Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Halting in the open doorway, I sense the private nature of his call. I should leave before he sees me, but curiosity wins, and I stay right where I am, shamelessly eavesdropping.
“We already discussed this. You know I have a full schedule this weekend.” He pauses, one hand clutching his golden brown hair as he listens to whoever is on the other end of the line. “Fine,” he snaps. “Do what you need to do.”
Another beat passes, and then he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know,” he says, tone softening. “I’ll try, okay?” He takes in a deep breath and lets it out. “I’ll call you later, I promise.” After he jabs the end button, he notices me standing on the threshold.
With another heavy sigh, he drags a hand down his tired face. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.” His sharp tone sends me back a step.
“I’m sorry for intruding.”
“No,” he says with an apologetic shake of his head. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted to start the morning.” He waves at the breakfast table set up between the outdoor kitchen and the pool. “You must be famished.”
“Umm…” My stomach growls, but my attention is stuck on the absence of one man. “Where’s Sebastian?”
“I sent him out on an errand.” Tatum takes a seat and gestures for me to follow suit. “He’ll be back soon. In the meantime, I thought we could have a little talk.”
“About?”
“Last night in the limo,” he begins, “we seemed to have a moment.”
My cheeks flush as my hair falls forward to hide my face. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I lie through my mortification.
“Your eyes were all over my cock, Novalee.”
“I didn’t mean to look.”
“I’m not complaining.” He shifts in his seat. “I know you’ve chosen Sebastian. Anyone with a brain can see how much he’s got you wrapped. But if you want something from me—”
“I don’t.”
“—just say the word,” he finishes, and the ensuing disquiet that settles over us is more than I can stand. I grab a croissant and tear off a piece before shoving it between my lips.
His gaze lowers to my mouth. “Did you like what you saw?”
“I was curious,” I blurt out, then take another bite to hide my embarrassment.
He arches a surprised brow. “Curious about what?”
“Your voyeurism.”
“What do you want to know?”
I blink, his casual tone catching me off guard. “Do you touch yourself when you watch?”
“Yes.” His mouth quirks into a sexy grin. “And sometimes, I join.”
A shiver runs through me. “You do?”
“Not always. Only when the woman looks at me a certain way, and I know she wants it.” He pauses, studying my expression. “Does that turn you on?”
“I don’t know.”
Another lie, because I’m tingling between my legs and growing hotter by the second. I’d blame the warm Southern California weather, but I grew up in a tropical climate, so there’s only one reason for the flush crawling over my skin, and it’s the thought of Tatum enjoying himself while watching me.
“Let me ask you something,” he says, picking up a strawberry. “Do you like the idea of being watched?”
“Maybe.”
“How about being told what to do?”
“I guess it would depend on what you were asking.”
“I won’t ask for anything.” He gets up and rounds the table before pressing a strawberry to my lips. “Open.”
I do so without thinking, without questioning, and the resulting triumph in his eyes unsettles me to my core.
“You’ll do as you’re told because it’s in your nature to obey.” As I chew the piece of fruit, the pad of his thumb traces the outline of my lips. “You’ll be a good girl for us tonight, won’t you?”
“I’ll try,” I say in a breathless whisper.
“Good girl.” He tilts my chin up and our eyes lock. “And if you want something from me, say the word. Don’t let Sebastian or anyone else keep you from what you want. Can you do that for me, Novalee?”
“Y-yes.”
“Thank you.” He drops his hand and steps back, allowing me the space I need to breathe again.
The next few minutes pass in restless energy. Unable to stomach another bite while his brown eyes catalog my every move, I thank him for breakfast and excuse myself to get ready for the day. My heart is pounding in my ears as I make my way back to my bedroom, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is brewing between Tatum and me.
7
Tatum arranged a helicopter ride over Los Angeles, ending with a view of the famous Hollywood sign. Afterward, the three of us ate a late lunch at an exclusive restaurant high above the city. Now the driver is taking us to an unknown-to-me destination, and both Sebastian and Tatum are being tight-lipped about what they have planned.