Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“Even villains need to be loved, Bel,” he says all matter-of-factly. Like he knows a damn thing about love or romance.
Losing interest in the books, he moves on to my jewelry box, thumbing through it like it’s his. I step beside him and watch his face as he pulls out the cheap costume jewelry at the top before tossing it back in with blatant disinterest. I swallow thickly when he reaches toward the bottom, like he's making a beeline for my soul… His big fingers grasp onto the diamond engagement ring as he plucks it out from its hiding spot.
His entire demeanor changes in an instant, and he thrusts the ring toward me. "What the hell is this?"
His features show so much animosity as he stares into my eyes that I don't even think to lie. "It's my mother's engagement ring."
He shakes it like a bell. "But she's not dead, so why do you have it?"
The old pain of a past that never leaves wells up, and I shove it back into the hole in my chest where it belongs. "First, that's a personal question. Second, it’s none of your business."
He gives me a disbelieving look. "You think you can keep your secrets, but they belong to me now. Just like you belong to me now. All of you is mine, and that means even the secrets you keep are mine. It’s fine, though. I have my own means of figuring things out."
“I suppose money can buy you all types of information,” I growl since it's my turn to get angry. Snatching the ring from his fingers, I lob it at the box so hard it bounces up and almost out again. "Now get the hell out of my room."
He leans in close enough that I can feel the heat of his body rolling into mine. He’s way too close for comfort. "Make me."
There's so much challenge in that single demand but also a plain-to-see smugness because he knows I'm incapable of making him do anything. No matter how hard I try, I can't physically move this man.
"Did you get dropped on your head as a child? Or maybe you’ve taken too many hits to the head in football? Either way, I’m not sure why it’s not connecting in your mind that I don’t want you here. I don’t want to get to know you, so why show up here and pretend everything is okay?" I lose some of my steam and deflate, stepping back to put distance between us. "Surely, this all can’t be because I stuck up for that kid. If it is, then I’m sorry. I’m asking you nicely to please leave me alone."
He raises his eyebrows and gives me a cocky grin. "Unfortunately, you put yourself on my radar by putting your nose where it didn’t belong. Every action has a direct consequence. I am that consequence, sweetheart. Now, do you think you can say please again? I love the way it sounded coming out of your pretty mouth.”
I scrub a hand down my face, my own frustration climbing. “There are plenty of other far more willing girls at this university who would bow at your feet for a simple hello from you, but you’re choosing to pine over someone who would rather stick forks through her eyes than be in your presence.”
He shrugs. “I’d love to see that, and I already told you. I don't know what it is about you yet, but I'm not going anywhere until I figure it out."
"So fucking me in the woods was...figuring me out?"
He snorts. "You mean taking your virginity on that dirt-strewn forest floor? It was on the path to getting to know you, yes, but it’s not the only route I plan to take. Not every meeting is conventional or plays out like it does in your romance books." He leans in again, and I wish I could say that his presence only terrified me, but it doesn’t. It warms me and makes me feel seen. "Sometimes, things start off wrong or bad. Not every moment is perfect or thought out.”
“No, but there’s no point in showing interest in someone when the other person already said they don’t want anything to do with you. In fact, I think that’s grounds for a restraining order, but I could be wrong.”
Laughter escapes his lips, and it sounds nice, which is ridiculous since nothing about this psycho is nice. “You’re something else, flower.”
“I don’t want to be anything to you.”
“That's too bad since I thought about you this morning. I had to jerk off when I saw how your virgin blood stained my skin. Even now, I can still feel your wet, bloody cunt pulsing around my cock. That's all I could think about last night. I had to stop myself from breaking into your dorm and fucking you in your bed.”