Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Then again, Alyx Marshall hadn’t been a part of his past either.
Upon arriving at the airport, a limousine was already waiting for him. The ride to Alyx’s hotel in small-town Rockton took half an hour, and he used the time to call her. He must have dialed her number at least a dozen times, but all of it went straight to her voicemail. By the time he made it to her suite, Nathan had been prepared for the worst.
He rapped his fist furiously on the door. “It’s me. Open up.” He tried the knob and cursed when he found it unlocked. Stalking inside, he bit out, “What the hell are you thinking---” He broke off.
Alyx was lounging on the sofa, elbow propped on the armrest, head cocked to the side. Her eyes were questioning, but her smile was goofy as she sang out, “Hellooooooo.” She was also dressed in nothing but her underwear, a modest pair that kept everything hidden but was nonetheless made sexy as hell by the combination of black silk and tiny red ribbons.
Fuck.
His gaze slid to the bottle of wine on the table. She had barely done damage to it, her wine glass still half-full.
“You’re completely smashed, sweetheart.” Nathan’s tone was half-exasperated, half-resigned. “Did you drink on an empty stomach?”
“Yup!” Her tone was gay. “And now it doesn’t hurt anymore!”
“That’s good…” Walking forward, he said dryly, “Because your head’s going to hurt like a bitch tomorrow.” Looking down at her, he asked, “I’m guessing you’re not much of a drinker?”
“That depends.” Alyx fluttered her lashes.
“On what?”
She giggled. “On which answer would get me in your bed, dummy!”
A grin tugged at Nathan’s lips despite the seriousness of the situation. Who would’ve thought inebriation could make Alyx so wonderfully flirty? Bending down, he scooped her up---
“Are we going to bed?”
“Yes.”
“Woohoo!” She threw her arms around him, her large breasts pressing hard against his chest.
Nathan fought for control. He had never taken advantage of a drunk female, and he wouldn’t fucking start now. When he tried laying her down, Alyx resisted letting go even as her back touched the bed.
“Alyx---”
“Don’t leave me.” The words suddenly came out choking. “Please.”
Nathan’s jaw clenched. “I won’t leave you.” He managed to keep his voice gentle even as rage rampaged inside of him. He had always dreamt of having Alyx beg him, but never like this. Never fucking like this.
“I’m just going to order room service, sweetheart.” But when he tried pulling away, her arms only tightened.
“You said you wouldn’t leave me,” Alyx accused.
Lifting his head until their gazes met, he asked softly, “What has you so afraid?”
She slowly shook her head. “Not afraid.” Unspoken pain threaded her voice. “Just tired.” A smile wobbled on her lips. “So tired of hurting.” Her voice caught. “You know?”
Ah.
“Okay then.” Instead of pulling away, he slid his arms back under her and lifting her up, he sat down on the bed and stretched his legs out before placing her in his lap. She immediately snuggled against him like a trusting little kitten.
A curvy vamp of a kitten whose scent tantalized him as much as the feel of her abundant breasts against his body---
Nathan leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes. This was going to be one long damn night---
“Nathan?”
It took him a moment to answer. “Yes, sweetheart?” He strove to keep his mind off the gutter. She’s fucking heartbroken, Nathan Callis. This is no goddamn time to lust after her.
“Can’t you please just fuck me?”
Nathan choked.
“It’s just not enough that you make me come. It only feels good when it’s happening, b-but when I’m alone---” Her fingers curled against his shirt. “I can’t stop hurting. And I want to stop hurting. I’m tired of hurting.”
“Sweetheart.” He managed to keep his voice steady. “I don’t think sex is going to solve your problems.”
Her head jerked up, hitting him by the chin, and Nathan grunted in pain.
“How do you know?” she demanded as she pushed herself up to glare militantly at him. “Have you tried fucking someone’s pain away?”
“Well, no---”
“Ha!” Alyx flashed him a triumphant smile. “Then it’s decided!” She nodded vehemently. “You’re going to fuck my pain away---”
“Alyx.” His voice was strained. He felt bad that she was hurting, but all this talk of fucking wasn’t helping, and it was all he could do not to reverse their positions and roll her under him so he could give her exactly what she wanted.
“Don’t you want to fuck me?” She was speaking in a woe-is-me-voice now, and Nathan swallowed back a groan.
“It’s not that, sweetheart.” His fists clenched and unclenched in an effort to keep his need for her contained. “You must know I want to fuck you, but---”
“If you don’t want to fuck me---” This time, belligerence had replaced the self-pity in her voice, Alyx’s mood swinging from one extreme to another, and Nathan was torn between wanting to laugh and kiss her.