Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26161 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
My chest constricts when he begins walking my way. I hate the conflicting ramblings of my mind that send a flutter of attraction below my waist as my eyes track over his well-formed body.
Worn leather boots track a path to me. Jeans caressing his legs and hanging low on his hips scream rock star. A band tee and a leather jacket cover his torso. A chiseled jaw, thick lips, and straight nose accompany deep oval-shaped eyes the color of rich, dark chocolate to complete his beautiful face. His hair is a dark, messy mop that sits in disarray over his head.
That stupid face had every female juror melting in their seats and every male wishing they were him.
There’s a charm about him that’s intoxicating if you allow yourself to be bewitched by it.
Anxiety niggles away at me, making me fidget and play with my glasses. I refuse to squirm under the scrutiny of his gaze. I won’t allow him to see how out of my comfort zone I am.
I’ve learned everything I can about who he is. I know all the bars he visits—where he lives—where he works. The Internet is a powerful tool, free to us all. No one can be anonymous in this day and age.
Folding my arms over my chest, I glare up at him as his boots stop almost on top of my tennis shoes.
So close.
I can almost taste the sweat beading on the flesh of his neck.
“You’ve been eye-fucking me, sweetheart. You want to play out those fantasizes flashing through that innocent, little head of yours or just observe while someone else does?”
“You’re an animal,” I snap, disgust rippling through me.
The curl of his lip makes my stomach dip.
“That’s what intrigues you, though, isn’t it, Natasha?” He caresses my name over his tongue, making every letter sound dirty.
Many times, our eyes clashed during his trial. A thousand words were shared without making a sound. He knows who I am, just like I know who he is. We’re connected in the most fucked up of ways.
Music thuds to the sound of my heartbeat as the atmosphere thickens and pulses around us.
Looking down at the watch on his wrist, he mutters under his breath, and then taps his finger on the watch face. “I only have five minutes, gorgeous. Still, I’m sure I can make you come in that time. Although,” he purrs, closing in around me, robbing me of breath, “I’m pretty certain you’re halfway there already. Like to watch, do you?”
Slamming my hands on his firm chest, I attempt to force him away, but his body doesn’t even flinch at my attack. Hard muscles tense against the skin of my palms.
Damn, he’s like granite to touch. I want to explore the rest of him.
No, you don’t.
Chuckling, he looks down at my fingers splayed across him. A wicked spark flashes in his brown eyes, sending a quivering ache through my body. I sag in response, hating myself for having any reaction to his good looks. My hands drop to my sides like the mere touch of him burns. A stinging sensation forms in my eyes, threatening to show my vulnerability and weakness.
Please don’t cry.
Please don’t cry.
I hate myself. I hate him. You want him.
Tracing his eyes over my face, his brow drops and then he’s moving back a step. A cool whoosh of air saturates me, making me sigh in relief. I need the reprieve from having his dominating presence so close. He overwhelms me, his proximity a storm of chaotic emotions swirling my insides, leaving me a muddled and confused puddle.
“Time’s up,” he says with a wicked wink. “See you around, Nat.”
Bastard.
“Yes, you will,” I spit out. “You’ll be seeing me everywhere.” I square my shoulders, taking a step toward him, filling with a bravado that’s usually foreign to me. “I’m going to be everywhere you turn. You will see so much of me. I’ll be there when you close your eyes at night. I’ll remind you every day of what you are, what you did, all this,” I snap, gesturing to him from head to toe. “You may convince everyone else that you’re too pretty to be a killer, but not me. You’re a murderer, Ren Hayes. I won’t let you forget that.”
All air rushes from my lungs when he closes back in on me lightning quick. Chills scatter over my flesh, causing the skin to rise with goose bumps. A pit of dread forms in my stomach. My back hits the wall behind me as his hand comes up to my neck, but doesn’t close around me. Instead, he hovers his palm there.
A threat of what he could do. What he wants to do. The action an echo of how Kate died.
“I hope you’re prepared to be pushed far out of your comfort zone then, precious. Because forcing yourself into my world is a daring thing to do.” His breath whispers over my ear, brushing my hair with his lips. My chest heaves with ragged breaths as I attempt to drag air into my lungs. “The Ren Hayes you’re speaking of sounds like a dangerous man,” he finishes as he pulls away slightly, his eyes stroking over every inch of my face, ending at my lips.