Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Speak up, girl.” I jumped at the bite in his words but stayed silent. “When I speak to you, you will look at me.”
I couldn’t do it. I was frozen in place, unable to move except for the trembling in my arms and legs.
“Jesus, look at you. So pathetic. You’re shaking, like one of those ridiculous dogs in purses.”
“Please,” I whimpered, still staring at the dark wood floor.
“What was that? I can’t hear you when you mumble,” he said, leaning closer to me and entering my personal space.
My fight-or-flight instincts kicked in, and I backed away from him, sliding down the leather couch until I reached the arm. I was about to bolt away, or at least try, when his hand grabbed my arm and held tight. He leaned over the back of the couch, hovering over me close enough that I could almost make out his features in the dim light. There was something familiar about them, but I couldn’t place what it was.
“Where do you think you are going?”
His voice was low and dark, and sent a fresh wave of terror washing over me.
“Please, I just want to go home. Please let me go. I can pay you. I can—”
As soon as I started talking, I couldn’t seem to stop. I was blathering on, and his hand stayed tight on my arm.
“Please, I can pay. Do you want money, gold, or jewels? I’m sure I can—”
“I have no need of your jewels,” he scoffed. “Take off your clothes.” His own large hands moved to his collar to unbutton his shirt.
My heart pounded, and a cold sweat broke out over my back as I looked around, needing to find something to fight him off with, somewhere to run.
The only thing I could see in the room was a glint off the gilded edges of books.
“Look, take this, take it as a deposit,” I said, clawing the gold Cartier watch from my wrist. I never really liked how the watch looked, but it was a gift from my father, and I loved it. But not as much as I loved breathing. My father would be disappointed I had lost it, but not as disappointed as he would be if my life or virtue weren’t intact.
The stranger stripped off his shirt and held it out to me.
“You’re filthy. Take off your shirt and put this on. Your clothes smell like that alley.”
“Oh,” I said, taking the shirt from his hand and carefully laying it down so it didn’t touch my soiled clothes.
I looked at myself, and he was right. The pretty purple cashmere sweaterdress I was wearing had a few stains and smelled like several things I didn’t want to examine too closely. Even my thick leggings had muck plastered to them.
It was tempting to get out of these clothes and into the thick, rich material of his button-down. I could just see the brand printed on the inside of the neck.
Rhone.
Harrison preferred that brand in the winter. The fine Italian fabric was soft and light but woven so tight that it would still keep me warm.
“Promise you won’t look?” I asked.
I had to hold back my gasp when he turned. I knew he had broad shoulders, but I wasn’t prepared for the golden sun-kissed skin of his back, the lines of his muscles deepened by the low lighting. My mouth watered, and now my heart was pounding, my face heating, for another reason.
“See, my back is turned. You can change. I won’t look.”
The fascination turned to mortification. I thought he was going to attack me, but I was the one staring at him like some little lovestruck girl. Acting as if I had never seen a back before… well, I hadn’t, especially not that toned and—
I shook the thought out of my head. I needed to change quickly before he turned back around.
Even though he wasn’t facing me, I could still feel his eyes on me.
CHAPTER 4
THOMAS
Her reflection was crystal clear in the antique grandfather clock’s glass surface. It was actually cute how she thought that my back being turned meant she had some semblance of privacy—she had none.
I made sure the candle was placed in a way that she wouldn’t be able to see me clearly, but she was fully illuminated. Since my eyes had adjusted to the dark, I could see her clearly. Her dark hair, slim body, and the way she was so wound up, she jumped just a little with every tick of the clock.
Was she always this skittish or had those dumb Irish fucks terrorized her before I came along?
Still, watching her undress was surprisingly thrilling.
She was nervous, her eyes darting around the room, lingering on my back.
At first, I thought the innocent little angel was taking me in, trying to assess exactly how much of a threat I was and whether I had the strength and speed to catch her if she ran. But then I realized the dirty little girl was just checking me out.