Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I was a well-educated, even-tempered, mentally stable, responsible woman in her prime who had done what she’d been told her entire life. I hadn’t even so much as had a boyfriend, let alone a pregnancy scare.
There was no legal reason any of this should have happened to me.
Other than that I had a shitty lawyer and a corrupt judge.
The way that judge had talked down to me, and the way my lawyer, a man who was supposed to advocate for me, had just given in, was infuriating.
Ice-cold anger surrounded my heart, strengthening my stomach, and finally, I was able to have an appropriate reaction.
I let my hand fly again, ready to strike Lucian across his handsome face, not caring how much hitting a jaw that firm stung my palm.
This time, I used my left. My right was still throbbing from the first hit.
Unfortunately, Manwarring was expecting it.
He grabbed my wrist mid-flight and pinned it to the wall next to my head.
“You already used your one shot,” he growled, lowering his face to mine again. “If you try to strike me again, I’ll take off my belt. Understood?”
Take off his belt?
As in spank me?
He wouldn’t dare!
“Fuck you,” I bit out, trying to pull my hand out of his grasp.
His cold, dark gaze lowered to my lips.
Without my own volition, my tongue flicked out to lick them.
He swept his thumb over my lower lip. “Such dirty words from such an innocent mouth.”
He was taunting me, and I didn’t appreciate it, or the way his vile words made my heart speed up with something far from disgust.
“Let go of me,” I said, gritting my teeth.
He tightened his grip on my wrist while his other hand moved to my hip. The tips of his fingers pressed into my flesh as he squeezed. “No.”
“I said, let go of me,” I said again, trying so hard to keep the anger and hatred in my voice so he didn’t see my truth.
I didn’t want him to know that his touch felt good. It was so warm, it was almost painful, in the same way that sinking into a hot bath after being in the cold hurt for a moment until your body relaxed into the most delicious, soothing heat.
I mustn’t give in to that warmth. It was flamed by the fires of hell, obeying its master here on earth.
A bit dramatic? Yes. Untrue? Absolutely not.
“Trust me, little one. You’re trapped in a game you can’t win.”
“Trust you? I’d rather eat glass, you manipulative bastard.”
“There’s that dirty mouth again.”
His lips slammed down on mine.
I tried to fight, to pull away from him, but was drawn to the painful heat of his embrace.
His fire was too tempting, daring me to submit.
Lucian’s kiss was both tantalizing and dangerous, like sin.
The second I opened my lips to him, he took full advantage, sliding his tongue into my mouth, not just tasting me.
No, he was claiming me.
He let go of my wrist just to put that hand back at my throat.
He wasn’t choking me, but he kept a tight enough grip to prove the threat.
More than just taking my money, he was taking everything.
In that terrible, unrestrained moment, I didn’t care.
His hand was so warm, it fractured the constant cold around me. His other hand roamed my body, groping my breasts over my shirt.
Lucian’s hard cock pressed against my lower stomach, holding me in place.
I wasn’t very experienced with men.
I wasn’t experienced with men at all, actually.
Until this man had stolen my first kiss, I had been untouched.
Even with my limited experience, he still seemed uncomfortably large.
He was not supposed to be for me. Just as I was not made for him.
But that didn’t stop his lips from moving down my neck.
With a vicious twist, he tore my shirt open. The delicate pearl buttons snapped then pinged and clattered as they skittered across the floor.
The cool air caressed my sensitive flesh, but that did not last.
His gaze trailed over my body, quickly heating my skin.
I sank my fingernails into his shoulders. “This is wrong. You have to stop.”
It did nothing to deter him as he pressed his cock harder against my stomach, making sure I felt every inch.
“You cannot win. Submit to me,” he rasped against the sensitive skin just under my jaw.
His words brought the cold back.
This time in the form of a spike of frozen fear down my spine.
Submit?
What does he mean by that?
CHAPTER 5
STELLA
Did he mean sex?
Here? In this public conference room?
Over this scarred and used table?
Holding onto my virtue into my twenties had been a choice.
I knew my worth.
And despite what Lucian might think, I’d also taken my responsibility as an heiress seriously. No man was going to one night and flight me, ruining my chances of an advantageous marriage.
I had a plan for my life, and it included marrying well and being a respected, high society matron. As an alumnus of Brearley Academy, I intended to continue the commitment to charity and community service instilled in me at the distinguished Upper East Manhattan school.