Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
I wanted her. Not just physically, though the desire was undeniable. I wanted to protect her, to shelter her from whatever it was that had her looking so lost.
When I walked over to their table and saw the way she looked at me—her eyes wide with fear but also something else, something hopeful—I knew I couldn’t walk away.
"She’s done with you," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.
He didn’t take it well, but I didn’t care. My eyes were on her, and when she took my hand, I felt something shift inside me. I was used to control, to getting what I wanted, but this was different. This wasn’t about possession—it was about protection.
Now she’s in my car, and I can’t stop thinking about how soft her skin looks, how full her lips are. She’s next to me, her hands clasped in her lap, and I can see the fear in her eyes. She’s been through something, something that’s shaken her to her core, and it makes me want to pull her into my arms, to tell her that she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.
The car pulls up to my mansion, and I open her door, watching her face as she takes in the sheer size of the place. Her eyes widen, and she looks at me like she’s trying to figure out if this is real.
"I don’t know if I should be here," she whispers, her voice shaky.
I step closer, my hand resting on the small of her back. "You’re safer here than anywhere else."
She hesitates for a moment, but then she nods, and I lead her inside.
two
ISABELLA
The car glides to a stop in front of his mansion, and I’m left breathless as I step out onto the stone driveway. It is beautiful, with towering pillars and the soft glow of golden lights spilling from the windows, it feels like stepping into another world. A world I don’t belong in.
Nathan’s hand rests on my lower back as he leads me inside, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine. The front doors open into an expansive foyer, marble floors gleaming underfoot, with a sweeping staircase curving up to the second floor. Everything about this place is lush, decadent. It smells like fresh wood and something clean, something safe.
The night had been an overwhelming blur, but now, as I stand in the center of this mansion, the reality of where I am sets in. It’s so much—too much, maybe. And yet, as I look up at Nathan, his dark eyes locked on mine, I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.
"You must be exhausted," he murmurs, his voice deep and soothing. "Let me show you to your room."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My heart is still racing, not just from the events of the night, but from the way he looks at me—like I’m something delicate, something worth protecting. No one’s ever looked at me like that before.
We move through the mansion, the silence only broken by the soft sounds of our footsteps on the marble floor. The hallway is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a view of the gardens outside, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. It feels like a dream—too perfect to be real.
"Here," Nathan says, pushing open a set of double doors.
I step inside, my breath catching in my throat. The room is stunning. A massive bed sits in the center, draped in silky sheets that shimmer under the soft lighting. The walls are a deep, warm gray, and there’s a large fireplace crackling in the corner, casting a golden glow over everything.
But before I can take it all in, I feel him behind me, his presence like a steady, comforting force.
"You’re safe here, Isabella," he whispers, his voice sending a wave of warmth through me. "No one can hurt you now."
I turn to face him, my heart pounding. His dark hair falls loosely over his forehead, and his strong jaw is tense, like he’s holding something back. He looks at me like he’s fighting a battle within himself, and that only makes me want him more.
"I don’t know why you’re doing this," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "Why you’re helping me."
His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his touch gentle but firm. "Because you deserve to be taken care of. And I want to be the one to do it."
The air between us crackles with something electric, something that pulls me toward him. I don’t even realize I’ve moved until my body is pressed against his, and his lips are on mine. The kiss is soft at first, testing, but it quickly deepens, becoming something more desperate, more hungry.
He lifts me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me across the room, our mouths never breaking contact. The world spins as he lays me down on the bed, his body hovering over mine.