Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
I saunter off toward the bathroom. She lets out a sharp breath, but I don’t stick around to see why and turn on the hot spray of the shower. I climb inside, and seconds later, she joins me. I’m grinning at her but her brows are furrowed together in sadness.
“What’s wrong?” I demand, concern dripping from my voice.
She turns me to face the wall. Then, her palms skate over my burn scars on my back. I tense up which makes her hesitate. “Does this hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
Her palms continue to ghost over my mangled flesh. I know it’s hideous and ruined. I’m hoping she’s not turned off.
“What happened?” she whispers, her lips kissing the flesh. A shiver ripples its way straight to my dick, making it bounce.
“I was a sniper in the Marine Corp during the Gulf War. RPG nearly got me,” I say with a sigh. “The explosion did a number on me.”
Her arms wrap around me and her cheek rests against my mottled flesh. “I’m so sorry. That had to have been horrifying.”
I shrug and cover her arms with my hands. “I don’t remember the explosion. All I remember is waking up in the hospital on my stomach and being in excruciating pain. It took many skin grafts and months of recovery. A very dark time in my life.”
She sniffles. “I suppose we all have dark times…they’re just different. No less terrifying.”
I twist back around so I can hug her. Whatever that fucker did to her must have been bad if she’s comparing it to RPG explosions and third-degree burns. Under the hot spray of the shower, I hold her to me and stroke her hair.
“I want to take you to the resort in a couple of days. We’ll miss a few days of work and stay through the weekend. When was the last time you got away?” I question.
“I’ve been on vacation the past six years since I’ve lived here,” she says with a humorless laugh.
I grip her chin and tilt her head up. “Working for me was no vacation.”
“But I was free of…” she trails off and her bottom lip quivers. “Him.”
“Yes,” I agree and press a kiss to the wobbling lip. “But when was the last time you splurged and spoiled yourself?”
“Never.”
“Which is exactly why we’re going on Wednesday.”
She doesn’t get to argue anymore because I grab her tiny ass and lift her. My mouth covers hers in a hot kiss as my dick slides into her.
I’m going to show her over and over what it means to be spoiled.
T-minus eleven days…
I wince as I sit in my new comfy desk chair. The chair may be comfortable but it does nothing to ease the ache between my legs. It’s all Gray’s fault. Last night, he fucked me until I kicked him out. I needed sleep, and if he stayed in my bed, neither of us would get it.
God, did he ever fuck me, though.
Life after Vaughn has been cold and difficult. But last night, I was on fire. Everything was easy. For once in a really long time, I relaxed and enjoyed myself.
A little too much.
With a grunt of frustration, I dig around in my purse to locate the morning-after pill I bought on the way to work this morning. I’m praying to God he’s clean because we had sex carelessly four times without a condom. I quickly down the pill with my water bottle and put my purse away.
Heat creeps up my neck as I steal a glance toward his office. The door is closed, and I can hear Jeff’s deep voice booming on the other side. Whatever they’re talking about doesn’t seem like it’s good.
Once my computer is finally powered up, I find I have two emails waiting for me. The first is from Clint and the second is from Gray. I ignore Mr. Fuck-A-Lot and open the important one. Clint’s sent me a Word document, listing all of all my new duties. I already do everything on the list each day, aside from manage people. After I reply to him that I received it and save it for easy access, I open Gray’s email.
Violet,
Last night was incredible. YOU are incredible. I want to take you to lunch.
Gray
I smile because he’s pretty incredible too. After my ex, I should be hesitant to dive right into something with someone—my boss no less—so quickly, especially considering he’s extremely attentive but I can’t help myself. His magnetism draws me in.
Vaughn was the same way…
I squash the thought because I refuse to let my past dictate my future. Gray is generous and thoughtful and sweet. He’s not psychotic. I’ve worked for him for six long years, and although he’d been nicknamed Mad Max for his eccentric ways, not one time had I thought he was an evil person.
He’s just hyper-focused.