Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“What do you mean another brunch?” Shit, I didn’t mean for my question to come out so jealous sounding, but the rush of possessiveness washed over me, and I suddenly wanted to hurt any man who dared try to court her.
Her eyes darted away from my stare as if she had a secret to hide from me. “I… uh… well, I had brunch with your parents and brother.”
“My brother?” Percy wasn’t even close to being ready to be married. Why would my parents even consider this? “Is your mother actually considering my brother as a possibility to marry you?”
Jasmine shrugged. “Your St. Claire name is powerful.”
I wasn’t sure if it was a slight hangover from our drug-laced cocktail last night, or the shocking news, but I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.
“You know how this is done,” she said softly as if she was trying to soothe the building rage inside of me.
“But is that what you want? My brother?” Anger lit through me even at the thought, only soothed a little when she said, “No. But you know as well as I do, that I don’t get to make the rules of how we do this.”
Yes, I knew the rules, and I could dance with the best of them when it came to the tango of the south.
But Jasmine had clearly broken the rules. She was here with me… naked beneath my tux. She had snuck into the Oleander, and not just once. And then in the same breath, she was a woman who wanted to rush back to Mama so she could dress up to be the perfect Southern belle.
Who was this girl?
She wasn’t the Jasmine I saw last night.
I hated the thought of her at a brunch. Prim, proper, and everything I hated about the women in this area. So polished, so groomed, so perfect. Except Jasmine was anything but the last two nights I’d seen her. Under the dim lights in the Oleander ballroom, Jasmine had been animalistic, wild, primal, and such a dirty, dirty girl.
And I fucking loved it.
It was almost as if Jasmine, who sucked my cock like a goddess, was only a figment of my imagination.
Because any girl having brunch with my parents and my brother was not the woman who nearly shattered me with the need for more and more until my insatiable thirst was quenched.
“So at this brunch… did our mothers practically plan your entire future? The future of VanDoren Enterprises?”
“You know the answer to that question,” she snapped. “And don’t stand there and judge me.” She spun to face me head-on. “You’re here at the Oleander doing your Trial with your Southern charm oozing out of you. You will do whatever it takes to keep Mommy and Daddy dearest happy.”
I smirked and nodded. “Fair enough. It’s the game we play.”
Her eyes darkened, and she looked down at her feet. “Sadly.”
“I do think you deserve better.”
“So do you.”
“I think Sully would be pissed to find out your mother is even considering you marrying my brother to run your business.”
Her glare as her eyes connected with mine nearly stabbed me in the gut. “That sounds like judging or, at the very least, like a lecture’s coming. My brother made his choices. Now, I have to make mine.”
“Is that really going to be your choice?” I asked. “To marry my brother?”
“Of course not. I can’t even remember his name because it’s so fucking long and pretentious.” She chuckled. “I hate this whole courting thing my mother is up to. But you know how it goes here in Darlington.”
“It’s twisted,” I said as I walked toward her, forcing her to take a step back and then another.
“It is.” She licked her lips and glanced at mine as she did so. She continued to slowly walk backward until I had her pinned up against a tree.
Placing my hands on both sides of her, locking her in, I asked, “So, what is your choice?” I wanted to kiss her so fucking badly. “If you don’t want my brother…?”
Her eyes focused on my lips and then redirected to my eyes again. “I chose last night. I chose every single thing I did last night. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was in control. Every choice was mine.”
“I’m glad you did. Any regrets?” I asked as I inched my way even closer.
“None. You?”
Smiling, I touched a piece of her hair and twirled it around my finger. “Only that it had to come to an end.”
“Would you have chosen last night if I hadn’t forced your hand?” she asked as her chest began to rise visibly, and her breath came out heavy and needy.
“Again and again.”
Enough was enough. I needed to touch her. Pressing my lips to hers, I didn’t take long to sample. I couldn’t be gentle. I couldn’t be slow. I wanted the full experience, so without pause, I pushed my tongue past her lips and deepened the kiss.