Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I spread my arms and give her a wide grin that I know will spike her blood pressure. “You can touch if you like, Tatiana.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“It’s your name.”
She props a hand on her hip. “Not anymore.”
It’s tempting to argue, but ultimately it’s not my call what she chooses to call herself. If she sees Tatiana as representation of the person she was before, who the fuck am I to argue? “Okay,” I finally say. “Not anymore.”
I slowly let my arms drop. I didn’t really expect her to take me up on my invitation. Our game has barely begun, and I won’t lie and say I’m not looking forward to her making me work for it. She wants me. She wouldn’t be fingering herself to the image of me in the shower if she didn’t. She’s also a prideful little asshole, so she’s going to hold out as long as possible before giving us what we both desire.
I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
Chapter 7
Tink
It feels like six months have passed since I was last in the Underworld, rather than something like twelve hours. Adem gives me a bright grin when he sees us walk through the doors. He’s one of those too-gorgeous-to-be-real people, which is saying something in our world. His dark brown skin doesn’t appear to have pores, and he always dresses to the nines. Tonight is no exception. He’s wearing a three-piece suit that would be overdoing it for anyone else working what is essentially a front desk job. On Adem it’s just … Adem. “Couldn’t stay away, could you?”
“Not even if I wanted to.” It’s impossible to be a part of Carver City’s power base without spending some time in the Underworld. Even Peter came here from time to time before I made my deal and Hook subsequently staged his coup. Though he never went beyond the lounge.
Hook and I will be playing tonight. I’m sure of it. He doesn’t need to fuck me to be married to me, but he was pretty damn explicit about what he wants. My body, traitor that it is, is thrilled by the thought of the pending power games. I’m stubborn to a fault. I don’t know how to be anything else. I can’t give in to Hook. Not without a fight.
His big hand presses against the small of my back, branding me right down to my skin. He gives an easy grin. “Adem.”
“Hook.” Adem’s dark gaze lands on the giant ring on my finger and goes wide. “Uh… Congratulations.”
“Something like that,” I mutter.
Hook’s laugh rolls through me in the most delicious way possible as he hooks an arm around my waist and hauls me against his side. “I’m planning something special for the little woman tonight. We’re celebrating.”
Adem’s dark brows rise and keep rising until I’m a little afraid they’ll just disappear entirely. “I … see.”
The impulse to explain shoves against the inside of my lips, but I stifle it. No matter the reason I said yes, this is a real marriage. Undermining it the second I get a chance undermines my safety and the safety of others.
Others.
I haven’t had a chance to think about the implications of being Hook’s wife, at least beyond the obvious. He’s the ruler of his territory. Even though it’s on the smaller scale, there are hundreds of people who are ready to jump to obey his every whim. There are those who would see him forcing me to get married as a sign of strength, but that puts me at a disadvantage for the rest of my life.
I start. The rest of my life? What the hell am I even saying? This isn’t about the rest of my life. This deal only serves to protect me until the threat of Peter has passed. That’s it. A shoring up of Hook’s strength because I can’t protect myself. Always the victim, never the partner.
I’ve played that part. I will never willingly go back.
So I lean into Hook and rub one hand up his bare chest. His muscles jump a little beneath my fingers, but his expression doesn’t change. I smile at Adem. “We wanted to surprise everyone.”
“I think it’s safe to say you’ll do exactly that.”
Hook catches my hand and presses a kiss to my palm. “Go in ahead of me. I have a few calls to make.”
I don’t trust that at all, but arguing will undo all the work I just put in. I give Adem a wave and walk to the set of large black doors that dominate the wall behind him. This entrance is built to intimidate and transition a person from the real world to the one that lies within. Sin and decadence and power games. Only Hades’s laws matter here, and anything is permissible as long as a person’s safe word is honored. It’s fucking heady, even now.