Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“I bet if I stuck my fingers in you, you’d be soaked,” he says, his voice deep with want. “But I’m not going to do that,” he adds, backing up and breaking our connection. My body immediately goes cold, and I find myself moving toward him, wanting his warmth back.
But he shakes his head, stopping me in my place. “I feel it, how amazing it would be between us.” He cups the side of my face and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “But in the same way you want someone to choose you, Sienna, I want someone to choose me.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SIENNA
“All right, ladies, we’re going to finish class by working on some technique.” The girls moan, and I have to stifle my laugh. When I was their age, I hated working on technique too, but dance isn’t just about the fun stuff. You have to train as well.
The girls already know where this is going, so they head over to the barre. I run them through several positions, knowing each count by heart. I could teach this class in my sleep, which is probably a good thing, since my head isn’t in it at all today.
It’s still at Hotel Blu, at Micah’s penthouse. Our date was a pleasant surprise—the brunch and movie and how he wanted to actually get to know me. When I spoke, he seemed to listen.
My thoughts go to the kiss…
The way our bodies aligned perfectly with one another, almost like we were meant to be. I bring my fingers up to my lips, remembering the way his mouth devoured mine. Afterward, he walked me back to my room, and with a chaste yet intimate kiss to the corner of my mouth, he told me he’d see me soon.
Class ends, and I tell the girls they did a wonderful job and I’ll see them on Wednesday, and then I spend the next hour doing homework while Ellie finishes up her class.
“So, home?” Ellie asks once we’re in my car.
“Yeah.” Mom wasn’t there when we went by the house earlier this morning so Ellie could get dressed for school and grab her backpack. More than likely, she’s taken off again, so there’s no reason to spend money unnecessarily on a hotel room when we can stay at the house for free. Since she’s apparently gotten her hands on some money, chances are that Mom won’t return for weeks, possibly months.
We stop at the store on the way home, and then, while Ellie is showering, I make us dinner. I’m stirring the chicken in the pan when there’s a loud banging on the door followed by a masculine voice. “Open this fucking door!” Phil barks.
I set the spoon down and grab a knife, not wanting to be unprepared. I have no intention of letting him inside, but who knows what this asshole is capable of.
“Lenora’s not here,” I yell back at Phil, hoping he’ll give up and leave.
“Open the fucking door!” he shouts again.
“Not—” I haven’t finished my sentence when the door breaks open, pieces of wood flying every which way, and I stumble back before I get slammed by it.
“Where the fuck is she?” Phil growls, pushing past me. “That bitch is fucking dead.”
“She’s not here,” I tell him, praying Ellie doesn’t come out.
Phil swings mom’s door open and stalks inside. He starts pulling drawers open and tossing everything everywhere, making a mess. I keep my mouth shut, not wanting to get on his bad side. Whatever he’s looking for has nothing to do with me.
After he’s checked her entire bedroom and bathroom, he moves on to Ellie’s and my room, tearing everything apart.
When he grabs the bathroom handle and it doesn’t open, he darts his gaze over to me. “Ellie’s in there.”
“Open the door!” he shouts.
“Fuck you!” Ellie yells back, letting her temper get the best of her.
“Ellie, please open it before he breaks it down,” I say with a calmness I don’t feel.
She swings the bathroom door open, and he barges in, checking to make sure our mom isn’t hiding.
“Where is it?” he asks, storming out of the bathroom.
“Where is what?” I’m sure he’s referring to the money she came into, but I figure it’s better to play stupid since I really don’t know where she or the money is. “She came home Friday and we got into a fight. I haven’t seen her since then.”
He bridges the gap between us and pushes me against the wall, his hand squeezing my face. I hold the knife tight in my hand, ready to stab him if necessary. “That bitch owes me,” he says, confirming my suspicions, “and I always collect. If I find out you know where she is…”
“We don’t know where she is,” Ellie yells.
“El,” I warn, not wanting her to put herself at risk. “I don’t know where she is or what you’re looking for, but as you can see, neither is here.”