Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
His hand pressed to her stomach, forcing her spine flat against the door. “What do you feel here—where a woman’s desire grows?”
She felt lots of things. Fear, curiosity, wanderlust, and things she had no name for. Her pulse skipped wildly as shivers danced across her skin. Fate seemed to pull her in toward something unknown.
She leaned in and whispered, “I feel too many things at once.”
“Good. That’s how it should be—confusing and exciting—terrifying and exhilarating.”
The sash of her robe loosened, and cool air needled the thin material of her nightgown as a reminder of impropriety. Despite Peter’s boyish playfulness, he possessed the unmistakable entitlement of a man, and she could not underestimate how dangerous he could be.
His warm fingers curled ever so slightly around her ribs, and her nipples tightened. Painfully aware of her unbound breasts, a mere inch above his touch, she tried not to breathe.
“Show me you're not a priss,” he challenged, closing the distance and sliding his hand higher.
Warm lips pressed into hers, firm then soft and coaxing. Adrenaline spiked in her blood, and her nerves tingled as his tongue swept into her mouth. Her eyes stayed wide as he moaned, then he pulled away before she even had a chance to enjoy what was happening.
Disoriented, she frowned.
“Just as I thought,” he said, tasting his lower lip.
“What is it?”
He sucked his lip and frowned. “You taste like innocence.”
Her heart stopped as mortification drowned her. She ruined it. Why would she think she could impress a man when she had no experience?
Then his gaze met hers, exhilarating promise hiding in the jade pools of his stare. He wasn’t mocking her at all. “I can help you, Wendy. I can teach you. I could show every kind of kiss.”
“There are others?”
A wicked grin curled his mouth. “There are many.” He leaned close, a deep chuckle tickling her ear as he caught her earlobe between his lips and nibbled. “There’s necking.”
Shivers chased up her neck, racing down her spine until her bare toes curled against the wood floor. How could her ears feel so much?
His lips trailed over her racing pulse, and her breasts heaved with every nervous breath. His hand dragged upward, cupping her possessively.
“Then there’s suckling.” His thumb slowly treaded over the sharp tip of her nipple.
She should stop him. She knew better than to let him touch her so freely, but she wanted to know everything. She was sick of feeling ignorant. As a woman, she would need to know such things. But when his touch trailed lower, she whimpered.
“Peter…”
He slipped his hand between her legs, only the thin silk of her nightgown separating them. “Then there’s the sort of French kiss, the kind that makes a woman pray to God. It starts here.” His hand turned to cup her intimately. “That’s how stars are born. They’re all just little jewels of light that pierced the sky when a female’s pleasure passed by.”
She couldn’t imagine anything so poetic created by a man’s touch.
“But I’m not sure you’re ready for all that.” He abruptly withdrew his hand and stepped back, leaving her disoriented.
Once again, she distrusted him. Tightening the lapels of her robe, she frowned with disapproval. “Very funny.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Funny? Hm. I wasn’t trying to be funny.” He lifted his wine and drank with indifference.
Her eyes narrowed. Was she a game to him? Was this some sort of ploy meant to confuse her to the point that she’d consent to anything? “Why are you here, Peter?”
“I was nearby when I got your text.” He pulled out his phone and swiped his thumb over the screen. “Very nice.” He flashed the image to her, and she looked down, regretting ever sending such a photo.
“How did you know I was home?”
“I saw your light on.”
She frowned. “How did you know which window was mine?”
“The trellis isn’t hard to climb. To be honest, your father should be more careful. Anyone could break in and snatch you. Imagine how devastated he’d be, losing his only daughter. What bargaining chip would he have then?”
Bargaining chip? Was that how he saw her? But more importantly…“You looked in my window?”
He smirked. “Last I saw you, you were arguing with your father. He keeps a pretty tight leash on you.”
Her mouth opened to argue, but she silenced the lie. He was right.
“Do you want to escape?”
“And go where?”
“Anywhere. We can have an epic adventure. Have you ever been to the Never Lands?”
The Never Lands were one of many provinces in the Isles of Kassel. Exclusive to the most elite visitors, summoned by invitation only. Kassel was said to be a hedonistic playground for the wealthy, but it was also rumored to be extremely dangerous to outsiders. Money was power, and with extreme power, laws ceased to exist.
“Of course, I’ve never been to such a place.”