Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“You look ready to murder.”
“The beast fell for the beauty, fuck, okay?” I place my face in my hands, scrubbing away the guilt, doubt, insecurities. “She got me fucking wrapped up in her, lured me in, and now, things are different. I want more than to own her body. I want…” Fuck, I sound like a pussy. “I have to tell Hazel.” The words taste sour on my tongue. Hazel will never forgive me for this.
“And what do you think she’ll do?”
I pull my head out of my hands and gawk at him. “What the fuck do you think she’s gonna do? She’s going to lose her shit! She’s going to hate me. Probably call me a sick bastard and never talk to me again.” And that shit guts me. I don’t want to hurt her—she’s my baby girl. But not hurting her means walking away from Violet, and that’s never happening.
“Maybe she won’t.”
At that, a cynical laugh bursts from my mouth. “Oh yeah? How will she not?”
“Maybe she’s not as blind to your ways as you think. Maybe she’s not so different than you.”
I stare him down, not liking his double meaning. “She does not know about my tastes. She won’t.” I can’t pull my eyes off his. “What? What’s that look for? You know something I don’t?”
“Calm down, Romeo. I’m just saying, Hazel’s always been an old soul. She may be shocked to hear you’re fucking her bestie, but maybe in time, she’ll understand.”
Violet
I should just drop the class. Not that Jim isn’t going to fail me anyway. I blow off Friday’s psych lecture and hug Hazel good-bye, telling her I’ll see her on Sunday. She shoos me off, saying she’ll be fine and will enjoy some quiet time to catch up on reading. I’m hesitant to leave. She seems off, and I can sense that something’s changed in her. But she’s a locked box. A part of me worries she’ll go home, but Heath eased my worry by telling Hazel he’d be out of town on a business trip so she wouldn’t attempt to visit.
By the time I arrive at the station, my nerves are shot. I’m excited and anxious. I fix my hair a million times. This will be the first time we’ve been alone without feeling like we’re about to get caught. And for the next forty-eight hours, I have him all to myself.
“Missed you, naughty girl,” he says low as he grabs my bag, and we walk to his car. We’re friendly with each other until we’re pulling out of the lot. He reaches over to my thigh, his thumb grazing my sex. “You hungry? Want to grab some dinner?”
I’m not really sure what the right call is. Are we able to be seen in public together? Will people ask questions? What if someone he knows recognizes him? The worry of us being seen puts a damper on my mood. “Wanna just order in?” I reply.
He sees the strain in my eyes, but nods, agreeing. “Sure thing.”
We stay quiet the rest of the way until we pull up to his large estate and park next to one of his many luxury cars. Grabbing my bag, he escorts me into the house. It’s strange to be here without Hazel, but I quickly push that feeling aside.
“What does my girl feel like eating? I’ll order anything and everything. Just name it.” I love how chivalrous he’s being. Different than the ruthless sex god.
“Would I be lame if I said pizza would be fine?” His lip curls into that knowing smile.
“Not at all. I love what pizza does to you, so pizza it is.” He drops my bag on the counter, loosens his tie, and pulls out his phone to order. While he’s occupied, I roam the house. I walk past his office, remembering the last time I was in there. It also has me anticipating being back in his bed.
Heath gets held up on a business call, and by the time he’s off, the pizza’s here. He sets up a cozy sitting place on the floor in the entertainment room, and I shamelessly gobble everything up.
“That was…”
“Delicious. Savino’s is the best.” He dabs at his lips, then jumps up off the floor and grabs the empty plates and pizza box, discarding them in the kitchen. When he comes back, the butterflies in my stomach start to take flight. The easy-going smile on his face is a rarity. But it’s not until he claims my hand and walks us up to his bedroom that my nerves start to unravel.
His room is exactly how I remember. Dark and mysterious. The gigantic bed covered in rich, black satin sheets is a reminder of just how wicked Heath can be. He walks me over to the bottom of the bed, then stops in front of me, inspecting my appearance. “I’ve been a patient man, waiting for this moment. To be alone with you. No restrictions. I’m not a nice man, so this is your only warning. If you want to leave this room, I’ll let you, but once I have you naked and restrained, there’s no getting out. Do you understand, Violet?”