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)
Gem’ll stay at the apartment tonight. She’s still got a few things to pack. That’s good, since I’m not sure how I feel about her being alone in this house yet, even if she does have her own floor. I don’t think Stellan’s the kind of man who would go anywhere near my sister, but he’s clearly mixed up with some dangerous people. I don’t know what to expect right now.
I have to dig to find my diner clothes. When I finally get them laid out, I strip down to my underwear. I’m about to tug on my pants when the door opens and my husband steps into our room.
He stops short and looks at me. I glance back over my shoulder. My ass is practically bare. My panties are wadded up as I bend over and shimmy to tug my jeans on. His mouth opens and his gaze darkens as I get myself adjusted, humiliation burning in my cheeks. His eyes flit to my chest, barely covered by a black bra, and I yank my jeans up quickly before he can enjoy the show too much.
“I guess it’s too much to ask for some privacy?”
“You don’t live alone anymore. Besides, I don’t mind.”
“I bet you don’t.” I clench my jaw and face him. “We need ground rules. The biggest and most important one is I’m not your fuck toy. You need sex, you go somewhere else. That’s not me. Got it?”
“You’re not? I like the idea of you acting like a little slutty toy. Dripping wet and begging.”
“No, thank you. Cut that out right now.”
“Why are you changing, anyway?”
“I have a shift at the diner.” I hurry into the bathroom, intent on getting ready, and I really don’t want to show him how that brief bit of dirty talk threatened to completely unravel me.
Words. Just words. Meaningless words. Really hot, frustrating, sexy words, but just noises from his big, dumb face.
“You realize you don’t have to work anymore?” He watches me from the bed. He doesn’t seem angry. More curious.
I don’t want to admit that I hadn’t. The idea seems ludicrous. For years, that’s all I’ve done. Work during the day, work all night. Barely enough sleep. I’ve drifted in a fog of exhaustion. And now he’s saying I don’t need to do it anymore?
I could cry from the relief.
But not yet.
“I’m scheduled. I don’t want to screw over Pam.”
“You don’t owe them anything.”
“Says the man who’s probably never worked a real job before.”
“My job’s real. It’s just not traditional.”
“I’m not quitting. Not yet, anyway.”
He nods once. “That’s fine, for now. But once you’ve met my family and you’re officially mine—”
“Not yours. Not owned by you.”
“Not my toy?” A vicious, teasing little smirk. God, I hate how sexy I find him right now. “No, the wife of the Don doesn’t take graveyard waitressing shifts anymore.”
“You should probably ask her before you make statements like that.”
“Imagine how good it will feel to be here every day when Gem gets home from school. How much more time you will get with your sister before she leaves for college. You don’t need to kill yourself anymore.”
God, that’s tempting. He makes a fantastic point. The time with Gem alone will be worth it.
“Another time, okay? I’ll put in my notice. I just won’t hang them out to dry.”
“Admirable.”
“Call Gem a car and get her back to the apartment when she’s ready.” I slip past him before he can answer and gather my bag. I shove my keys in my pocket and hurry down the steps. Stellan doesn’t follow. I walk out into the evening and pause, turning back to look at the house.
This doesn’t make sense. A week ago I was living in a cheap, crappy apartment, barely making ends meet, struggling just to pay our bills.
Now my sister’s got an entire floor to herself in a gorgeous Victorian mansion.
“At least I’m not selling myself cheap,” I mutter as I force myself to hurry to catch the next bus.
STELLAN
The transition is probably more difficult for Kira and her sister. They’re moving into a strange man’s house in a totally different part of town. I don’t blame them for having some trouble getting used to this new arrangement.
But it’s not easy for me, either.
Kira isn’t stupid. She’ll play the game when the time comes. But my god, she’s going to make my life difficult right up to the very last second.
I shouldn’t pretend like I hate it.
Fact is, I like that she challenges me. Not many women do. Maybe that’s why I’ve barely dated over the years.
Kira’s different. She’s not some bored, dead-eyed model looking for nice vacations and plenty of coke. Kira’s been through real hell. She works hard, knows what she wants, and fights for it. I respect the hell out of that.