Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
My old man nabbed himself a cougar.
First impressions are good. She seems genuine in her feelings for him.
My stepsister, Eve, on the other hand, is a precocious wild child with untrusting eyes and an obstreperous attitude. She’s somewhere in her late teens, and her deep frown and crossed arms tell me she’d rather be anywhere but here.
I feel her suspicious gaze fix on me from across the room as Bella and I talk with her mom.
When I look and nod at her, she rolls her eyes and looks away. Only to glance back and scowl at me again.
Juliet continues to talk Bella’s ear off.
“We must get together for some girl talk. Let’s do a spa day, a couple of De Kysa gals getting their mani-pedis,” she says, full of bubbly excitement. “Oh look, there’s my uncle Emmett raiding the dessert bar. Best I distract him before he eats all the cake.”
Bella chuckles as we watch Juliet sweep across the room to stop her elderly relative from stealing four slices of wedding cake. “She’s not what I expected,” Bella whispers. “I really like her.”
The fact that my father chose a wife who is talkative and loud, and nothing like the well-put-together dolls he usually lures into his bed, tells me he’s getting more sentimental in his old age.
Not that being in his late fifties is what I’d call old.
“What do you think he sees in her?” I ask Bella.
“She’s fun.”
“Fun?”
“I know that’s a novel concept to you, Don De Kysa,” she whispers, amusement glinting in her eyes, “but some people actually enjoy letting their hair down and having some fun.”
I scoff. “I know how to have fun.”
“I mean real fun, Nico. Not your type of fun.”
“My type of fun?”
“Yeah, waving your gun around and dreaming up your next evil plan.”
“Exactly what do you think I do all day? Sit in my office and stick pins in voodoo dolls of my rivals while thinking about different ways to take them out?”
“Pretty much.”
I shoot her a pointed look. “I know how to have fun, Bella.”
“Sure,” she says, looking around the room.
“That sounds like a challenge.”
Her beautiful gaze comes back to me. “Is that a fact?”
I stand and take her hand. “Challenge accepted.”
Her eyes gleam as she accepts it. “Do your worst, villain.”
As I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor, the DJ decides to play a golden oldie. “Machine Gun” by the Commodores. A throwback to the disco era.
I grab my bride-to-be, crush her to my body, and slide my fingers into hers.
As a rule, I’m not a dancer. Sure, I’ll dance at my engagement party. Hell, I’ll dance at my wedding. But for fun? No fucking way. I’m way too tense to enjoy it. But with Bella in my arms, anything is possible. And right now, every inch of me loves her luscious curves grinding against mine as we move around the dance floor.
I spin her and she laughs, and before I can stop myself, I’m smiling and laughing too.
I yank her back to me and hold her against my body. “Let’s blow this party and go home.”
“We’ve been here five minutes,” she says, winding her arms around my neck.
“Which is five minutes too long.” My palms glide over her juicy ass. “And I can think of better ways to spend the eve of my wedding.”
“I had plans too, remember? But you made me come to this instead.”
“Let me make it up to you?”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
I cup her ass and pull her against my erection.
“You know I don’t like you, right?” she says with an arched eyebrow.
“Like has nothing to do with it,” I whisper in her ear. “I think we’ve both learned that hate fucking can be a lot of fun.”
Her cheeks flush. “I still haven’t forgiven you for any of this, just so you know.”
“Good. You can take it out on me in bed.”
Lust glimmers in her eyes although she fights it. “You’re a rapacious sex fiend.”
“I don’t hear you complaining when I’m making you come.”
She bites down on her lip. She’s hot and bothered.
I press my lips to her throat and feel her racing pulse. “Don’t fight it, fight me. In bed. All night long. You know you’ll enjoy it.”
She pulls in a shaky breath. “That’s not going to happen.”
I chuckle. “You’ll have to say it with more confidence than that, Bella.”
I’ll have her coming before the clock strikes midnight.
She pushes her palms into my chest. “I’m not a sure thing, Don De Kysa.”
My eyes lock to hers. “But I am, my love. We both know my name will be on your lips tonight.”
Her eyes flare. “Yes, when I call 911 to tell them I’ve murdered my fiancé.”
Amusement twitches on my lips.
I could volley with her all night, but the song finishes, and she leads me over to our table, where she downs a glass of water and fans herself with the menu. “I need the bathroom. But your new stepsister is coming over. Promise me you’ll behave.”