Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
That last time, he had managed to save her, but it had also resulted in him spraining his wrist, which he had barely managed to hide from her. This time, however...
"Are you ready?" Keiran asked, his voice deliberately cool despite the heat coursing through him at the sight of Cadence in the midnight blue gown.
"Ready."
Her fingers shook as he held her hand. He gazed at her for a moment, seeing the way her gown left her shoulders bare, its bodice gently hugging the curve of her breasts before cascading silkily to the floor.
The diamond choker he gave her sparkled under all the lights like a chain of ice.
His chain.
His claim.
Because she was his.
And he would always want her to be his, whether or not he learned to trust her again.
"I don't know how to be a proper mistress," she confided to him as they began walking.
"I don't think you're supposed to be proper for one," he pointed out dryly.
"I..." Her expression turned sheepish. "I didn't think of it that way."
"As expected."
She sputtered, and Keiran's lips pressed together in a straight line. Biggest fucking mistake ever, he found himself thinking again. Everything she said and did right now was just too damn adorable, and he had a feeling it would be a lot worse once they arrived at the ball.
Once inside the limo, she immediately plopped herself on his lap, catching him off guard completely. But all she did was smile at him. "Just doing what mistresses do."
His gaze narrowed at her. "You're up to no good, aren't you?"
She peered up at him from under her lashes. "I have no idea what you're implying."
"Think twice before you start playing with fire," he advised silkily.
"If it means the two of us burning together—-" Cadence's tone was somber. "I don't think I'd mind at all."
Keiran was starting to feel on edge. "Cadence—-"
"Oh, look, we're here."
The car had already cruised to a stop, and a valet was promptly opening the door for them.
Fuck.
Keiran reluctantly stepped out and as he took her hand to help her out, he then heard her whisper, "Thank you...Master."
Keiran almost lost his footing at that.
Fuck.
And so it began, with Cadence doing her best to do what she believed mistresses did best, and that was to stare up adoringly into his eyes, stay by his side every moment, with her breasts pressed tantalizingly against his arm.
"I'm going to punish you for this," he growled under his breath as he swept her onto the dance floor.
The words only made her eyes twinkle mischievously. "Promise?"
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Nothing seemed to faze her, not even when they danced beside a couple who seemed to take pleasure in talking about women who didn't see anything wrong in selling their bodies for financial gain.
Hearing this had Keiran stiffening, but it was Cadence herself who had asked him to ignore them.
"It's alright," she said softly.
No, dammit.
It was not fucking alright.
But it should be.
And that was what was killing him.
Because wasn't this what he wanted in the first place?
What he had planned from the start?
Hadn't he asked her to be his mistress so he could punish her?
And now that the whole damn world did see Cadence as his mistress, all he wanted was to kill everyone who was thinking what he meant them to think.
"It's really okay, Keiran." Cadence's voice drew his attention back to her. "I really don't mind being talked about."
He could tell she wasn't lying, and yet...
"Something's still bothering you."
Her gaze turned uncertain.
"Speak," he ordered.
"I just hate that they have to talk about you, too," she admitted. "Three years ago, it was my dad who wanted to shame you and had everyone talking. And now, it's happening—-"
He pulled her close, his mouth claiming hers in a hard and possessive kiss, one hand tangling in Cadence's hair as the other pressed against the small of her back.
When he lifted his head, Cadence was clutching his dress shirt, her gaze clouded with desire. "W-Why did you do that?"
"To prove to you how bothered I am about public opinion."
"O-Oh."
"Do you need more proof?" Keiran drawled.
Three seconds passed.
I'm fucked.
Because he had seen her eyes lit up, and he didn't even have time to step back. She was already pulling him close and raising herself on her toes—-
FUCK.
She had pulled his lower lip between her teeth to give it a bite, and it was all Keiran could do not to fuck her then and there.
When Cadence pulled away, all eyes immediately zeroed in on the impressive evidence of his arousal.
"Dammit, Cadence."
She was about to laugh when she belatedly noticed what had practically every woman in the room staring, and she ended up gulping instead.
Keiran bit back a groan. Seeing that only made him think of what else Cadence could be gulping down her sweet throat.
"K-Keir—-"
"I'm going to take a walk," he bit out.