Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I need air. Thanks to my annoyance, I’ve had one glass of champagne too many. I’m not even close to drunk, but my big mouth will get away with me if I stay here.
“I’m going for a walk,” I say simply and brush past Braken.
His heeled dress shoes follow much too close behind me. “Trying to run away?”
His voice holds so much sarcasm and humor it makes me spin to face him. Though I’m wearing heels, he’s a few inches taller than me. He’s so close even a slightly deep breath will allow my tits to brush against his chest. My body warms at the proximity, reminders of his office, and the woods during The Hunt floating through my mind. I want to be mad at him, but it’s so hard when he looks like he’s about to devour me.
And to my dismay, I realize I’d willingly let him.
Blame it on the years of pent-up sexual frustration. If a man lays a hand on me and Papa finds out? He’d be dead before his dick gets hard. Being a Godwin means there are restrictions. For all the glitz and glamor, if I step out of line, my father won’t hold back.
Now I wonder if the punishments are up to Braken. My skin prickles at what kind of punishments he could offer. If they’re anything like the fingering on his desk, maybe marriage won’t be so bad.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking?
“Where I go isn’t any of your business,” I shoot back.
“I already told you it is. You are my business, Fiora.”
The velvet in his voice makes me shiver. I draw a deep breath and shake my head. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
“The one in the back hallway is barely used. Less cameras and people.”
I turn and eye him. What’s he playing at? Braken is sporting his usual smirk, but it’s strangely amused instead of annoyed.
“Since you don’t want people to know about you or our engagement.”
I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at him. “These events are about charity. Not gossip.”
Braken shrugs his right shoulder. “I didn’t realize our engagement was gossip, Fiora. Are you embarrassed to announce it?”
“You are infuriating,” I hiss and push past him to head to the bathroom.
I need to clear my head. It’s swimming with way too many thoughts to keep up with, but the loudest one screams to shut him up in any way possible. Maybe a method that includes my lips on his or his cock inside me.
That’s it. I’ve had too much to drink. I need to lay off the champagne.
I smile as I pass through the excited crowd. Levanta wiggles her eyebrows at me as I pass, trying and failing to discreetly point behind me. Ugh, is Braken following me? I wish he wouldn’t. It’s his fault I’m such a disaster tonight.
The hotel hallway is cool on my flushed cheeks, but my body still feels so warm. It’s completely dead back here. The bathrooms are further up, and I can hear workers in a kitchen at the end of the hallway. Other than that, I’m alone.
Except for Braken fucking Frost.
“You didn’t answer my question, Fiora.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I turn to face him. In the hallway’s dim lighting, he looks shadowed. Mysterious. Dangerous. He takes another step toward me.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“Of you? Or of my family’s dirty money?”
“Both.”
I exhale through my nose and set my hands on my hips. “If my name gets tied to these large donations, people will start to talk. Words have weight, Braken. If the public thinks these organizations have ties to the shady Godwin money, they’ll lose status and funding.”
Braken doesn’t look convinced. “So, you’re playing Batwoman, are you?”
His scorn heats my neck. “Someone has to undo all the evil people like Papa and you put on this city. Now if you’ll excuse me, fiancé.”
I don’t make it more than two steps before Braken’s hands are on my shoulders, spinning me around and trapping me against the wall next to the bathroom. I yelp and drop my clutch, chest heaving as I stare up at the big bad wolf I want so badly to eat me right this second.
“What the fuck do you know about me, Fiora?” Braken’s voice is so low, it resonates down to my bones.
“I know enough,” I snap. “Because I’ve seen enough.”
“I’m not your father. Stop making assumptions about what I do and don’t do in this city.”
“What did I get wrong?”
“Everything.” He tightens his grip on my shoulders so much that I gasp. “And here’s one of them.”
His mouth is hard against mine, hard body pressing against me and leaving me with no escape. Not that I want to. The champagne and his powerful kiss leave my head spinning. I throw my arms around his shoulders and pull him even closer. When his tongue runs along my bottom lip, I open willingly to let him in.