Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 16175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Ugh. Who is this person taking over my body? Why do I find it fairly easy to throw caution to the wind?
I am so going straight to horny jail, and it doesn’t bother me one bit.
My phone buzzes again.
Dad: I take your lack of response as a promise that YOU WILL BEHAVE LIKE A PROPER YOUNG LADY FOR ONCE
Nothing like another text from my father to dampen my spirits.
Me: Yes, Dad. I’ll be there
I lift my head to find Theo staring at me over the rim of his cup, one thick, bushy eyebrow raised.
My stomach turns at the idea of showing up to the party and being introduced to Elias as if we haven’t met before. And his father, Dom? He’s like a carbon copy of my father. Same single-mindedness, cruelty, and ruthlessness. In no planet or lifetime will I ever consider having not one but two dictators in my life.
“It’s my dad.”
“What did he say?”
“He wants me to attend a party tonight. The text was a reminder not to embarrass him in front of his friends.”
Wait a minute. An idea forms in my mind. I can think of only one thing to make the party bearable.
“Come with me, Theo.”
He runs a hand across his five o’clock shadow. “Okay. I’ll have to go to Viktor’s to borrow a tuxedo because it’s formal, right?”
“Black tie.”
“Okay.”
Theo taps his fingers on the table and looks out the window. I’ve never seen him unsure or doubtful before, but he looks like it. My chair makes a scraping noise as I get closer to the table, to him.
With my hand over his, I ask, “What is it?”
“Should I cut my hair, kitten?”
I go still and cast him a dubious glance. “No. Why would you do that?”
There’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. His shoulders hunch, and a forced smile plays on his lips. “I don’t exactly look like the guy you bring home to your parents.”
My thoughts spin, heart clenching in my chest. I don’t yet know the full extent of what Theo had gone through, but I have a pretty vague idea that he’s had very few people on his side—people who love him and care about him.
In my eyes, he’s perfect, and it breaks me that he thinks he may not be enough. “You’re the guy I’m going home with. End of story.”
My reflection in the mirror is starting to look weird, maybe because I’ve been staring at myself for an hour already. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Theo and I have already been intimate. He’s seen every part of me, yet it still makes me anxious … probably because this also feels like a date?
Oof. I’m a bundle of nerves. My palms are sweaty, and I keep peeing every five minutes, which is no mean feat since the dress is pretty tight on the thighs. To be fair, every dress or clothing is tight on my thighs.
Someone’s knocking on the door, and I know it’s him.
With a sigh, I take one last peek in the full-length mirror by the door.
The midnight blue tube dress hugs my curves but the silk fabric flows freely mid-thighs, still too snug around my upper thighs. The slit reaches just above my knee and is pretty modest all things considered. The neckline exposes my cleavage, but I cleverly wrap a lace around my chest, transforming the dress from tube to off-shoulder.
My hair is too short for me to style it. I can’t do much with it and only add some glittering pins to keep it in place. The dress is striking enough, so I keep my makeup minimal. Just a touch of eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick.
Because I don’t want to look bare, I clasp a pair of gold teardrop earrings on my earlobe. There, done.
Grabbing my blue purse from the sofa, I open the door and the sight of Theo in a suit makes me burn with need.
His crisp white button-down shirt with French cuffs is tucked into his black dress pants. The suit jacket is draped over one arm, and he completes the look with black leather shoes and a black silk bow tie.
Theo’s hair is up in a man bun, his scar in full display.
God, is he really mine?
“You’re beautiful, kitten. Part of me wants to show you off to the world but another part also wants to keep you all to myself. Does that make sense?”
Warmth blooms inside me, making me giddy with happiness. “You look so damn good too, Theo. Don’t return the suit to Viktor. Keep it.”
He grins and hooks a finger under my chin. He kisses me lightly on the lips. “It’s gonna be a long night and I’m gonna spend most of it trying to keep my hands to myself.”
When we get to his car, he buckles my seatbelt before doing his own. With a quick glance at the rearview and side mirrors, he pulls out of the parking space.