Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Vargas heads into his bedroom, putting me down on his giant bed. I can’t help but gawk at his broad chest. The man is sculpted like a fine piece of art.
“Cadence.” Vargas’s hand grips my chin to make me look up at him. He looms over me, standing between my legs. “What was that?”
Crap. I should’ve known better than to think he would let me get away without an explanation.
“Just a nightmare.” I try to shrug it off, but he doesn’t let go of my chin. My dad has always made them out to be a big deal. He gets worked up when I have them. It’s made me self-conscious.
“Tell me,” he orders once again. I’m finding that Vargas enjoys bossing me around. I shouldn’t enjoy the small thrill I get when he does it. I know it’s because of the rough firmness of his tone that’s part of it. He’s so commanding.
“It really is just a nightmare.” I reach up and touch the scar hidden by my hair. It always throbs after I have one. I equate it to the scar that Voldemort gave Harry Potter. I suppose I do have one spell, or maybe it’s a curse. The jury is still out on that one.
“Does it hurt?” He releases my chin only to push my hair back and inspect it more closely.
“It tingles after one of my nightmares.” I tell the truth. I’ve never really shared that small detail with anyone.
“Hmm.” He leans down to brush a kiss against it. “How long have you had nightmares?”
“As long as I can remember. I haven't for a while now. I’m always hoping I’ll outgrow them, but I don’t think that is going to be the case.” I let out an irritated puff of air. At least I’m not a mess right now. Fear normally grips me for a good hour after one, but not tonight. I’m guessing it’s because Vargas makes me feel safe. Which is really strange since we only met days ago.
“But you can only remember as far back as when you got this scar?” he points out.
I nod. I’m sure they’re somehow related.
“Car accident, you said?”
I nod again because I don’t have much more to offer than that. “I’m okay now. I really am sorry I woke you. I’ll, ah”—I try to slide off the bed, but he doesn’t let me get anywhere—“go back to bed?”
“You’re in bed.” Vargas flips the blanket back before lifting me once again, tucking me into his sheets.
“I can’t take your bed. I’m fine, I swear.”
“Stop.” He presses me back down onto the mattress. “You might be fine, but I’m not.”
Is he really that upset about my nightmare? It’s not really a question since I know he’s telling the truth. “And I told you to stop apologizing.”
I start to say it again but catch myself in the nick of time.
“Good girl.” He drops a kiss onto my lips.
“Are you being so good to me because of my father?” The second I ask the question, I regret it. “Don’t answer that.” I cover his mouth with my hand. “Don’t answer, okay?”
He pulls my hand away.
“No.” He presses a kiss to my palm before releasing my wrist. I watch as he rounds the bed, slipping into the other side. The lights flip off. I lie there not sure I’ll be able to fall asleep. Then two arms wrap around me, pulling me into his warmth. Vargas' mouth nuzzles my neck. “I never do anything I don’t want to.”
I smile into the darkness at all the truth he just dropped on me.
“Now be a good girl and go to sleep.”
In seconds, I’m out.
15
VARGAS
The market opens, and my gaze tracks the data flowing in which concerns FraserCo. The stock price dips for the first while, then ticks back up to a happy medium. It’s as if the shareholders are taking in a deep breath before the plunge. This is the week the deal gets done, or there is no deal at all.
Leaning back in my chair, I take a drink of my coffee and glance toward the door. I left Cadence sleeping peacefully this morning, her breaths coming slow and easy. Quite a difference from when I found her in the grips of a nightmare. She woke up wild-eyed, terror written large across her beautiful face. It’s a look I never want to see her wear again.
“Mornin’.” Cat strides in and takes his seat to my left.
Mrs. Palacios lays out his usual plate of chorizo and eggs as he drapes his napkin across his lap.
“Thanks, beautiful.” He gives her a grin.
“Oh, you,” she half-heartedly scolds before returning to the kitchen.
“What’ve you got for me?” I close my laptop and watch him.
“I came by last night once I got in, but you were”–he smirks—“occupied.”
“Don’t remind me.” Fuck, just the thought of her taste has me hard. She was so ready for my tongue. For all of me.