Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Until now.
I walked inside, but not before squeezing Max’s hand reassuringly. “I’m going to fix this,” I whispered to him.
“No, you won’t.” Ransom slammed the door behind us, striding toward the floor-to-ceiling window, knotting his fingers behind his back as he looked onto the restaurant garden downstairs.
“Did you enjoy your time off?” I kicked off my wedges. I couldn’t keep the venom out of my voice.
Did you have sex with someone else again?
“Not as much as you did.” He walked over to a Parisian bar cart and fixed himself some whiskey, heavy on the rocks. He didn’t offer me any. Our unspoken connection, that fragile bond that was created when he realized how deeply I’d been wronged by my family, had snapped like a wishbone.
“I find that hard to believe.” I started unbuttoning the front buttons of my dress. He’d played this trick so many times with me, it was only fair I’d reciprocate and get undressed in front of him. But his back was to me, so he couldn’t see. “Last time you took time off, a woman got compromised against the suite’s window.”
Ransom turned on his heel, nursing his drink, his eyes narrowed in disdain. “And you kissed Max because it kills you that you’re not that woman.”
“Nice story.” I tried my hand at a calm smile.
“It’s the truth, and the fact it was your doing, your fuck-up, is the only reason why I didn’t fire his ass on the spot.”
Ransom saw right through my charade. He knew I wanted him. Knew I was damaged just like him.
“I kissed Max because he’s cute and because I wanted to have some fun.”
“And yesterday?” Ransom cocked an eyebrow and referred to our almost-kiss.
Flipping my hair, I said, “No offense, Ransom, but you’re too old for me.”
The only thing getting old was the bullshit I was spewing at the speed of light. I was delirious with need, and nothing, and no one else could make it better but him.
He waltzed over to where I stood, my dress half undone. He smirked, crushing a perfectly transparent ice cube between his white, straight teeth.
My spine melted in that moment, it was so hot.
“What do you want, Princess?”
I blinked, considering the possibility of telling him the truth, versus feeding him another lie. I decided the truth was better. Ransom never shamed me for my truth. Not for my dyslexia, and not for my life choices.
“I want…” I craned my neck, trying to appear regal and dignified. “I want what you did to her.”
It felt good to let the truth out. Even if I couldn’t understand my reaction to this man.
“I want to do to you what I did to her,” he surprised me by saying, his voice matter-of-fact. I allowed myself a moment of breathlessness at his words.
Yes. Finally.
“But I also don’t want to mess up my life, either. Guess which option appeals to me more right now?”
“Nothing wrong with a little walk on the dark side.” I mustered the courage to run my hand over his chest. He clasped my wrist, pushing it away. My back was pinned against the wall. He stood close enough for me to smell his breath, the whiskey on it, his aftershave, and that singular, sour-sweet sweat of a man.
“You’re not worth it,” he sneered.
“Is that why I can feel your erection digging into my thigh?” In my boldest move yet, I cupped his cock through his slacks. He was hard and terrifyingly large. I’d never touched a penis before. Willingly, anyway. I kept my hand there, even though I didn’t know what to do next.
“Hallie,” he warned.
“What?” My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “Nothing’s happening here,” I said innocently.
He studied my face. I could tell he was at war with himself.
“I don’t fuck gentle,” he hissed.
“No one’s asking you to.” I swallowed. “I want the fantasy. The degradation. I want you to break me completely, and then me to pick myself up without anyone’s help.”
I started rubbing at his shaft. It was clumsy—my hand was at a weird angle—but after a few seconds I felt his cock twitch in my palm in response.
“Nothing’s happening here,” I repeated.
“Nothing?” His silky voice caressed every inch of my body, his lips so close to mine.
“Nothing.” I licked my lips, waiting for him to kiss me. I looked up, tilting my head so that our mouths were perfectly aligned.
“You want a kiss, don’t you?” A mean smirk graced his lips. “I don’t think so. Not after you exchanged saliva with Max.”
I felt his fingers brush the inside of my thigh. My knees became weak. I opened up my limbs like a flower, inviting him to come and play. My hand rubbed his cock harder. I couldn’t believe we were doing this. But then I also couldn’t believe it had taken us so long.