Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I watch as the men pile into the car, and when they drive off, I lift my hands and scrub my palms over my face before glancing at the other houses farther up the street.
Christ, what a fucking day.
I suppose it could’ve gone worse.
I remain standing outside while I think about everything that’s happened.
Up until now, I didn’t have to explain myself or how I choose to live my life to anyone, because I avoided Davies and the guys. Santiago just goes with my mood swings, but then again, he’s the one who found me in that room, holding Ronnie’s body.
It feels like Pandora's box is being pried open in my chest. Fuck knows what kind of shit will be unleashed, but I feel a weird sense of hopefulness that everything might turn out for the good…as long as I stay by Cassia’s side.
My thoughts turn to the argument we had and the kiss.
Fuck. The kiss.
No woman kisses a man the way she kissed me if there’s no attraction, so that answers that question for me.
She’s a virgin, though.
I assume.
She’s said she’s never been in a relationship, and I was the first man to see her naked, but you can have sex with clothes on.
A disgruntled sound rumbles from my chest, but then I remember she said our kiss was her first, so I seriously doubt she’s had sex.
My thoughts keep racing, and I’m not really looking at anything as it sinks in that I gave Cassia her first kiss.
How does she feel about that?
How do I feel?
Where I usually avoid it at all costs, I take a closer look at my emotions. There’s satisfaction that I got to be her first and an overwhelming sense of need to be her other firsts as well.
But there’s also fear. What if I can’t keep her alive? What if I let myself fall in love and I end up losing her?
I let out a heavy sigh as I stare at a random patch of sand.
It’s now too late to think about all the what-ifs.
Christ, it’s way too late.
The obsessive feeling I have for her has only been amplified by the kiss. Good or bad, there’s no stopping what’s happening between Cassia and me.
Yeah, but what if you’re the only one who falls in love?
I let out a snort. “Then I’m fucked.”
I hear Cassia coming up behind me, then her hand settles on my back and she asks, “Are you okay?”
I nod, and letting out a sigh, I turn around. “Let’s go inside.” I can feel her glancing up at me as we walk back to the house, so I reassure her, “I’m good. Don’t worry.”
Before we reach the front door, she takes hold of my hand and pulls me to a stop. Lifting her other hand to my face, she brushes the pad of her finger over the broken skin on my lip.
“How does it feel?”
“Fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.” But it feels fucking good having her fuss over me.
She lowers her hand and as we walk into the house, it’s to find Tobias eating beans straight out of the can.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Cassia says. “I’m not eating canned food. Half of it is about to expire, by the way.” She smiles up at me, and it’s so fucking blinding I almost miss it when she continues, “Give me the car keys and money so I can go get some groceries. Once we’re in Greece and I get my belongings from the house, I’ll pay you back.”
I frown at Cassia as if she’s lost her fucking mind and mutter, “You’re not driving anywhere without me.”
“Yeah, but you have to arrange the private jet and other stuff, so I figured I could go get a few things to make us dinner, or I can get takeout.”
Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around the side of her neck while taking the keys to the SUV from my pocket. I toss them to Tobias, who catches them.
“Go get takeout for us.”
He sets down the can, a grin spreading over his face.
I let go of Cassia to pull out my wallet and remove enough for the food then pass it to Tobias.
When he leaves the house, I look at Cassia. “Problem solved.”
She tilts her head. “I could’ve gone with Tobias.”
“No.” I turn around, walk to the couch, and take a seat. Pulling my phone out, I open the messaging app and send Santiago a text.
Knight: We need one of the private jets. Let me know how much it will cost to hire it, and I’ll transfer the funds.
While I wait for his reply, I say, “I assume everyone will make their own arrangements for accommodation in Athens. I’m only booking a place for you and me.”
“And Tobias?”
“He’s a grown-ass man who can take care of himself,” I mutter while making a booking at a five-star hotel in Athens. When I’m done, I lift my eyes to Cassia. “After all, you do pay him a salary, right?”