Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 174749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“It’s such a nice night tonight,” I say out loud, trying to change the subject.
Arsen looks around, and humors me with a smile. “Ever since they finally finished construction around the Freedom Tower, this area has gotten a lot nicer without so much construction,” he says to himself.
“Did you follow the construction or something?” I ask him. “I’ve never really had strong opinions on it one way or other.”
He sighs. “I’ve always wanted to build things,” he says out loud, more to himself than anyone. “I just never got the chance.”
I’m silent for a moment, but I think about Arsen. A son who wanted to do so much, but raised by his father in a completely different way and now managing reluctantly a family business he wanted no part of.
I squeeze his hand. “Well, soon you’ll have sold everything your Dad left you, and you’ll be able to spend your time the way you want to,” I tell him as we slow down and he faces me. “Maybe you can go build a building somewhere somehow.”
Arsen looks at me as I smile at him. I’m trying to make my face look cute. He breaks into a bittersweet smile and takes a step closer.
“I want to spend that time with you,” he tells me and I can feel his breath on my face.
I want him to wrap his arms around me and pull me close to him. To hold me and never let me go. I want to squirm against his body, feel his cock grow hard. I want it to poke into my crotch. I want to feel it against my ass. I want to boil his blood with my body. To tempt him. To tease him.
All that may happen with this kiss.
But then, there’s always going to be Client 5 in the back. Because no matter what I do with Arsen tonight, no matter how many ways I give myself to him—no matter how much I let him own me, in the morning I’ll be rushing out the door to take the call from Client 5.
Arsen brings his face down to meet mine.
And I take a step back.
He looks at me with concern and tears start to come down my eyes.
There’s only one thing for a lady to do in this situation.
I turn around and start to run away.
ARSEN
W
hat the fuck just happened? I say something nice—and true—and she bolts on me? And crying! I look in astonishment as she runs down the sidewalk, my body frozen by surprise. Wake up, Arsen! I can’t let her go like that!
I start running down the street, my feet flying over the pavement as I close in on her. Her heels are clicking, the sound getting louder with each step I take. Then she looks over her shoulder and, realizing I’m following after her, cuts into a dark alley.
What the hell is she thinking? Running into a dark and deserted place like that this late? Now I really can’t let her go.
I reach for her, my fingers curling around her wrist as I pull her in. She turns to me, her makeup slightly smeared from the tears. With one hand around her waist I take the other one to her face and brush her cheeks gently.
“What were you thinking, Ashley? You can’t wander away like that, it’s dangerous,” I say, waving at the deserted alley, the pale lights of the street barely reaching us.
She says nothing, her wide eyes staring into mine as if she truly doesn't know what to say. My heart is beating like a motherfucker, making my bones rattle. I can’t lose her! Fuck, I can’t even believe I’m saying this— me, Arsen fucking Hawke. But it’s true… I can’t stand the thought of losing her. I need to say something, to make whatever hesitancy she holds inside her heart go away… But, just like her, I can’t find the words.
She’s breathing hard now, her body so close to mine I can almost feel the warmness of her skin through her clothes. Fuck, my cock is already twitching just by having her this close. There’s something about her that makes me lose all control… And even though we’re outside, I can’t help but let instinct take over. I push her back against the wall, my hands on her waist as I lean in to kiss her.
I swear, I just wanted one more kiss. But now that my lips are on hers, there’s no way that we’re going to be able to stop. No fucking way. Her hands are already on my back, pulling me in, all of her hesitation thrown out of the window. I let my hands go up her side and, grabbing a handful of her beautiful blonde hair, I yank on it; she throws her head back, opening her eyes and returning my gaze. One look and I can already tell she’s as hungry as I am for more.