Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
He snarled into my mouth, relinquishing all his power to me, all while forcing me to submit to him. I surrendered to his control and shivered at his sacrifice to be my punching bag while he dragged me, kicking and screaming, into freedom.
I would never be the same after this. Never want another man after this—
“Slut!”
I gasped as Goblin-Milton sliced through my thoughts.
“Always knew you were a whore.”
I fell backward through time.
Past and present combined, delivering every one of Milton’s punches, kicks, and suffocation. I went rigid in X’s arms. Phantom pain ripped through my limbs. Tears leaked against my control.
He froze.
His fingers tightened over my eyes, keeping me blind all while he wrenched his mouth away.
“No, don’t—” I mewled. “Don’t stop.”
“How can I not?” he choked.
Our mania turned to agony. We stood in the eye of the storm, breaking each other apart.
“I didn’t mean to…it’s not you.” I squirmed beneath his fingers. “Let me see. Drop your hand.”
He didn’t reply. Didn’t move.
Trapped, my heart seized, breasts ached, and legs struggled to stand. More tears slipped beneath his palm, brimming with frustration.
I wanted to scream.
Why did I have to cry?
Why did Milton still have this hold on me?
Why did you have to stop?
“Hey…it’s okay.” He shuddered, nudging his nose to mine, softly, gently. “It’s just me. I know I’m angry with you right now, and you’re furious with me, but…I would never hurt you. You know that, right? This stops the second you change your mind. Just say the word, and I’m gone.”
“It’s not that.” I sagged against him, giving in to him keeping me blindfolded. “It’s not even him. I…” I struggled to put into words to describe the sweetest ecstasy he’d given. “I was free for the first time. I stepped into someone I’ve always wanted to be.”
He stayed quiet, letting me sift through my truth.
But then he shifted as if to let me go.
I dug my nails into his waist. “If you leave, you will never be welcome back here again. Do you hear me?”
His fingers flexed over my eyes. “But if I’m making it worse—”
“You’re not. You’re making everything better.” Swallowing hard, I tipped up my chin. “Kiss me.”
“We should talk about—”
“I’m done talking. What I want is for you to finish what you started.”
He let out a harsh growl. “Lori, I—”
“Wait.”
Lori.
He called me Sailor Rose before.
How?
Sucking in a shaky breath, I whispered, “You called me Sailor. In the garden.”
He went deathly still.
Cold water trickled down my spine. “X…h-how do you know my real name?”
A tortured noise sounded in the back of his throat. His hips rocked into mine almost as if he had no control over the obsession we’d started.
Blinded by him, my other senses kicked in until I swore every part of him throbbed with guilt and regret and grief.
I hated it.
I hated that our passion switched to self-consciousness, ruining everything.
And in that moment, on the precipice of getting everything I wanted, I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to see his face or know his name or have reality ruin this.
I suffered my own guilt that I’d chosen to sleep with a stranger instead of dating my kind-hearted neighbour, but…I couldn’t deny that pieces of me had fallen for X.
I’d tripped the night he’d watched me cry in the garden, then wrapped me in a blanket to keep me warm. I’d fallen with every message and whisper, every touch and text.
I’d fallen for a stranger all while falling for my neighbour, and now my heart tore in two because I didn’t want to stop.
Anger returned, filling me with spark and fire. I dug my fingers over his thundering heart, fighting the urge to gouge my way through his chest to see if he felt as confused as me. “Actually, don’t answer that. I don’t—”
“I’ve watched you for a while,” he groaned as if the words were torn out of him. “I’ve heard your friend Lily call you by your full name. I…” He swallowed hard as if scrambling for half-truths. “I’ve seen your mail too.”
The darkness from his hand was absolute; I couldn’t see if he was lying.
His fingers threaded with mine against his chest. Without a word, he pressed my palm down until it felt as if I held his pounding heart. His body trembled with heat. The closeness of his lips made me tingle, all while my stomach flipped upside down as a bolt of lust arrowed like lightning.
Why did he feel so familiar?
Why was I so drawn to him?
It was too much. Too intense. Too painful.
He shifted and pressed his lips to my ears, making me break out in goosebumps. “I’ve also watched your neighbour.”
I melted.
I wanted.
“You have?”
The tip of his tongue traced the shell of my ear, making me shudder. “He’s an idiot. If he had any guts, he’d tell you that he loves you. He’d admit he’s wanted to touch you like this for years.”