Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
She lifts her eyebrows.
“Her vanity,” I say. “Her need for attention.”
Skye scoffs. “She’s a hotel heiress. She’s had everything given to her since she was born. Of course she’s vain.”
“True, and when she feels those things are threatened, she strikes.”
“Why? Why did she strike against you?”
“You’re as intelligent as she is, Skye. More so, in my opinion. You can answer the question yourself.”
She nods. “She wanted you. I know the story, Braden. Parts of it, at least. She pursued you relentlessly, and you began by rejecting her. But you eventually didn’t reject her, and that’s what led to—”
I steel myself. “You’re getting perilously close to the line, Skye. I will not talk about these things.”
“If you don’t talk about them, what choice do I have but to find the information somewhere else?”
I shake my head as my whole body throbs with desire for this woman. The more she fights me, the more I want her.
“My God, you will drive me to an early grave. You sit there, looking so delectable… Trying my patience…” I rake my fingers through my hair. “You have the choice to trust me, Skye. You have the choice to let this go.”
She sighs, and I can almost see the cogs in her brain working, trying so hard to find some way to get the truth about Addie and me.
But she’s got to let this go.
“You gave up your control to me in the bedroom. I need you to give up your control in this situation as well. As long as you insist on pressing me about Addison, there will always be an issue of trust between us. I won’t be in a relationship with a woman who does not trust me.”
She nods. “I’ll try, Braden.”
“Trying means nothing. You either do or you don’t. Are you going to give up on this ridiculous quest for information? Or aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she says, smiling. “I can give it up. I can try, at least.”
I return her smile. Nice try—no pun intended. It’s so very Skye to use the word try again, after she says she no longer needs to try. She knows the answer she must give to get what she wants.
Do I believe her? I want to. I want to with every cell in my body, with every beat of my heart.
But I know her, and I know her inquisitive nature. Her need for control.
“I see,” I finally say. Then I stand.
I walk out from behind my desk and stand over her.
“Stand up,” I command.
She parts her lips and obeys me.
“God, those lips.” My voice is raspy again. “I’ve told you how sexy you look in that leather thing.”
“It’s a bustier,” she says.
“You’ve seen me rip a dress to shreds before.”
She nods.
“I don’t think my fingers are strong enough to take on leather.” Though as turned on as I am right now, I may be able to tear through metal.
She nods again.
“So I’ll ask you to do it.” I turn to my desk, pick up a pair of scissors, and hand them to her.
She drops her mouth into an O.
“Take them, Skye.”
“Braden, I—”
“I said take them.”
Her hand shakes as she reaches forward and grasps the scissors.
“Be careful,” I say. “Don’t nick your creamy skin.”
She’s trembling. Truly trembling.
“Do you trust me, Skye?”
She hesitantly nods.
“Then give me the scissors.”
She shakily hands them back to me. I grin and tuck the scissors above her navel, right onto the beautiful black leather.
She closes her eyes.
“Open your eyes,” I command, my voice dark and forceful.
She hesitates.
“Now.”
Her eyes pop open.
“Watch my hands, Skye.”
She drops her gaze to my hands holding the scissors. I squeeze my fingers to my thumb, cutting a two-inch slice into the leather. She sucks in a breath.
“Why is this so difficult for you?” I ask.
“Because I just bought it. I bought it to look sexy for you.”
“And you do look sexy. Just like you looked sexy in that little black dress. And it turns me on to no end to cut this off you.” I inhale. “I’m hard as a rock, Skye. I’m angry as hell with you, but I want you so badly that I can’t see straight.” I slice another inch into the leather. “Do you have any idea what you do to me? I’ve never been so completely angry with someone and yet so turned on by her at the same time. You make me question things. Not just about myself but about life. It’s…disorienting.
“I never wanted a relationship,” I continue, “but from the first time I saw you, scrambling to pick up a condom off the floor, your cheeks red with embarrassment, I wanted to fuck you. I hoped one fuck would get you out of my system, but I think we both know how that turned out.” I slice another inch.
She winces at the cool blades against her flesh.