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 wasn’t sure, but the thought occurred to me, What if the secret is why my mother left? Who were these people?
Twenty-Five
The book I’d gotten from the Houstons’ library didn’t distract me much, but it was the best thing I could think of to occupy my thoughts until Blaise arrived. It was almost five when my bedroom door opened and Blaise stepped inside. I stared at him as he walked over to the bed and picked up my packed bag.
“Let’s go.” It wasn’t a request; it was a command.
I didn’t move. I sat there with my book and studied him.
His eyes locked with mine. He was angry. This was the Blaise that I was used to. The one who had taken me to his cave blindsided me. He’d confused me and made me forget things. Like the fact that Blaise was normally an asshole.
“Now, Madeline.”
I wasn’t scared of him. Everyone else could be if they wanted to be, but I wasn’t. He was pissed. Probably because Huck had told him I’d had lunch with Saxon and the questions Saxon had asked me. I didn’t care. We hadn’t done anything wrong. Saxon was my friend. I lived in his house.
“I don’t obey orders,” I replied putting my book down and crossing my arms over my chest defiantly.
Blaise’s nostrils flared as he inhaled, and I knew I was pushing him. I still didn’t care. He didn’t have to walk into my room and treat me like his property. I’d had sex with him, not signed over my life to him.
“Please,” he said through his teeth.
I raised my eyebrows and said nothing.
Blaise muttered a curse and tossed the bag down on the floor, then stalked over to me. I didn’t move an inch. I wasn’t going to show fear. He wouldn’t control me. Whatever god complex he had wasn’t going to be encouraged by me.
“If you don’t move your sweet ass right fucking now, I’m going to carry you out,” he threatened.
“Really? You think tossing me over your shoulder and walking out with me is the way to handle it? Instead of … I don’t know … being nice?” I said. “It’s not so hard. You were real nice in your bed this morning.”
Blaise took another step, towering over me. “If that’s an invitation to fuck you right here, then I’ll take it, but it’s gonna be hard, and it’s gonna hurt.”
I swallowed, wishing that his sex threats didn’t turn me on. I had a point to make. I did not need to be controlled by sex.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” I replied.
He smirked then, and although it was arrogant, it still softened the anger in his brow. “Let’s go,” he said in a somewhat-softer tone this time.
“You came in here angry. Why?” I wasn’t going to leave with him until he clarified some things.
“Your lunch with Saxon,” he replied.
“We had sex, and now, I can’t have lunch with my friend?” I asked as I stood up.
Blaise shoved his left hand into my hair and grabbed it, then jerked my head back. “You have questions? Talk to me.” He lowered his head and ran the tip of his nose up my neck.
I was not going to get distracted. I was not.
“Saxon asked me questions first,” I said.
“He won’t again,” Blaise replied, then eased his hold on my hair.
“Why is he scared of you?” I asked him, not taking my eyes off his face. I was looking for anything in his expression that would confirm what I was asking.
“I’m older, bigger.” He moved his hand from my hair to trace my jawline with his fingers.
“It’s more than that, Blaise,” I pushed.
He shrugged. “The racing business is what defines his family, just like mine. Moses Mile needs the Hughes Farm. We are powerful. It will be mine one day.” He said this as if it made complete sense.
“And Trev’s,” I added.
He shook his head slowly while he continued to run his fingertip along my bare skin. “No. Just mine. There can only be one boss,” he replied. “Trev was never the one. He’s too soft.”
Boss. That was what Melanie had called him. She’d been referring to Hughes Farm. That made sense. If Garrett was handing it over to Blaise, then the Houstons didn’t want to make an enemy. Especially over a girl they had just brought into their home.
I sighed, feeling like an idiot. My head had gone in so many directions today, and I blamed my stupid eavesdropping for it all. I should have minded my own business.
“Okay,” I said. “We can go.”
Blaise didn’t move as he ran his fingers over the cleavage the halter top showed. “I like this top,” he said, lifting his eyes to meet mine.
I felt a blush warm my neck and face. I’d worn it, hoping he would. “Thanks.”