Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
I’ve been looking forward to this day for eighteen years, but now that it’s finally here, I want to prolong the tension between us, knowing that once we are together, my angel will submit to me fully.
I pull out her chair as she softly tells me how much she loves the arrangements I’ve made. Once we’re both sitting down, the servants bring her my gifts one by one.
Tallulah revels at the beautiful presents. It took me a full year to find everything. There are books, custom perfumes made especially for her, and anything else a girl could dream of. But the real present will come later, when we’re alone in the bedroom, and we are both aware of it.
After all the gifts are opened, the servants retreat. The few guards I’ve allowed to be present today stand a little way off, watching for trouble and keeping a respectful distance. We eat as a harpist plays her instrument from a few steps away. I can feel Tallulah’s eyes on me and I do my best not to acknowledge her stares.
I know she’s probably upset. Hurt. Because I’ve purposefully stayed away from her, Tallulah must know something’s up. Usually I can barely stand to be away from her for a full day.
If she’s question the motives behind it, Tallulah doesn’t mention it. She obediently tucks into her food and groans at the incredible taste. We haven’t spoken about her birthday yet, even though we both know she’s coming to my bed tonight. I wonder if she’s nervous. She fucking should be. After holding back for so long, the beast inside me will finally be sated tonight, and I can’t fucking wait.
“Can I have a glass of wine?” Tallulah asks as I pour myself some. “Please, Xavier?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “This isn’t Europe, angel. You can have a drink when you turn twenty-one.”
She pouts a little but seems to forget about it pretty fast. I finish eating before my ward, leaning back in my chair and enjoying the view of Tallulah eating her dinner.
My angel looks heart-stoppingly beautiful tonight. It makes me wonder how I could ever feel anything for her mother. Once upon a time, I thought Rain Ferrell was the love of my life. Now, I realize I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Rain was a chess piece in a game. A prized possession I wanted to cage and ruin just so my nephew couldn’t. But she meant nothing to me. Our marriage was all about status. Contrary to that, Tallulah makes my head spin with excitement and possibility.
I’ve been with a lot of women. None of them even came close to the special connection between my ward and me. Tallulah Gunn is special and always has been.
“I’m so full,” she finally breathes, leaning back in her chair. “I can’t eat another bite.”
“Good,” I grin at her. “But the night isn’t over yet.”
Her hopeful eyes turn to mine before a look of fear passes over her face. She must know what’s coming later tonight. Her whole life has led up to this point, after all.
“Do you have more plans for me?” Tallulah asks, blushing slightly but never taking her eyes off me.
“I always have plans for you, angel.” I put down my napkin, walking over to her and offering her my arm. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
I don’t reply. She gets up anyway, taking my hand. The tension between us is palpable as I lead her away from the table. I had something special prepared for her, and I can’t wait for her to see it.
I lead her back into the house, up the stairs and down the hallway that leads to my quarters. I can feel Tallulah’s nervousness. It’s almost palpable.
“I’ve never been in your bedroom before,” she tells me.
“I know. But all that’s about to change.” I push open the door. Tallulah glances at the guards. They won’t be following us in here, though they’ll keep an eye out for trouble. But the rest of tonight is just for us, and I can’t wait to pull Tallulah’s strings apart one by one. “Welcome to my home, angel.”
She steps inside the room, and I turn on the lights, illuminating the shadowy room. The first space is a sitting room, with a set of white double doors leading through to my bedroom. She doesn’t hesitate, stepping straight into my space. Her face lights up when she sees the copy of the book she’s currently reading, The Great Gatsby, on the nightstand of what will be her side of the bed.
“You brought my book here?” She touches the cover, smiling to herself. “Am I spending the night?”
“This is your bedroom now, too.”
“What about my room?”
“This is your room now.”
She seems a little shaken up by this. I guess it’s just hitting her now that things are about to change. Perhaps she expected something different, but tonight is not the time for whips and chains, though I see plenty of those in her future. But first, I need to be inside her... and see her gorgeous face crestfallen once she realizes I’ve already stolen her virginity.