Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Somehow.
The airplane descended, slicing through another judder-bar of air, jostling with turbulence as we slipped lower, lower, lower.
My breathing picked up as our arrival happened far too fast. One moment, we still cut through air; the next, we kissed earth in the smoothest landing I’d ever felt. The engines roared, the wing flaps activated, and our speed slammed to a crawl.
I kept my eyes closed.
Not yet.
Not yet.
I don’t think I can do this…
“Ily.” Henri’s hands landed on my waist, flicking open my seatbelt. “Wake up.” I stiffened but didn’t strike him like I wanted to. If I was going to survive this, I had to be smart.
I’d let stupidity get me into this.
I’d be damned if I continued letting it destroy me.
“She’s not sleeping, Ward.” Victor chuckled. “But if she’s keen on playing that card, slap her.”
My eyes flew open, narrowing on Victor as he stood and stretched in the aisle. “Ah good, I’m glad we didn’t have to resort to violence so soon. Plenty of time for that later.” Clicking his fingers as if I was a dog, he smirked. “Come along, my sweetling. Time to see your new home.”
I bared my teeth.
Roland blew me a kiss as he followed Victor to the front of the plane and vanished down the short steps to the dark skies outside.
“Get up. Now,” Henri commanded, practically hauling me from the seat and shoving me into the aisle.
I tripped and stumbled from his strength. Any arousal I might’ve felt back at the club was now as toxic as him. I felt it poisoning me, vaccinating me against his looks, his curses, and whatever damn secrets glowed in his gaze.
“I hate you,” I seethed.
“So you’ve said.” Planting his huge hands on my shoulders, he spun me around, then pushed my lower back. “Move.”
I fought against his pressure. “Why are you doing this? You’re obviously not one of them. You could’ve let me go—”
“I tried, remember?” He shoved me too hard. I tripped and almost went to my knees. His arm lashed around my waist, keeping me upright. He saved me all while shooing me to the steps where Victor and Roland chuckled outside.
“Let me go,” I urged, my heart winging. “Do something.”
“Oh, I’m going to do something,” he hissed. “I’m afraid I’m going to do a lot of things, and none of them legal.”
I spun to face him. “You don’t want to do this.”
He held my stare for the longest moment. Finally, he nodded. “No, I don’t want to do this.”
I sucked in a breath. Perhaps he would be on my side and—
“But I will.” He towered over me, grabbing my chin and holding me tight. “My self-control has been fraying most of my life, but now that I’m here? Fuck.” He ran his nose over my cheek, inhaling hard. “Every thread is breaking. Every decency is fading. And I have to say…death might be worth the price of letting go.” He grabbed my hand and pressed it against the steel in his trousers. He flattened my palm over his hard cock and rocked his hips, ensuring I felt every ridge. “Seeing your fear makes me hard. Knowing you’re terrified makes me so goddamn horny. If you knew how badly I want to let go…you wouldn’t stand there looking at me as if I’m going to be the one to save you.”
I tried to pull my hand away; he didn’t let me.
“You said you were my only friend,” I snapped, cursing the feel of him.
His eyes darkened to flint. “I did, didn’t I?” I gasped as he dove both hands into my hair and yanked my head back. My spine contorted in his hold. “A friend who will most likely fuck you over after taking everything you have to offer.”
My heart galloped, but I forced myself to search for his weakness. To use this snippet of alone time to see how I could use him. “You’re not like them. I know you aren’t.”
He smiled so blackly, so coldly, I couldn’t breathe. “You’re right, I’m not. Unfortunately for you, I think I’m worse.” He exhaled hard as his gaze locked on my mouth. “Luckily for you, I’m still doing my best to resist so…heed my advice, sunshine. Don’t fight me. Whatever you do, whatever I have to do to you…do. Not. Fight. Me. You do that and we both might survive.”
Stepping into me, he flashed a look at the open door before muttering under his breath, “You heard Victor. You’re mine for the weekend. If you play along and—”
“Henri. What the hell is taking so long?” Victor’s cultured accent flowed up the steps. “Hurry up.”
Gritting his teeth, Henri stepped back. Our eyes locked but whatever he was going to say was replaced with a snarl. “Move.” Shoving me around, he almost kicked me out the door.