Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
And Anita was a different girl. Quiet and withdrawn.
Instead of opting to move in here with Gracen after being discharged, she’d gone to a rehab facility.
Gracen had been secretly relieved, which made her feel guilty. But she didn’t think she had it in her to have Anita here. In her safe place.
“I did. She’s settled in well.”
“Good.” Victor was paying for the facility, but he probably thought it money well spent if he didn’t have to have Anita in his house. “I hope she gets the care she needs.”
“She will,” Regent told her.
There had been a bit of a power vacuum with Santiago and Snake dying. Regent was managing everything, but he had no interest in Santiago’s businesses. Victor said he’d likely find someone to take them over.
She didn’t really care. She might not know what she was going to do next, but for the moment everyone she loved was safe.
And that was the most important thing.
“What do you think?”
“I think it will look beautiful.” Gracen sighed happily as she glanced down at the house plans, then over at the piece of land where they intended to build their four-bedroom, two-bath house with a wraparound porch.
It wouldn’t be a full-time house. They still intended to spend most of their time in New Orleans. But this would be their getaway house where it could be just the two of them together.
Which would be nice. But she also loved living in the Malone mansion. Maxim had started to spend three or four nights there each week. She liked having him under their roof.
When Victor had asked her if she wanted her own place in New Orleans rather than living with Regent, she’d told him no. The mansion was her home. The Malones were her family. Next weekend they were all going up to New York to an art exhibition which featured Lottie’s paintings.
She couldn’t wait.
Six weeks had passed since the warehouse incident. She hadn’t heard from Anita since she’d gone into the rehab facility. And she wouldn’t lie, it hurt.
Maybe one day their old hurts would be mended. But not today or tomorrow. Regent said that when Anita was ready to leave, he’d reach out to her to offer help. She was grateful for that.
“Good. I think it will too.” Victor turned her to him. She was still having the occasional nightmare, but they were lessening. And she knew eventually they’d go away completely.
But there was one thing bothering her. Victor had been treating her with kid gloves. For a while, she’d needed that careful care. Him watching over her closely, even feeding and bathing her sometimes. Holding her tightly when she cried or shook with nightmares.
However, that had to stop.
“You know, I’m really looking forward to our trip north next weekend,” she said as Victor put the plans into the back of the car. “I especially can’t wait to see Nico.”
Shot loaded.
“He’s so hot.”
Shot fired.
“You did not just say that.” Victor stalked toward her.
She stepped back with a laugh. “It was a joke.”
“Not a funny one.”
“Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it? Spank me? We know you won’t do that. Fuck me? You won’t do that either.”
“Little bit, you better run.”
With a scream, she turned and took off toward the trees.
“I’m coming for you!”
He definitely gave her a head start, though. She wasn’t a fast runner, and her legs were far shorter than his. He caught her before she got to the tree line. Then he threw her over his shoulder.
“Victor! It was a joke. I don’t find Nico sexy.”
Slap! Slap!
His hand landed on her ass. Hard.
She squealed.
“You never said sexy.”
“Because he’s not!”
Smack! Smack!
Shit. That hurt.
He turned her over and then sat on a stump and pulled her over his lap.
“No, Victor! I was just trying to rile you up.”
“Mission accomplished,” he told her as he pulled her shorts down.
Shit!
Maybe she’d done too good of a job.
Her panties went down next. And then his hand laid into her.
Smack! Smack!
She kicked her feet, and tried to reach back to stop him, but he gathered her hands up in the small of her back.
“I just wanted you to stop treating me like I’m fragile.”
“Guess you got your wish.”
She wouldn’t quite put it that way. By the time he was finished spanking her, her ass was searing hot.
“Promise you won’t ever look at another man.”
“Victor, I wouldn’t. I promise. I’m sorry. It was a joke.”
He turned her over, then stood her in front of him, between his legs. He quickly started to strip her. “I didn’t find it funny.”
“I’m sorry. Really. I just . . . I needed you to see that I’m all right, Victor. Better than all right. Because I have you.”
He pulled her onto his lap, so she was straddling him. Then he kissed the hell out of her. One hand cupped her breast, toying with her nipple while he teased her clit with his other hand.