Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Or perhaps it’s because I get to see the spark in her eyes and the brightness in her features that haven’t been dimmed by her past.
The contradictions in her persona are fascinating. On one hand, she’s so sure of herself that she started her own business. But on the other hand, it seems as if she’s still a toddler when it comes to the world.
The number of things she’s said are ‘her first’ is higher than I would’ve thought. I use it to my favour, though, and make all those firsts happen so that I can watch her face light up in wonder.
Like the plane, the island, and everything in between. I’m taking that woman to every corner of the world so she can live her life as she was always meant to.
But for now, I’m keeping her occupied here by the exotic views and hikes. Aurora also loves swimming in the night, but she holds on to me, afraid something will catch her in the dark.
Despite her adventurous nature, Aurora still tosses and turns during her sleep. She still shivers whenever I touch her scar and tattoo. She still can’t purge the past from her head, no matter how hard she tries.
“Won’t be happening in the near future,” I tell Harris and hang up.
Aurora stops in front of me, and I turn the chair so I’m facing her. “What won’t happen?”
“Nothing you should worry about.”
If hiding the truth will keep her temporarily safe, then I’m ready to buy more time.
“Tell me.”
“I’d rather do something better than talking.” I wrap a hand around her arse and pull her so she’s standing between my legs.
A smile grazes her full lips as she clutches me by the shoulders. “Jonathan, stop it.”
“Are you wearing the plug?” I’ve been making her wear different butt plugs for the past few days, and while she whines, she hasn’t taken any of them out unless I tell her to.
She bites her lower lip. “What if I’m not?”
“Then I’ll punish you.”
“Punish me?” The subtle arousal in her voice as she says the word ‘punish’ gets my dick hard against my trousers.
“Disobedience gets you in trouble, so yes, Aurora. I will.”
“How?”
“How do you think?”
“You’ll spank me?”
“Amongst other things.” My voice drops. “By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll scream the whole house down.”
Her breathing visibly hitches and her nipples turn as hard as pebbles against the dress. I sink my teeth around one over the cloth and tug. Aurora’s nails dig into my shoulders as she moans, her chest thrusting into my face.
“Bend over,” I order.
She pulls back and gulps a few breaths. “J-Jonathan, w-wait…”
“There will be no waiting. Bend over and show me that arse. Let me see if you’ve been a good girl today.”
“Jonathan. Please.” Her nails sink deeper into my skin, and it’s obvious that she’s fighting her arousal.
The desperation and anxiousness in her dark blue gaze stops me. That’s an expression I don’t ever want to see on her face again.
The need to ravage her slowly dissipates, replaced by the urge to wipe away that expression. “What is it?”
“What were you talking about before I came in?” Though she’s still touching me, the look in her gaze is numb — like the one she had in the footages of Maxim’s trial eleven years ago. I recently watched them after Harris sent them over and I can’t erase the expression from my brain. She appeared like someone so damaged, they were done with life.
“It’s about my dad, isn’t it?” she asks in a small voice.
“He has no case. It’s his word against yours and all evidence points at him.”
“Just because I didn’t commit the murders of those women, doesn’t mean I’m not an accomplice.”
I lift my hands so they’re resting on her waist. “What are you talking about?”
The spark that always shines in her face slowly dims until it’s non-existent. “We hunted together — Dad and I, I mean. I got off on it, and I looked forward to it. The reason I followed him that day was because I thought he was hunting without me. True, I didn’t like killing the animals, but stalking, following trails and blocking their exits? I loved all of that. I might have loved it a bit too much. So what if I didn’t hurt those women? I have my father’s sadistic nature, and I’m…a monster like him. I just never got the chance to fully grow into my character. So maybe I deserve this — the trial, the media, the unwanted attention. It’s been long overdue.”
“Nonsense.”
Aurora blinks away the moisture gathering in her lids. “W-what?”
“You’re not a murderer. Hunting is allowed by law. Thinking you’re just like Maxim because you enjoyed hunting with him doesn’t make you a monster, it makes you a daughter. He was your only parent, and it’s natural that you were attached to him and picked up his hobbies. The fact that you didn’t get off on killing the animals and that you reported him means you’re cut from a different cloth than him. Don’t let his media games mess with your head. That’s exactly his purpose behind this entire masquerade.”