Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
The warm day suddenly felt like a winter morning.
He held my stare for a while before he continued his meal. “When I say you don’t want to know, take my word for it.”
I walked into his study upstairs.
It was the first time I’d ever walked in there. It was a big room, a full sitting area in front of a large hearth. There were windows all along the wall, and a big ornate desk was in the rear. A large painting hung on the wall behind him, Cap-Ferrat with sailboats in the bay. He worked on his laptop, his chin tilted down to look at the screen.
He didn’t seem to realize I was there until I was right in front of his desk.
His eyes flicked up.
“Hugo normally brings me clothes he wants me to wear, but he hasn’t delivered anything. Am I not coming with you?”
“No.”
The disappointment was like a rock that dropped into my stomach. “How long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know. A few days. A week, maybe. Depends on the bullshit I have to deal with.” His attention moved back to the laptop.
“That’s a long time.”
His eyes flicked from left to right like he was reading.
“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”
He turned his attention back to me. “I have a lot more to think about than how you’ll keep yourself entertained in my absence. Swim. Shop. Drink. Whatever the fuck you please.” And just like that, he was back to his laptop.
Instead of snapping, I managed to release an agitated sigh. “I meant because I’ll be here alone without you. What if Grave realizes you’re out of the country and comes for me?”
He released a sigh, and this time, he shut his laptop. “Just because you climbed over my walls and harassed my butler at the front door doesn’t mean my security is lax. They just didn’t shoot you because you weren’t a threat. If you were, you would have been shot on sight. Don’t worry about your safety. I can still protect you whether we’re in the same room or on opposite sides of the world.”
“That wasn’t our deal.”
His face hardened in both confusion and irritation.
“He’s afraid of you. Not armed men with guns. If you aren’t here, there’s nothing stopping him from pulling up with his own crew and blowing yours to hell. I’m not staying here without you, so I’m coming.”
“Camille, it’s not the right place for you—”
“I said, I’m coming.”
The second his eyes flashed with agitation, I knew shit was about to hit the fan. He got to his feet, towering over me, reminding me who was in charge. “Trust me, you don’t want to be there when I conduct business.”
“I model your diamonds all the time—”
“Not the same thing. This is all business—no pleasure.”
“I still feel uncomfortable being here alone. I go where you go.”
His jawline was sharp like broken glass, and his eyes shone like bullets.
“Why don’t you want me there?”
Silence.
“You have another lover there—”
“Is that what this is about?” He came around the desk, his eyes on me the whole way until we were face-to-face. “You think I’ll bed other women while we’re apart? My word means nothing to you?”
“Every associate I’ve met of yours is a massive pig, so…” I didn’t realize the root of my unease until he figured it out himself. Being left unprotected was only part of my fear.
“Their wives are aware of their promiscuity. And if I were like them, I wouldn’t hide it either. I will tell you the truth straight to your face and feel nothing as you cry rather than lie to keep your cheeks dry. That’s a promise.”
My arms locked across my chest.
“Don’t insult me again.”
“I didn’t insult you—”
“Yes, you fucking did.” He raised his voice. It filled every corner of the room and spilled out into the hallway. “Don’t question my fidelity ever again.”
I looked away.
“Apologize to me.”
“What?” I asked incredulously, looking back at him. “I am not—”
“Yes, you fucking are.” He stared me down, his eyes becoming angrier with the passing time.
I turned on my heel and walked out.
He grabbed me by the arm and threw me on the couch.
My back hit the cushions, and my head landed on one of the decorative pillows.
He was on top of me, hiking up my dress and pulling down my panties. “Camille.”
I shoved him as hard as I could, but it was like throwing your body against a solid wall.
My legs were folded against me, and then his sweatpants were pushed down. With a quick thrust, he was inside me, pinning me deep into the cushions. His face directly above mine and with that possessive look, he took me, one hand sliding into my hair like reins to a horse. “Say it.”
The instant he was inside me, the fight left my body. My hands pulled him closer rather than push him away. My knees pressed into his torso and squeezed him to me like a snake that wouldn’t release her prey. He was my drug, getting me off better than anything else in this world. With every hit, I needed more of him as the addiction worsened, and I certainly couldn’t stop. Not now. Probably not ever. “I’m sorry…”