Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“What would you give?” he asks, voice husky. “I already have everything a guy could want.”
I stretch my arms and arch my back, knowing my sweater will inch up my stomach. Once the skin is showing, I relax and then tease it with my fingertip. “My virginity.”
Theo gapes at me, blinking in shock. He takes his hand off my foot and fists it. His teeth grind noisily together. A ragged sigh escapes him and he tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“This is fucking hard.”
“Your cock?” I ask in a sweet tone.
He groans as though in actual pain. “You have to stop, babe.”
Babe.
A thrill of victory shoots through me. I don’t want to have sex with him or anyone, but I can lead him on until I get what I want. This is a game I must play for Megan’s and my sake.
“Stop what?” I scrunch my eyebrows together. “Telling you the truth. We both know we’re a better match, Theo.”
I sit up and reach for his fisted hand. He peers down at my fingers as they pull back the long sleeve of his shirt. An angry red welt and scabbing is a painful reminder of what I did this morning. I lift his arm and kiss him where I left my mark. Soft, gentle, apologetic. When I glance at him, his eyes are nearly manic as he drinks me in.
“Don’t do this to me,” he begs in a soft, pleading tone. “I don’t have the control Caius does. I’m…impulsive.”
And that’s what I’m counting on.
“I know,” I whisper. “In my dream, you were impulsive too.”
His hand slides behind my neck and his fingers caress my scalp. I’m glad I’m tipsy because his touch scares me, but I’ve had enough alcohol to keep my nerves at bay.
“It should have been me instead of him,” he murmurs, a bite in his words. “You should have been mine.”
As he leans forward, like he might kiss me, I try not to recoil. I have to do this. I have to. My lips part as I wait for the next part of this game.
Boom!
A slamming door downstairs makes both me and Theo jump. He shoves me back onto the couch and rises unsteadily to his feet. The bulge in his pants is evidence of his attraction to me. His panicked eyes meet mine as he sets the bottle down on the table and I almost feel guilty.
Almost.
“This didn’t happen,” he hisses, glancing quickly toward the stairs and then back at me. “This can’t happen.”
I give him my poutiest frown. He groans again, scrubbing a palm over his face. Footsteps can be heard climbing the stairs. Theo tenses and clasps his hands in front of him to hide his arousal that’s still straining in his pants.
The temperature in the room drops several degrees despite the cozy fire and liquid heat in my veins. I don’t even have to look up to know who’s taking in the scene. His silence is more terrifying than if he were to come up here yelling.
Now I feel guilty.
Why?
He’s not really my boyfriend.
“Gotta go,” Theo blurts, stumbling past Caius. “See ya later.”
I meet Caius’s icy stare as Theo clomps down the stairs. Sitting upright, I pull my knees together and hug them.
“What?” I arch an eyebrow at him. “What’s wrong?”
The only telling cue that he’s angry is the narrowing of his eyes. I hate when he looks at me like this—like he can get right inside my head to discover my motives and secrets. Emboldened by the liquor, I glower back, imagining I have a scalpel, cutting into his mind and his mysteries.
“You seem pissed,” I blurt out, again trying to get him to speak. “Are you?”
“Nope.”
Liar.
“Well…” I give him an exasperated look. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to be smarter than that, little girl. You’re not a whore. You’re my girlfriend.”
I flinch at his word choice. “I hate when you call me little girl. Do you get off on it? I’m a grown woman, not a child.”
“Grown women don’t try to fuck their boyfriend’s younger brother. Bratty little girls do.”
Hatred for this man boils deep inside of me. I jump to my feet and then nearly topple over the coffee table. If it weren’t for his quick reflexes, snagging my bicep, I’d have a few new bruises.
“Let go of me,” I snap, not bothering to be thankful for his save.
He releases me and steps out of the way. “Theo is like a cat. He brings in his prey to toy with. Eventually, though, he goes in for the kill. You’re revealing yourself to be a weak mouse, little girl.”
“I’m not weak.” I shoot him a withering glare. “I like to play games. Looks like I’ll fit right in around here.”
I try to walk straight, but my steps are wobbly. I’m sure I look every bit the small mouse, ready to get devoured by his brother. But I’m not. I won’t let these evil men win.