Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
My head spun. I’d forgotten to ask for water. “Water, please,” I said as the bartender sped by, but it didn’t seem like he heard me.
“I’m glad you’re not like that,” Andrew said, drawing my gaze back to him.
I realized I was zoning out on him a lot and tried to face him completely so I wouldn’t be so rude. “Not like what?”
He tossed his head toward the party of women whose laughter could still be heard from our side of the room. “I appreciate a woman with good taste, and I really love a woman who wears it well.”
It didn’t help that the alcohol was making my thoughts swim. I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. My core pulsed, though I’d been trying to ignore my neglected cravings this entire time, so I wasn’t sure if it was simply making itself known or coming at me with a vengeance.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“Another drink?”
I smiled lazily, the veil of comfort draping me in its grayscale warmth. I wondered why I had been against drinking earlier when it was starting to make even the cackling crows at table nine sound like white noise.
We took a couple more shots, and the stool started feeling like a pedestal under a clouded sun. Andrew talked enough for both of us, and I couldn’t remember much of what he said, but I was enjoying his company. He made jokes and flirted a little, and we seemed to be enjoying our dinner, which I ate hungrily. It was a steak, but instead of potatoes, I was given a small bowl of soup and plenty of vegetables. Andrew had ordered a salad, and when he didn’t finish it, I wondered if he only ordered food so I wouldn’t eat alone. I looked forward to seeing how well we worked together since we got along so well.
My hand spasmed at the feeling of fingertips drifting down my knuckles. “Maybe you’ve had enough,” Andrew said, his dark gaze holding mine. “You’re looking a little sleepy.”
I started to nod, then realized he’d been talking for a while, and I hadn’t listened since I began eating. I vaguely remembered him mentioning where he grew up and couldn’t remember where that was. Had I been speaking, too, or had I just zoned out after eating the steak I couldn’t remember tasting?
I was still nodding when Andrew captured my chin with his fingers and smiled slowly at me. I almost smiled back, but then his other hand caressed my elbow, and he urged me toward him and off the stool.
When I resisted, he tugged harder, so I descended to the ground and let him guide me. But he didn’t guide me to the door. Instead, he pulled me closer to him, grabbed the edges of his blazer, and tugged on it so that I fell into him.
“Sorry,” I managed, trying to push myself back. No, I was too drunk. I was way too drunk. My movements were slow, and I barely processed that he was still gripping my hand. “I need to get back,” I slurred. “Home.”
“Why don’t we just head to my place? Maybe watch a movie? I can make sure you wake up on time. You mentioned your flight leaves . . .”
My body chilled. My flight. I hadn’t even packed yet. Then my mom’s words came back to me, and I said, “I changed it.” Something about this didn’t feel right at all. He seemed like a good enough guy, I guess, but I didn’t feel comfortable going to his place. I barely knew him. I was about to work for him. I didn’t need to confuse our relationship before I even started.
When he pulled me close to him, the plume of heat from his body made my body swim with hormones, and my vagina felt like it was pulsing. “If you changed it, we have plenty of time, don’t we? We can get to know each other better.”
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “I . . . have a meeting. In the morning.” No, I had a meeting. Tonight. This dinner meeting. I was here for a reason, and now it was time to leave. Alone.
“I hope this isn’t another interview,” he intoned, his deep voice sending shivers throughout my body. Suddenly his mouth was near my lips, and I jerked back, but he caught my hands again and pulled me up onto his stool and into his lap, where he wrapped his arms around me and held me still. “My father wouldn’t like that. But I’ll keep it a secret. Just stay on my good side, and I’ll keep all your secrets.”
I couldn’t move. My mind begged for clarity as his erection bulged through his pants and pulsed against my inner thigh. My body tried to loosen up, but my mind wouldn’t let go. I remembered the pervert at the airport, and then I remembered Ryan.