Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
That would be a cool trick if we were a lust-crazed couple, dying to tear each other’s clothes to shreds, but we’re not. We’re a fake one and hardly even classify as that.
“We’re having lunch with some old members of the eastern district.”
I tense, head yanking his way. “But we haven’t announced anything between us. The districts will see this as a power move.”
“Good.”
My brows jump and I tug back a little to look at him better.
Everyone knows Salvador Henley, the head of the east, is in hiding, has been for a few years now. Supposedly it’s to protect himself from an unknown threat, leaving his second and a few other trusted families to hold things down until his return, but my sister thinks it has to do with the fact that his daughter, the fourth member of the girls of Greyson, has yet to come out of hiding to claim her birthright. Or obligation, depending on how you look at it.
“You want to claim the eastern district altogether?”
“That’s not the purpose of this particular outing.”
Not a denial but literally the littlest of information he could possibly give.
“Fair enough.” I cross one leg over the other.
Enzo’s gaze falls to where my skirt stretches tight across my thigh. “Not going to ask me what it’s about?”
I shrug, pretending I don’t care. In all fairness, I don’t, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. I’ve been locked in his house, mostly without his presence, for nearly two weeks with no one to talk to. I’d be happy to have a full-ass conversation about the weather right now.
“What’s the point?” I lead with instead. “You’ll only tell me a fraction of the truth anyway.”
“How would you know?”
My eyes slide his way. “Do you think I’m so naive I haven’t learned people omit the truth, if not flat-out lie, when it better suits them?”
“It would not better suit me to lie or omit anything in this case.”
“That could be a lie and I would never know.”
“I told you. I do not lie.”
“And I believe…that that is what you want me to believe.”
His eyes narrow and I’m tempted to smile but manage to hold it back. “Are you always such a brat?”
“People who know me would likely say yes, I am.”
His stare bores deeper, giving no sign that he’ll relent. So I do.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes. “What is this particular outing you have oh-so kindly gifted me with about?”
“I want Gorgio’s heir to understand what belongs to me so he stops trying to negotiate a deal that will never be made,” he answers instantly.
A frown builds across my forehead at the mention of the man from the eastern district combined with Enzo’s half-ass explanation, but Enzo pulls his phone from his pocket and begins reading over something, so I look out the window, watching the orchards go by for what seems like miles.
Ten minutes or so into the car ride, Enzo’s arm finds its way up, now draped over the back of my seat. I force myself not to move, taking practiced breaths and hoping with each roll of the tires something comes into view to indicate we’re at least getting closer to our destination.
Another two miles or so, and a touch so light I could imagine it was a rogue hair tickling along my skin if it weren’t for the rough pads of well-used fingertips grazes over my bare shoulders. I press my lips firmly together for something to focus on, anything to pretend the textured tips of his fingers aren’t driving me mad…not to mention completely bewildering.
He doesn’t stop there, and I have to clench my teeth to keep from reacting when his large grip closes around my ribs. Slowly, his palm skates up and down, his face still locked on his screen. When his touch treads lower, the length of his arm allowing his strong fingers to curve over my bare thigh, I freeze.
“Fail.”
My head whips his way, and it takes me a second to speak. “Come again?”
“I said fail.” Slowly, as if annoyed he can’t finish reading whatever the hell is so important, he looks up.
“Would my fiancée tense when I touch her thigh?” He adjusts in his seat, his phone dropped to the floorboard as he brings his other hand up to graze along my collarbone. He carries my long blonde hair with him, easing it over my shoulder until it falls loose across my chest. “Would she frown like that when I toyed with her hair?”
He scoots closer and my lungs forget how to work, need pulsing between my legs at his nearness. Not that I would ever admit such a thing to a viper like him.
“Would she turn away when I leaned in to kiss her…” He brings his lips a breath away from mine, dark eyes zeroed in on the bottom one as he sinks his teeth into his own. “Or would she meet me halfway?”