Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Heather rises. “I’m up for some hot tub time. June, care to join me?”
June hops up, looking like a perky dandelion in that yellow getup of hers. “Absolutely. Emily, Ariel, Misty? I could use a girl’s gab fest.”
I’m surprised she included Misty in the invite, but Misty herself seems thrilled. “I’d love to,” she nearly squeals.
Ariel glances at me. Is she waiting for my response?
“I’ll have to pass,” I say. “I have some personal things to attend to, but maybe I’ll join you later.” I smile at Alex. “I’m looking forward to our date. Maybe I’ll see you later for that walk.”
He returns my smile. “Count on it.”
I leave the table—the first one to do so—and head into the mansion toward the stairway. I’m nearly there when clomping footfalls echo behind me.
Footfalls that can only belong to my brooding cowboy.
I turn and meet River’s dark gaze.
“Emily.” His voice smolders.
“Yes?”
“I’d like to see you later tonight.”
I stop my eyebrows from rising. “Oh?”
“I was hoping…”
“Hoping what?”
“You know what, Emily. I was hoping you’d choose me.”
“Were you? How was I supposed to know that? Because frankly you’ve had all the personality of a damp tea bag this evening.”
He shuffles his feet and looks down for a moment before grabbing my hand and meeting my gaze. “I’ve had my reasons.”
“And those were…?”
He doesn’t reply.
“Just as I thought. You’re going to clam up.” I turn again toward the stairway.
He grips my shoulder.
Damn. Just his touch… It sends me spiraling.
“River, please…”
“Please what? Please fuck you into oblivion again? I want to, Emily. I need to.”
“We’ve had this discussion. I allowed you the escape you needed last night. I can’t continue to be only that.”
“You’re not. You must know that.”
“I know nothing, River.” Only that my body is aching for him, but I’ll keep that to myself. “I’m here to get to know all of you, and I haven’t spent any time with Alex.”
“That’s why you chose him?”
“Partly, yes.”
“Only partly?”
“I don’t owe you any explanation, just as you don’t owe me any explanation for what you’ve done today.”
He drops his gaze to his feet.
So he’s been up to other things today as well. Fine. I don’t care.
Except I do. I hate the sliver of jealousy that careens into my belly.
“Damn it, Emily.” He grabs both my shoulders and pulls me into him, crushing our mouths together.
My knees go weak as he devours my mouth with his lips, teeth, and tongue. I respond despite myself. I can’t not respond to River Barrett. The heat between us is like a lightning bolt.
I wrap my arms around his neck. He tangles his fingers in my hair and deepens the kiss, ravishing me as if we’re in a romance novel.
I slide one hand from his broad shoulder to his muscular upper arm. His flesh burns me, sets me ablaze.
Until he breaks free.
I stand stunned, my fingers wandering absently to my stinging lips.
“Still want that date with Alex?” he asks gruffly.
EPISODE 111
PRISON OF THE MIND
River
Emily’s porcelain cheeks are flushed a creamy pink, and her lips are swollen and red as a strawberry. I desperately want to kiss her again, but I wait for her response.
Does she still want that date with Alex?
Wouldn’t she rather hit the sheets with me?
“You going to answer me?” I demand.
Her full lips tremble. “What was the question?”
I lean toward her ear, ready to whisper, and I inhale her fresh fragrance. I close my eyes, my cock at the ready when—
“Riv, there you are.” Sebastian walks toward us.
I move away from Emily.
Sebastian smirks. “Have I interrupted something?”
“What do you want, Seb?”
“I need to talk to you”—he glances at Emily—“and sorry, English rose, but it’s a private matter.”
“Not an issue.” She turns and heads up the stairwell.
I watch her fine ass until Sebastian grabs my arm. “Riv, I’m serious. You’re going to want to sit down.”
My heart takes a slam dunk into my gut. “What the fuck, Seb?”
“Let’s go up to my suite. Or yours. It doesn’t matter.”
“Whatever you have to tell me you can tell me right here.”
His hand is still on my arm, which is in itself unusual. Seb and I are close friends, but we’re not touchy types. “Riv, please.”
Something in his voice makes me agree. “My room, then.” I tromp up the stairs to the second floor and swipe my keycard to enter my suite. I walk across the living area to the bar and pour myself a bourbon. I steered clear of most of the wine at dinner, but I get the feeling that whatever Seb has to say to me will go down a little easier with a drink. “You want one?” I ask.
“Yeah. Sure.”
I pour two fingers into two old-fashioned glasses and hand one to Sebastian. He takes a seat in a chair and points to the couch.
I sit. Whatever’s coming, I won’t like it. He made that clear.