Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
A shiver runs up my spine at the thought. We are together. Not a man chosen by Papa, who I’ve never met and will never love. A man I’ve chosen for myself.
“I know,” I say. “But let me try it my way first, okay?”
“Okay.”
I lean forward, and he snaps his lips to mine, taking me into a deep kiss. Then he stands and lowers my feet to the floor. I slip my shoes back on, gather up my backpack, and get ready to head home.
E L E V E N
Ash
“OKAY, LET ME TALK TO your father.” I reach over and lay my hand on hers like that first day when we sat here in the student coffee shop. “It will all work out, I promise.”
It’s been three days since I brought her to the hotel the first time and I can’t wait any longer. She’s tried her way, but as far as I can tell from what she’s said, her father still thinks I’m just some new guy in her class.
And there’s still this situation with her fiancé. Or wedding. Or whatever.
And that shit just isn’t going to fly any longer.
She’s been to the hotel every day during the time she would normally be at school, and we’ve spent most of those hours either planning Anastasia Snow’s rise to stardom or enjoying each other’s company in every way. But I won’t fuck her, not yet. It doesn’t feel right, as much as my cock protests. It’s becoming impossible for me to hold back taking her completely, but the voice inside my head tells me to do this right.
To give her everything. And I intend to do so.
I’ve spent hours worshipping at her delicious pussy, and yesterday she fell to her knees and took my cock in her mouth like she was born for the job.
I wish we had more than a few hours a day, but she’s still so concerned about her father. Well, today I’m drawing the line. I can’t wait any longer. We’ll go to the hotel and make a plan, then we’ll head over to see her father. Together.
Once I speak to him, we won’t be sneaking around anymore.
We’re just waiting for her friend Cameron to bring her the assignments from her class she’s missed. She is the one who wants to keep up, and I support her even though I know her heart is not here in school, but with the blog and project. Her cooking is what drives her though, and coming to school was a respite, her only breath of fresh air from her former life.
“Trust me,” I say. “I’ll protect you from anything, Selma. You’ll see.”
She still doesn’t look convinced, but the bell rings on the coffee shop door, and when Cameron walks in Selma’s face lights up. A stab of jealousy hits me even knowing he truly is just a friend, but still, my obsession is making me a bit crazy.
“Over here.” She stands from her seat and squeezes in next to me so that Cameron can sit opposite us. “So, what’s going on with class?”
“Everyone has noticed you’re not there, for a start. You’d think being so quiet you’d be able to get away with skipping, but I guess the fact that you’re always the first one to arrive and before now you’ve never missed a class...” Cameron wiggles his eyebrows, then laughs. “Gurl, don’t look so worried. You’re an adult, you can make your own decisions. So long as you keep up with assignments and study, I don’t think anyone’s going to care if you miss class a couple of days to spend time with...” His voice drops to a whisper like it’s a secret. “Ash Thompson.”
Selma seems tense, and without thinking, I grab her hand, twining my fingers into hers, and I feel her relax at the touch. But Cameron looks down at our hands clasped together on the table, then clears his throat.
“This isn’t just a professional relationship, is it?”
I shake my head. “No, it isn’t.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Cameron looks at Selma and places a hand over his heart. “Heartbroken.”
Selma’s voice goes up a pitch. “I’m sorry, it just wasn’t—”
Cameron laughs. “Like I hadn’t already figured it out. Gurl, please, it’s none of my business. So long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
When I turn to Selma, I can see that there’s less tension, like a weight has been lifted. I don’t quite get why she feels she needs the approval of everyone else in her life, but I don’t need to understand to see what effect it has on her. Knowing her friend is on her side has made a big difference, and I’m here for that.
“Come on,” I say, “let’s go back to the hotel—” I see Cameron wiggle his eyebrows and add, “We have work to do if we’re going to make Anastasia Snow a household name.”