Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I couldn’t open my eyes. The reality of all that had just happened was sinking in. The bed moved underneath me, and I was afraid if I looked, I’d see Blaise leaving me. I wasn’t sure I could watch that. Not when I was this vulnerable.
I pulled my legs up against my chest in an attempt to protect myself from the rejection I knew was about to come. Except this time, it had been more than a kiss. I’d been intimate with him.
“No,” Blaise said as he grabbed my arm and pulled it away from my knees.
Opening my eyes, I looked up to see him standing over me.
“Get dressed,” he said and inhaled sharply. “Quickly, or I’m going to fuck you right here.”
My eyes flared at the words, and my sated body suddenly stirred awake again.
“Don’t,” he said, clenching his teeth tightly. “Get up and get on some goddamn clothes.” He turned and stalked toward the window with his back to me.
I sat up and stared at his rigid back. He didn’t look happy about what had happened. In fact, he looked furious.
“Just go,” I said, wanting to lie back down, curl up, and cry.
“Not without you. Now, get dressed,” he said with his back still to me.
I stood up and walked to the closet, as if obeying his commands were normal. I would stand my ground once I had my body covered. I quickly dressed in the closest sundress to me, and I slipped on panties, then walked back into my room.
He was still at the window, but he turned to look at me, and his eyes swept over my dress. Then, he glared at me. “Do you not have something that covers you up more than that?” he asked, clearly angry.
I had needed that. It was the face slap that I’d needed to get out of the haze he’d put me in. “Just leave! Why are you still here? Why did you …” I stopped, unable to finish that question.
He shook his head slowly. “I won’t be leaving without you. Not sure I can do that again,” he replied. “I don’t want to be here, but I can’t fucking stop it. And, baby, now that I’ve had you on my mouth, it’s about to get much worse. That sweet pussy just became mine.”
Had he really just said that?
I stared at him with a mixture of fury, confusion, and desire.
What was happening? Why was he doing this to me? Where had my brain gone?
“I can’t stay in here with you any longer. Wear the damn dress with no bra. You’d better hope no one looks because I’m not completely in control right now,” he said, reaching for my arm and starting for the door.
Fear gave me the strength to jerk back from him. “I’m not leaving with you!” My voice cracked slightly, and I hoped he didn’t notice.
He pushed me against the wall as his eyes held mine. The fury inside those green depths was mixed with need. It was as exciting as it was terrifying, and I realized that defined Blaise. He was equally both of those things.
“Madeline.” He said my name and took a deep breath. “This is a real fucking thin line you’re walking. You’re gonna leave with me. You’re gonna stop fighting me. There were other paths for you. Better fucking choices. But if another man ever touches you now, I’ll have to kill him.”
When his mouth covered mine, I forgot all my questions about what he meant by that and the concern that when he had threatened to kill someone, it had sounded like he actually meant it.
I was clinging to him, helpless to argue, unable to make good choices, and desperate to have more of him when he broke the kiss and grabbed my hand, then started for the door again.
I went.
I walked with him down the hallway, the stairs, and out the front door.
When he opened the door to his truck and lifted me up to put me inside, I didn’t fight him. We were driving down the dark road as the scent of leather and mint surrounded me.
This wasn’t safe. This wasn’t going to end well.
II
It’s not the demons you should fear, it’s the Devil who is charming.
Twenty
Neither of us spoke on the drive. It was longer than just a short drive over to Hughes Farm. When he finally turned off the main road, we went down a long dirt one, and I glanced at Blaise several times, wanting to ask where we were going. I didn’t. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know or even if he’d answer me.
A tall iron gate appeared, and when we slowed to a stop, it swung open as motion lights came on and lit the now-paved road that led to a large brick house with massive columns. It wasn’t as big as the Hugheses’ mansion, but it was bigger than the Houstons’ house.