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)
Perhaps she was in shock because she didn’t object when he peeled off her robe. Her nipples stabbed through the transparent silk of her nightgown, and Peter lifted a brow. “I can see every inch of you, Ms. Darling.”
She moved to cover her breasts, but he caught her wrist.
“Don’t.” Leaning forward, he closed his mouth over the turgid tip of her breast and bit gently through the wet fabric.
“Peter—”
“Let me.”
He had no authority over her, yet she obeyed. He pushed her arms down and stared at her body as if he owned her, pulling the thin strap off her shoulder and peeling the material away from her chest to expose her nipple fully.
“That’s better.”
He reached forward but stilled when the sliding door opened. Wendy jerked the towel over her chest.
“Room’s ready,” one of the men called.
Irritated by the disruption, Peter stood and held out a hand. “Come. Once we get to your room, we can get you out of that wet gown.”
Chapter 5
Moonlight Reflections
Once again, Peter’s mercurial moods were giving her whiplash. Since arriving in the Never Lands, he’d acted like a hyper teenage boy, lost his temper, banished Belle, and groped her. Wendy had no clue which version was the real Peter. Perhaps they all were.
As they entered the house, she shivered under the central air pumping through the vents. The house smelled of freshly washed linens, furniture polish, and something deliciously masculine with a touch of earthiness.
The men anxiously awaited. “Which room?” Peter asked, his tone impatiently curt.
The twins pointed to the left, and Peter took her arm, hauling her that way. Her bare feet slapped noisily on the porcelain tile as she rushed to keep up.
The nervous one who spoke up at the pool apprehensively rubbed what she suspected was a lucky rabbit’s foot. “I’m sorry we threw you in the pool, miss Wendy. We were only playing. If we knew you couldn’t swim—”
“Tate!” Peter snapped, and the man silenced.
Shocked by Peter’s rudeness, she yanked her arm free and touched Tate’s hand that rubbed the rabbit’s foot. “It’s okay, Tate. It was a misunderstanding, that’s all.”
He looked instantly relieved, then bashful as he smiled. “You forgive us, then?”
“Enough.” Before she could answer, Peter tugged her into the room.
“Peter, stop.” She yanked her arm free again. “What’s gotten into you? We were in the middle of a conversation.”
“A boring conversation.” He dove onto the tower of ruffled pillows. “Oh, look. A bed.”
Turning back to the Lost Boys, she thanked them, “The room is lovely. Thank you.”
“You like it?”
“I picked out the pillows!”
“I found the blanket!”
“I picked the flowers!”
“I swept the floor and got rid of that—umph.” One of the men elbowed Tate in the ribs. “I mean, there was nothing gross in here whatsoever. It was totally clean when we started.”
She figured it was better she didn’t know what biohazards or creatures they removed. “Well, it’s perfect now.”
They turned their attention to Peter, fishing for more praise that did not come.
Peter lounged on the bed, appearing bored and disinterested in what the rest of them were doing. She didn’t understand their dynamic. Why fawn over someone who paid them no mind and scolded them like children? Who made him their leader?
“Perhaps now is a good time to learn your names. I’m Wendy. And I know you’re Tate.”
Tate grinned and nodded happily, twin dimples winking in his round cheeks.
She moved down the line to the bare-chested one wearing a necklace of entwined antlers. “And you are?”
“I’m Nibbs,” he said cheerfully, liveliness buzzing from his impressive physique as something fearless and reckless danced in his blue eyes.
“A pleasure to meet you, Nibbs.” She turned to the tall one. He leaned against the wall, radiating arrogance. “And you are?”
“They call me Bayne.” Something untrustworthy flashed in his eyes. “The Never Lands can be a dangerous place for a woman. It would be wise to watch your back.”
So far, he seemed the only true danger she’d stumbled across. “Thank you for the warning. I will.”
Peter slipped his arm around her, and Bayne’s jaw ticked. As Peter nuzzled her neck, his eyes narrowed on her another degree.
Not needing another enemy, Wendy shouldered out of Peter’s grip. But Bayne continued to glare at her. Was he jealous? She didn’t quite understand the dynamic between these men yet. There was a sense of hero worship but also an extreme sense of territorialism.
“How long is she staying?” Bayne asked, clearly put out by her presence.
Peter scowled at his rude friend. “As long as I want her to stay.”
The other man stormed off in a huff.
“Ignore him,” Nibbs said, rolling his eyes. “If Bayne’s not the center of attention, he’s in crisis.”
How sad that a grown man could be that reliant on his friend’s attentiveness. His narcissism and neediness were obviously caused by deep-seated insecurities, and while he tried to appear powerful, his dramatic exit only left the impression of bratty self-doubt. She pitied him.