Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mind. I got used to it eventually.”
“Wasn’t it … hard to grow up with him?”
I snort. “Are you implying he’s been rough on me?”
Her eyes widen. “Oh no, I just meant that—”
I chuckle. “Relax. I’m only trying to poke the bear.”
“Oh …” She breathes a sigh of relief … as though she was worried there for a second that I might be insulted, meaning she cares about my feelings.
Interesting.
I sit beside her, but the second I do, she inches away, retreating into herself as though she’s unsure what to think of me. As if my size alone and the strong hand that grips the back of the bench makes her fear me.
So I lean in and softly place the rose behind her ear, whispering, “You’d rather die than fear Ares, yet you offer it to me freely. Why?”
She licks her lips and averts her eyes. “I …”
I gently catch her chin between my fingers and make her look at me. “You promised to tell me a truth about you too.”
“I’m not scared of you. I’m scared of myself.”
I frown. “Because of me?”
“Because of what you’re teaching me.”
Oh …
I’d almost hoped it was because of something else.
Her eyes darken. “Because I don’t want to become as cruel as they are.”
“You? Cruel?”
“You think I can’t be?” A hint of mystery tugs at her lips, and my God, does it harden my cock.
“You’re learning how to defend yourself,” I say.
She fishes her knife out of her pocket and stares at the blade. “And how to kill.”
My whole body almost erupts into goose bumps just at the thought of her slicing her way through her enemies. Good God, I was right. She does have a violent streak to her.
“What?” She scoffs. “You don’t think I could kill?”
“Oh no, that’s not it …” I muse, tilting my head so I can look at her. “I’d pretty much sell my soul to see you kill.”
Her eyes find mine in the dark, glimmering with a burning curiosity that makes it so hard to look away.
Lord, I know those two fucks want her, but I could never deny her if she ever gave me a chance.
Slowly, she leans in and gives me the softest peck on my cheek, and I swear I’ve never cherished anything more.
“Thank you,” she mutters. “For helping me.”
The way she looks up at me, with that gaze of adoration …
Fuck it.
Without thinking, I grab her chin and smash my lips to hers.
God, her taste is divine. No wonder those two couldn’t keep their hands off her. She’s like a sinful little package waiting to be unwrapped, and I groan into her mouth just from the sheer desire that’s been roaring through my body ever since I first saw her on Ares’s lap, mewling to his touch.
Maybe I should steal her from him.
Would he kill me if I tried?
She pulls away from me and stares at me, eyes flickering back and forth between both my eyes and lips, as though she’s contemplating whether to kiss me back … or kill me for daring to try.
I wouldn’t blame her if she did.
I might not even stop her if she tried.
But I will never, ever regret kissing those beautiful lips.
CRYSTAL
Without thinking, I slam my lips back on his, his groans lighting a flame.
I’ve never kissed this passionately, this fiercely before. It’s like a fire consumes my soul.
My hands entangle around his thick neck, curling through his silky hair, desperate to get closer. And he answers my greed with fervent licks, rolling his tongue around mine, equally as needy to get closer while his hands snake around my waist and trap me.
But then I remember who he is and what house he belongs to, and I instantly regret what we just did.
I swiftly jump up from the bench, the shock finally settling in.
“Oh God,” I mutter, swiftly grabbing my stuff. “This was a mistake.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was anything but a mistake.” He gets up from the bench too. “I fully intended to kiss those pretty lips, darling, and I’m not going to say I’m sorry.”
Wait, what?
I thought I’d convinced him by kissing him on the cheeks.
Has he wanted to kiss me all this time?
I gulp as my eyes slowly trail down his body, settling on the hard-on in his pants clearly visible through the fabric.
“Fuck,” I mutter, biting my lip before looking away. “God, I should’ve known.”
“What?” He snorts. “That you’d kiss me back?”
My jaw slowly drops, and my cheeks begin to glow. “No, I was overcome by …”
“Lust?” He grips my arm as if he could sense I was about to turn and run. “I know exactly what you felt because the same need courses through my veins.”
I shake my head. “But I saw you at Fi’s Cups and Cakes with someone.”
He steps closer, leaning in to get on eye level with me while licking his top lip. “Ask me what you want to ask. You can say it out loud.”