Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Sasha shakes in my grasp, but I don’t let go.
Instead, I pull her closer to me until her head is in the crook of my neck. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
“You weren’t lying.” She pulls her head back to look at me. “This whole time—” A sob escapes. “I thought…”
I cup her face in my hands and press my forehead against hers. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t. Trust me, if it were safe, I wouldn’t keep you here.”
The tears come faster now, and I hold her in my arms as she cries. Wet rivulets stream down her face as shudders rack her body with every sob.
She glances up, and her blue eyes lock on to mine. The sadness and fear in her stare are heartbreaking. I never knew I had a heart until I met this girl. “It’s going to be okay, firefly. We’ll get through this together. I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” I whisper into her hair, and then I hold her.
In silence.
Until her breathing evens out.
And she’s calm.
I’ll keep my promise. I’ll keep her safe.
No matter what.
25
SASHA
Days have passed since Gideon held me, he’s managed to stay clear of me since.
Which is kind of crazy to think about since we are still sleeping in the same room and bed. But somehow he’s been a ghost.
Marching through the house, I go in search of him. My fists clench and unclench at my side. I have so much pent-up energy that I need to find an outlet for. I’m bored, even though I have my cello now. I can’t stay locked in this house forever.
I need to get out.
You want to see him.
I’m annoyed by my internal thoughts. Ever since I cried in his arms, I haven’t been able to get him off my mind.
The way he held me. The feeling of our bodies pressed together.
And speaking of bodies, let’s not forget the massive hard-on he had the other day when he was sleeping.
Focus, Sasha. No thinking about his dick. You’re on a mission.
Luckily, it doesn’t take me too long to find him. He’s in his office.
Surprise. Surprise.
My footsteps announce my arrival. As I cross over the threshold, he looks up from his desk.
“Sasha.”
Heat sweeps across my cheeks as I take him in. What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t have such a visceral reaction to this man. All he’s said is my name, but I’m already hot and bothered.
It’s his voice. Smooth like honey. Decadent like chocolate.
A warning label should be issued when he’s around because, despite how my brain feels, my body isn’t listening.
The side of Gideon’s lip tips up into a smirk. That sexy-ass smirk.
He caught me ogling.
In all due respect, it probably wasn’t hard to deduce, seeing as I’m practically drooling on the floor.
“Sasha,” he repeats.
“Yes,” I mutter back, my head tilting down to look at the floor.
Maybe it will swallow me up.
I’d rather take a ferry ride to hell than see the look of triumph in his eyes for catching me gazing at him.
“Was there something you needed?”
A part of me wants to turn around and head back to my old bedroom and sulk, but a larger part of me needs to get out of this damn house.
“I’m bored.” Lifting my hand, I rub at my face. I’ve yet to make eye contact with him. I’m dreading it.
Put your big girl panties on, Sasha.
If you want to ask for something, you’re going to have to look at him head-on and play nice.
I place my free hand on my hip, tilt my chin, and meet his stare.
His gaze sweeps over me, and despite my efforts, my cheeks warm.
I’m so damn predictable.
He folds his hands and puts them on top of his desk, leaning toward me. “And what would make you less bored? I brought you your cello.”
I rock back on my feet, feeling far too close and way too hot all of a sudden. “I need to leave this place. I feel like I’m locked up, and I can’t breathe.”
He nods. The move is slow and deliberate.
Gideon is trying to appear to be listening to me, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter what I ask. He will only grant me my wish if he deems me worthy.
The room becomes silent.
I wait for him to respond, but as the second hand from the grandfather clock in the corner of the room ticks, it feels like I’m being marched up to the guillotine.
The silence seems to stretch on for an eternity, and then Gideon clears his throat, and my eyes dart back up to meet his.
“Pack a bag.”
My mouth drops open.
In my mind, I probably resemble a cartoon character, shocked with my eyes bugging out.
“We’re going to go on a little trip.”
It takes me a few seconds for his words to filter into my brain.