Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
She was toward the other end of the table from where he would be. And Caulfield was beside her.
I do not approve.
Miss Asherford was up by him. He barely contained his groan.
He walked in and conversation halted. He gestured for them to continue.
“My apologies.” Phillip took his seat.
Within moments he had food before him and was engaged in conversation with Mrs. Tennemin. Miss Asherford was trying to contribute but it was little more than giggles and flirtatious comments.
The third time he had to move her hand from where it had moved up on his thigh, he noticed that Fyre watched him.
Shit!
Even with the formal dining table length between them, he could see the walls going up. Frustration welled within him. He didn’t know how else to make her understand and realize she was the only woman for him.
Not true, there was one way, but he didn’t think she was ready for him to make his interest in her public. Lucien’s words echoed through him. For the first time in his life, he struggled to do the right thing for her, not what would get him the result he wanted the fastest way possible.
He watched her curl into herself as the meal dragged on. Nothing so much outwardly, for she didn’t turn away discussion, but he could feel her retreat.
And it fucking killed him to know he was the cause. Earlier this day, she’d fallen apart for him in the bath as she’d come around his fingers, her pussy hot and gripping him like he could hardly wait for it to do to his cock. Now, by the night, she had been hurt. Again, because of him and that she had been accurate that the other woman was much more accepted to touch him in public.
One of the footmen approached him and handed him a note. He opened it and frowned.
“Everything okay, my lord?”
“Fine,” he answered Miss Asherford without much of a glance. The urge for him to holler down the table to demand Fyre look at him was strong. The moment dinner had finished he made his way to her side and waited with impatience for her to look up at him.
“Miss Parker, I know this is time away from work, but I would have you look at something if you would not mind.”
She got to her feet immediately with a nod. “Of course, my lord.”
“You know where my office is. I will be there in a moment.” As she walked to the door, he looked at the rest of them and said, “Again, my apologies. Some work has come up. We will return momentarily. Please, adjourn to the parlor and enjoy the drinks and games.”
Without giving them a chance to respond, he strode off after her to the office. Closing the door behind him, he didn’t even pause, just walked up behind her, turned her then claimed her mouth with his own.
Fyre’s mind shorted out. There were a lot of things that she wanted to say and should have said to this man who constantly tossed her world upside down. None of that mattered, not the second his lips touched hers.
All she thought about was the pleasure that owned her body. She whimpered and pushed up on her toes, desperate to get closer to him. To touch him as he’d done to her.
He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, breathing just as hard as she was. At least that was something they shared.
“I am so sorry, Fyre.”
She blinked, not understanding. “For what are you apologizing?”
“Miss Asherford. I know you were watching us tonight. I do not want her.”
“What you do is your business, my lord.” She didn’t want to think any more about that woman touching this man. It pissed her off and made her want to hurt someone.
Namely, Miss Asherford.
“Really?”
The single word was low and drawn out. With a sniff, she nodded and stepped back.
“If there is no work for me to do, I should be getting back, my lord.”
A growl rumbled through the air and stunned her into freezing. Hesitant to meet his gaze, when she did, she was met by a furious pair of gray eyes.
“I will not allow you to put a wall back up between us, Fyre. If that means hauling you into my arms in front of everyone and kissing you like I long to do, then so be it. Or you can just give me a few fucking moments with the woman who owns me completely before I have to go back out to a group of people and pretend my heart does not beat wildly out of control when I look at you. Or that I don’t want to rip Caulfield’s arms off and beat him to death with them for touching you.”
“Miss Asherford is a much better choice for you.”