Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Suspicion stirs in my gut.
I suppose it could be a coincidence, but is it?
Maybe I’ll ask him about it tomorrow.
Maybe I won’t.
Right now, I need to go let my lovely little captive out of her cage and make her start falling in love with me.
Chapter twenty-three
Sophie
When the lock disengages, I’m sitting on the fur-covered chair Silvan sat on last time we were in here, when he had all the answers, so he sat back and watched me do all the work.
I don’t rush to jump up. I don’t even know if he’s letting me out or if he’s coming in.
There’s no bathroom in here, so surely, he doesn’t mean to keep me locked in here the whole time.
I’m relieved when he drops the axe on the ground inside the room and offers his hand.
“Am I free now?” I ask, a bit sourly.
“No,” he says, his green eyes glinting with mischief. “Just moving you to a comfier cage.”
“What a prince.” I take his hand anyway and follow him out of the escape room.
“I think you’ll change your tune once you’re in my bed. It’s extremely comfortable.”
“For you, maybe. I don’t have any of my stuff. I don’t have my books or clothes. I have homework, you know.”
“I’ll send Hugh for your things tomorrow,” he assures me. “As for clothes, I like buying you things, and I have plenty of gifts I haven’t given you yet.” He slides a hand around my waist and tugs me close, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Not that you’ll need them most of the time. We’ll sleep naked and tangled together.”
“Sounds hot.”
He smirks. “I agree.”
My cheeks warm. “That is not what I meant.”
“Obviously, I didn’t have time to get your toiletries from your place, so I stole some of my mom’s for tonight. I’ll have Hugh bring that stuff tomorrow, too, but for tonight you’ll have to make do.”
“I don’t really think I need all my stuff,” I say a touch hesitantly. “I’m not moving in.”
He falls quiet for long enough that I start to worry, then he says, “You’ll be staying here for the weekend.”
I don’t say anything right away. Knowing he just talked to his parents after I specifically told them he kidnapped me… I’m not sure what that means. I guess he lied to them.
“Will I see your parents again?”
His lips tug up faintly as he twists a doorknob and pushes open what I presume is his bedroom, then he tugs me inside. “Yes, but don’t bother telling on me anymore.”
“Because you’ve already convinced them I’m a jokester and they won’t believe me?”
“Because they won’t be of any help to you, and all you’ll do is make it awkward,” he says vaguely, backing into the room.
It’s still dark. He didn’t turn on a light.
My senses are off, and I feel uneasy in the dark with him. I think about feeling along the wall for a light switch and turning it on myself, but before I can, he tugs me through the dark room and I’m so disoriented, I have to stay close to him.
Presumably, he knows where we’re going and won’t let me trip on anything. I grab his muscular shoulder, moving close so I’m right on top of him as he leads the way.
I can tell he likes that. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel it in his energy. Then he expresses his pleasure physically, curling an arm around my waist and pulling me against his chest. I stumble over something—his foot, maybe?—but he doesn’t let me fall. I brace my hands on his firm chest and look up at him, even though in this light, he’s all dark shadows.
“Are you afraid of the dark, pretty girl?”
“The dark? No. What might happen in the dark… maybe.”
His hand cradles my face, then his fingers burrow into my hair. Once he’s cradling my head in his hands, he forces me to stay still while he leans down and kisses me.
My tummy flutters at the way he holds me captive so he can steal a kiss. My heart skips a beat as his lips find mine, and my lips part naturally to receive him despite my reluctance.
I should push him away, but I know there’s little point.
My hands remain planted on his firm chest, my eyes drifting closed as he forces his way into my mouth. He keeps my head cradled in one palm, but his other hand slides to my waist, then lower until he's cupping my ass beneath my skirt. Without the flimsy protection of my tights, there’s no barrier but my panties. My breath catches as his finger flirts with my pantyline, casually threatening to push that last defense aside.
I try to pull back, but he lets go of my ass, locking his arm around the small of my back instead to keep me close.