Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Escape from what?” Now she is inching closer. I want to wrap my arms around her hips and fold her into me.
“Escape from getting married, maybe. There was talk of an arrangement happening soon. I had assumed that’s why you were on the date.” I spit out the last part and try not to let it bother me. She didn’t want him, I have to remind myself. “People have escaped before.”
She gives me a confused look. “Escape to where? There’s nothing but chaos on the other side.”
“Have you ever even been to the other side? Way out there beyond the chaos in the cramped city. There are other places.”
“Why would he give it all up?” she asks, and there’s genuine need in her eyes. As if she’s asked herself this same question before.
“Brad was a friend of mine. I’m worried, and maybe I’m being paranoid. But my instincts have never failed me.” I take her hand and draw in closer to her, and she doesn’t back away. I take it as a small victory. I can’t seem to stop myself from touching her.
“They’ve never failed you?” she asks with a teasing smile. “Ever?”
“Nope,” I reply, entwining her fingers with mine.
“What are your instincts telling you right now?” She licks those full lips, and I wonder if she’s doing it on purpose to try and torture me with her sweet tongue.
“They’re telling me a lot of things. But when it comes to Brad, something is off. Someone is lying to the public.”
“And by someone, who do you mean?” She’s dancing around it, but so am I. We both want to know which side we fall on.
“You know who,” I say, pulling her just a little closer.
“I don’t know if I can trust you. Even friends report each other to the police, and you and I just met.” She takes a step back and lets go of my hand. Instantly I miss her touch.
“The Regime. The Leader. The Police. The Clean Up Crews. They all lie. All the time,” I say, putting it out there. I want her to know that whatever she tells me, I’d keep her safe. That I can protect her.
“That’s pretty rebellious talk for someone working for the state media.” She smiles and relaxes a little.
“Are you saying I’m pretty?” I tease, changing the subject she blushes.
“Definitely not,” she says, but she won’t look me in the eyes.
“Look, I’m just going to be straight with you.”
“Shhh…” she says, stepping between my legs again as she puts a finger over my lips.
I have the urge to reach up and pull the pen out of her hair to let it fall down around her. I want to bury my fingers in it as I kiss her, but instead I remain still.
She whispers, “This is a library, sir. We have to be quiet. Haven’t you ever been told that by a librarian before?”
“Not by one that looked like you,” I say against her finger as I rest my hands on her hips.
“Listen,” she says, taking her finger off of my lips but not moving away. “There was something. After that girl took off with my bag, and Brad took off after her, he called me a car. He made sure I got home okay. He knew he wasn’t coming back. Does that help your story?” She looks up at me through her eyelashes, and my grip on her hips tightens.
“It does,” I say, pulling her closer to me. “But I’ve got a lot more I need from you.”
When I press my lips to hers she freezes for a second before she opens her mouth in surprise. I use the advantage to taste her sweetness and let my tongue brush against hers. She’s more innocent than I had first imagined, and I wonder if she’s ever been kissed before. The thought makes me aggressive and I pull her closer, letting her softness rub against the hard cock in my jeans. Her hands move to my shoulders, and I pull the pen out of her hair and do exactly what I wanted. I grip the dark locks with both my hands as I kiss my way down her neck.
Naomi surrenders as she slips her hands up my T-shirt and rests them on my bare chest. The feeling of her skin against mine is driving me mad with desire, and I don’t know how long I can only just kiss her.
Maybe it’s the whiskey from earlier, or maybe I’m totally intoxicated by every inch of this woman, but I’m suddenly inspired. I know exactly how I’m going to go about getting the truth out there, while I make Naomi mine.
I’m going to do exactly what the Regime wants. I’m going to take the editor job, get married, and make babies. Then I’m going to take the Regime down, brick by brick.