my way through people. Everyone buzzed with excitement.
Instead of ramping mine up, it suffocated me. I almost made it to the door when I heard my nickname.
“Octi.”
Ugh.
Couldn’t catch a single break tonight.
I stopped but didn’t turn to face Zach.
“Asshole,” I greeted back.
His footsteps barely made a sound as he placed himself right in front of me, blocking my way to the kitchen. “Enjoying my party?”
I took my time perusing him in his slick tux, settling on his bloodshot eyes. Oliver’s words shotgunned to the front of my mind.
For the first time, I realized that—behind the designer suit and thousand-dollar haircut—Zachary Sun was a wreck of a man.
If only I wasn’t so focused on my own misery.
“Not really.” I hitched a shoulder up. “I’ve been trying to get a drink for an hour now, and there’s always someone in the way.” I raised a brow. “Currently, that someone is you. Kindly see yourself out.”
“This is my house.”
“I’m aware. If it were mine, I wouldn’t let Mommy be in charge of the décor.”
Shit. I really was in a bad mood tonight.
He stepped toward me, his fingers twitching as he stopped himself from touching me. “What did Oliver say to you?”
He threatened my life if I hurt you, you fool. Great friends you’ve got there. What did you do to deserve them?
“None of your business, Zach.” I arched a brow. “May I remind you we’re not exclusive?”
“May I remind you I hold the purse strings?”
“Don’t worry… I’m reminded of that every time I see your annoying face. It’s not good will that’s keeping me here.”
“Watch your mouth, Miss Ballantine. I may want it wrapped around my cock, but I also won’t hesitate to fire you.”
My face must have betrayed my thoughts. That he was dangerously close to getting his nuts kicked.
He stepped back and released a growl, thrusting a hand into his hair. “He had no right to touch you.”
“Will you cut the possessive bull crap?” I folded my arms over my chest. “You have no right.”
“But I have will.” His teeth slammed together. “The will to finish anyone who looks at or touches you.”
He curled his fist, pressing it against his thigh, and I knew he wanted contact. A hug. A skin-to-skin moment to soothe his anger.
His face softened, and dammit, so did my heart.
He glanced away for a moment. “I was an asshole today, wasn’t I?”
“You were,” I agreed. “Why?”
He opened his mouth. From the center of the room, the unmistakable clank of a knife against fine glass interrupted the moment.
We snapped our heads in its direction.
The music stopped.
Constance stood on a heavily mic’d podium, swathed in a navy gown with a cape, hair twisted back and adorned with delicate jewelry.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. May I kindly have your attention?”
Her voice—pure steel, cold and sharp—grazed along my skin, giving me goosebumps. She handed the champagne glass to a server and scanned the room until her eyes landed on Zach.
Next to me.
Her expression clouded, a flash of lightning surfacing, but she quickly smothered it with a smile. “I’d like to start by thanking you for making the time to attend such a last-minute gathering. Your support means the world. The Sun family and the Sun for Warmth Foundation are forever grateful for this community and your mutual efforts in preserving local wildlife.”