Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“You don’t find me attractive?” I’m starting to get teary-eyed now. God, what is wrong with me? Conrad spoke of duty; what of my duty to Fitch? How am I letting my heart slip like this?
His gaze snaps up, and he focuses intently on me as if he can’t believe what I just said. “Don’t be stupid, Belle. You’re the most gorgeous–” He stops himself again, balls up his fist, and slams it into his thigh. “I shouldn’t be saying things like this. You’re engaged.”
“Sort of…” I breathe, my voice barely a wisp on the air.
His brow furrows, drawing a line above his nose. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” I’m a hot mess. Saying things I shouldn’t say. Betraying feelings I should not be having. Why can’t I just be stable and in control of myself?
Suddenly, I’m in Conrad’s arms, being carried into the bedroom. I’ve never felt so tiny before. It’s like I weigh nothing to him. The hotel robe falls from my body, leaving me naked and flushed as Conrad stomps forward like a raging bull.
He sets me down and presses me into the mattress.
His eyes are fevered, filled with what looks like desire.
What is happening now? He just said he shouldn’t be speaking to me like he was, and now he’s stripped me naked and is getting physical with me again? Is this another lesson?
The tingling feeling returns between my thighs, only twice as intense as before. I look down at his pants and see his bulge is back. Yes, take my virginity, Conrad. Let me pleasure you like you did to me. That’s what I want. My protector. My guardian. He should be the man who claims my V-card. Not some arrogant prick who happens to be my fiancé because he’s basically buying me from my parents.
“You can never do that again,” he growls, firmly pinning my arms back over my head. “Do you understand, Belle!?”
“Do what?” I gasp as the tingling sensation between my legs continues to grow.
There’s a fever in his eyes I’ve never seen before.
What’s happening? Is he angry? Have I ruined things between us?
“Leave my sight,” he says, scouring my body with a frenzied glare. “I’ve been hired to protect you. Do you understand that?”
“Yes. I do–”
“So you understand that when you’re out of my sight, I’m no longer doing my job?”
The dark room is fraught with tension as his grip tightens on my wrists like handcuffs, truly demonstrating just how much stronger than me he is.
Even if I wanted to run away again, it would be impossible.
“I–I’m sorry,” I whimper, a heat rising up from within my chest to capture my cheeks in a fiery grasp.
“You’re sorry,” he groans, shaking his head. I knew it, I’ve ruined everything. “Belle, your safety is all that matters. There are predators out there who would do anything to get their hands on your young, sweet, sexy body. Do you realize that?”
I know he’s just scolding me to make a point, but the look in his eyes has me wondering if he really believes what he is saying. Does he actually find me sweet and sexy? Or is he just saying some men will be attracted to me? And he’s only afraid that if he lets something happen to me, he’ll lose his job? But he was hard earlier, and my stomach is still slick with his spend. So that must mean something, right?
“Predators,” I say simply.
“That’s right, Belle.”
“Like lions, tigers, and bears?”
A warm hint of a smile appears on his lips. “Those do qualify as predators.”
“But not the kind you’re talking about.” I giggle as he presses his body down against mine, the chill of the evening on the denim of his pants and the cotton of his T-shirt, drawing goosebumps from my skin.
“I’m talking about man,” he growls, moving against me, circling his hips and pressing his bulge between my legs as though we were grinding on the dance floor. “A man who would be entranced by your beauty, stop at nothing to have you. A man who would give up his pride, his dignity, even his sanity, if it meant simply getting a hint of your scent…” Conrad inhales deeply against my neck, his chest expanding against mine. “If it meant being able to caress your soft skin…” Gripping my wrists with one hand, he uses the other to trace the curve of my right breast, causing a sharp intake of breath to catch in my throat. “If it meant simply being able to taste your sweetness…” He wraps his lips around my nipple and sucks, tugging a moan from my lips. “If it meant being able to penetrate you, Belle…” He reaches down between my thighs and presses two fingers against my sex. My back arches with anticipation. “To be inside you while you come, over and over and over again…”