Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I walk out of the dining room, and when I reach the stairs, Dad comes from the direction of the French doors that lead to the veranda.
“Done doing damage control?” I ask, still pissed at our father for even thinking of offering Ciara to Dominik.
“Hmpf.” He gives me an angry glare. “I didn’t get the chance. I think Dominik turned in for the night, so I’ll deal with the mess you made tomorrow.” When I start to climb the stairs to the second floor, Dad adds, “For the love of God, behave from now on and stop looking for trouble.”
Ciara catches up to me, and as we take the stairs up, she says, “Please stop being aggressive with Dominik. I’m terrified of what he may do to you. We can find another way to get me out of the arranged marriage.”
I pat her shoulder as we near her bedroom. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
By her door, we stop and she asks, “Want to watch a movie with me tonight?”
I shake my head. “I’m going to have a long relaxing bath and climb into bed early.”
She nods before giving me a grateful look. “Thank you for everything you do for me.”
“Always, Ciara.” I pull her into a quick hug before letting go and walking to my bedroom. “Sweet dreams.”
“You too,” she calls after me.
I enter my bedroom and shut the door behind me, letting out an exhausted sigh.
So much for taking time to recover from being kidnapped and beaten by the Russians.
I tug at the zipper at my side and tug it down. Just as I begin to pull the sparkly gold dress off, an eerie sensation creeps over my skin.
Suddenly, a strong arm locks around my waist, and I’m hauled into the air before being slammed onto my bed, scaring the everloving shit out of me.
I’m only able to gasp with fright before Dominik’s on top of me. He grabs hold of my forearms, pinning them to the mattress while keeping his body braced over mine.
Shit!
As I stare up at him, he’s so close I’m able to make out the word tattooed on his cheekbone.
Manifest.
I expected ‘Murder’ or ‘Mayhem.’
Then my eyes collide with his, and something much darker than fear floods my veins. The memories of being pinned down and raped escape from where I do my best to keep them buried.
Dominik leans down until our faces are only an inch apart, then he growls, “Where’s your bite and claws now?”
Even though I’m terrified of him, instinct takes over, and I begin to thrash wildly beneath him.
When I’m unable to free my arms and he lets out an amused chuckle, I don’t think twice. Lifting my head, I sink my teeth into his neck like a goddamn vampire.
I’ll fucking rip his neck wide open if I have to.
Feeling downright feral, I bite hard until Dominik yanks away from me, freeing my arms.
He rises to his full height while lifting his hand to the bitemark on his neck. When laughter explodes from him, I start to think the man is insane.
I quickly crawl across the bed and get off the other side while my eyes dart between him and the door.
“Get out,” I hiss, my entire body trembling like a leaf in a shit-storm.
He pulls his hand away from his neck and checks it for blood before focusing his attention on me again.
“Quite the bite you have there, miláčik,” he says, actually sounding impressed.
I have no idea what the foreign word means, and at the moment, I couldn’t care less.
My eyebrows furrow, and I shake my head. “Are you crazy?”
He shrugs as he slowly begins to move around the bed. “Don’t we all have to be a little crazy to survive this world?”
My hand flies up as I order, “Stay right there. Come any closer, and I’ll do more than just bite you.”
My threat doesn’t seem to affect Dominik in any way, and when he gets too close, I lunge for my dressing table so I can grab the chair.
Once again, his arm comes around me, but this time, he yanks me against his chest, which feels like a solid brick wall behind me. With my back to him, all I can do is grab hold of his arm while glancing over my shoulder.
I’m met with amused eyes before they drop to my exposed shoulder and it’s only then I become aware of the fact that my dress is hanging half off my torso, exposing part of my bra.
Shit.
“Let go!” I shriek as I pull and struggle against his hold on me.
His free hand clamps around my throat, and he forces my head backward until it's pressed against his chest.
I start to hit and claw at both his arms and even try to kick the bastard, but none of my efforts to free myself are of any use. He’s way too strong for me.