Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
He says nothing as he continues to stare at me, and I force myself to move away, to start walking. I pick up my pace but keep looking behind my shoulder, unable to help myself. I don’t know what it is about him that has this pull consuming me.
And still he stands there, watching me. Everything seems to slow as I watch as he slips his hand into his suit jacket, realization of what I’ve done covering his face. I swear I could hear the growl come from him even from this distance.
“Fuck,” he mouths and his gaze lands on me once more.
I pick up my pace just as he starts heading toward me, the anger on his face tangible. I face forward and start running, trying to push people out of my way, but the early morning rush of commuters is thick, like the smog that surrounds the city.
I take a left, knowing there’s an alley just ahead. Surely, he won’t keep pursuing me, not with the filth between the buildings, not in his Gucci loafers and Armani suit.
I glance over my shoulder but can’t see him through the thick throng of people. I keep running, my sneakers eating up the pavement, my arms working as I escape. Most of the time they don’t chase me, don’t even know I robbed them until I’m long gone. But this guy is different.
I take a right and head into the alley, sunlight not penetrating this area very well, shadows mixing with the stench of trash coming from the large dumpsters pressed against the brick walls. I slow, feeling like I’ve lost him. I’m fast. You have to be to survive in this line of work. There’s no way he kept up with me.
As I brace my hands on my knees and breathe out, the feeling of someone right behind me has me straightening and turning. I gasp as I look into his face, one that’s set in anger and looks mighty pissed. I go to turn but he has a vice-lock grip on my arm, preventing me from leaving.
“I’ll scream.”
He grins, a flash of straight white teeth, but it isn’t one of pleasure or amusement. “Go ahead.” He holds up his cell. “I’m about to call the cops, so fighting will only make this worse for you.”
I swallow the thick lump in my throat.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly and reach in my jacket to give him back his money. I hold up the wallet, handing it to him. He takes it from me and shoves it in his pocket with a frustrated grunt.
I try to get loose again, but he’s far too strong and determined to let me go.
“I gave you the money back. Just let me go and you can be on your way.”
He doesn’t speak, doesn’t even move as he stares at me.
“What’s your fucking problem?”
“Take off the hat,” he says harshly.
“W-what?” I feel my brows furrow. “Why?”
“Just do it.”
I lift my hand and remove my beanie, hoping if I comply he’ll cut me some slack and let me go. I don’t bother smoothing my hair away from my face.
He eyes me and lets go of my arm. “Shit, you’re so damn young.” He rakes his eyes over me and I shiver. His gaze feels like fingers moving over my body.
“I’m eighteen. Old enough.” I see the way his nostrils flare slightly. “I gave you your money back. I’ll just be on my way and you won’t see me again. We don’t have to get the cops involved.”
He doesn’t move, doesn’t even speak. I see the lift of a dark eyebrow as he continues to watch me, and then he takes a step back and looks me up and down. “You don’t want the police involved?”
I find myself shaking my head. Something about the look on his face makes me afraid to speak.
“You’ll do whatever it takes to make this right?”
I nod, but my heart is beating out of my chest. The way he’s looking at me tells me he’s got one thing on his mind. It seems impossible and I don’t understand it. A man like him… the very ideas that are running in my head have to be ludicrous.
He lifts his hand and runs it over his jaw. “Then, I want you.”
I wait for him to continue. “Want me to what?”
He grins then and this time it is one of pleasure. “If you don’t want me to call the cops, it’ll cost you.”
“Mister, if I had money, I wouldn’t be trying to take yours.” I do my best to keep annoyance in my voice and disguise the fact that there’s something about him that I find… appealing. I shouldn’t. I should be running and trying to get away from him again. I’ve lived this life enough to know that jail is a bad thing for a girl like me. I’ve managed to stay out, but only because until recently I’ve been underage. Juvie isn’t a walk in the damn park, but jail? Yeah, I can’t handle that. I already know I can’t. Which means I need to ignore this guy and his broody dark eyes and his smile that looks wicked and makes me feel like a woman for the first time in my life.