Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“That’s a lot of apartments.”
“No, it’s a lot of power.” He gestures down at the crowd. “Most of these people go through life not knowing there’s a whole different world underneath their feet. They see what they’re supposed to see. But they never experience anything close to the truth.”
“And you do?”
“I make that world.”
I want to ask more, but another waitress comes over. We’re treated like royalty while we’re here. She offers drinks, food, anything we need. Stellan politely declines it all. I have another glass of wine, but by now it’s starting to get to me, and I can tell I’m on the edge of making a bad decision.
“Can I admit something?” I say once the bottle’s empty. We’ve been at the table all this time talking intermittently. His fingers stroke my leg.
“I assume it’s about how attracted you are to me.”
My cheeks flush. “No, I mean, I was just going to say that I haven’t been on a date in a long time.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Seriously. After my mom ran off with her latest asshole boyfriend, I’ve been too busy taking care of myself and Gem to go out. I can’t remember the last time I had fun.”
“I’m glad I could give you that.”
I chew my lip, wondering how much more he could give me. How much he could give Gem too. And all I have to do is marry him.
But there’s more to it. I know there is, even in the hazy swirl of alcohol, loud music, and excessive power. A wife should be easy to find. There’s a reason he wants me though.
I have no idea what it is. And I can’t seem to make it matter, not as he keeps stroking my leg, slowly and methodically, sending shivers of excitement down my spine.
“Tell me more about yourself,” he says, leaning in to speak into my ear. I find myself shuffling closer, almost perched in his lap. “What was your life like before your mother left?”
“Normal. Nothing special. Mom’s always been a mess, but we made it work. She’d disappear for a few days sometimes, but nothing like this. We never felt abandoned. She’d go on a bender, drink and smoke crack, but we’d be able to peel her from whatever gutter she fell into and get her back on her feet. There’d be tears, promises, you know that dance. She’d work for a few months, but end up back in her old habits eventually. We survived like that.”
“Must’ve been hard,” he murmurs sympathetically.
“Honestly, it wasn’t that bad. At least I had a life back then. I had friends. A little freedom. Now I’m just dragging through the days.”
“You’re a good sister.”
“Gem deserves it. I wish I had more to give.”
His lips brush my ear. I swallow back a whimper. What the hell is this man doing to me right now?
“There’s always more, Kira.”
I turn toward him. I reach up and lightly brush my fingers back into his hair. If I wasn’t tipsy right now, I wouldn’t be doing this. I’m distinctly aware of that. But alcohol doesn’t change who I am. It doesn’t turn me into some insane, mindless maniac like it does for some people. It just loosens me up. Knocks down the barriers. Makes me do what I’ve always wanted to do but had too many excuses.
“If you kiss me right now, it’s not a promise.” I stare into his eyes. He looks back, expression hard and burning. It’s shocking how badly he looks like he wants me. “I’m not going to marry you.”
“Yes, you will.”
“No, I mean it.”
“Maybe not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow. But I’m going to kiss you and you’re going to think about it for the next few days until you realize—” His thumb brushes over my cheek. “I can save your life if you let me.”
His lips hammer into mine. I meet him with a desperate intensity. Years of pent-up frustration flow out into this kiss. His tongue tastes like whiskey, wine, and mint. His mouth is hard and strong, and his stubble tickles me slightly. I whimper into the kiss as his hands grip me harder, pulling me tight into him like he can’t stand the idea of a gap between us. I fall into that kiss, tumbling like an acrobat missing the high wire, a freefall of terror and elation, knowing there might be a net to catch me but probably not. Our tongues twist together, and my pulse hammers between my legs, and I know this is stupid. I’m making a massive mistake.
But god, I want this so badly.
I pull back, gasping for air. He’s looking at me like he’ll shatter if I keep touching him. And for some reason, Mina’s voice whispers in the back of my head. It’s not too late to live a little.