Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
I was going to vomit.
“And I’ll give it to you.” His arm dropped to his side, and I realized he hadn’t been stroking the wooden frame. It was the cane. The reddish-black wood shone in the filtered sunlight. “Just how you like it.”
I was really going to vomit.
But afterward.
He stalked closer.
Every sense felt heightened. Every muscle tensed for the next move. “Don’t…come near me,” I spat.
“You’re safe with me,” he swore.
No. I shook my head. Lies. I couldn’t fall for it. Fall for him and his pretty words, his promises of love and devotion. They were lies. He was incapable of—
The room around me melted away, and I saw gold—golden floors and the bars of a gilded cage.
I drew back, my heart racing as I sucked in a stuttered breath. I blinked rapidly. The vision—or memory—was brief. The golden bars disappeared, but it served as a potent reminder of what could happen if I believed his words.
I would be trapped.
Caged.
That would never happen again.
My heart calmed as my gaze locked with his.
Pain and something akin to sorrow settled into his features. Neither emotion looked right on his pale skin as his chest rose with a deep breath and his shoulders squared. I saw the moment he realized I was readying myself to fight my way out.
And I knew he would do everything within his power to prevent me from leaving.
Never again.
Latching onto the anger, I pulled on it, letting it entrench itself deep in my bones, seep into my muscles, and flow through my veins. Eather pulsed.
He sighed. “I guess we’re doing this, aren’t we?”
I launched myself at him.
He effortlessly dodged my attack. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
His words were like a strike of flint against steel, igniting another explosion of fury inside me. Catching myself on the bedpost, I spun and kicked out, aiming for his legs.
In the back of my head, I knew it wasn’t as fluid as it should’ve been—the twist and kick were stiff. I was too slow, and he was already anticipating my next move, easily leaping over me. I sprang up and turned as he faced me, landing a solid punch to his stomach.
Stumbling back, he let out a laugh. “Ouch.”
I swung again, but he blocked it with his forearm. Undeterred, I threw a punch toward his jaw. This time, he wasn’t fast enough to dodge. My fist connected with his face, knocking his head back. Satisfaction surged, but I didn’t waste time. I whirled toward the door.
He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back against his chest. His breath tickled my cheek as he whispered, “I know you can fight better than this.”
A low growl rumbled in my throat as I lifted a leg to stomp on his foot.
Before I could make contact, he lifted me off the ground and flung me sideways. I gasped, bracing myself for impact with the hard floor.
It never came.
I landed on the bed and bounced, momentarily stunned and confused by what had just happened.
He approached me with a smug grin, the picture of supreme arrogance except… The golden gleam in his eyes had dulled, and he looked sad.
My heart twisted sharply. I…I didn’t like the idea of him being sad—
I shut down that line of thought. It was a trick. I needed to focus. I took a deep breath and waited until he was just a step away before rocking back on the bed and pushing out with my feet.
He took the hit to his chest and staggered back. “Fuck,” he grunted. “I think you may have cracked a rib, Princess.”
I should’ve felt satisfaction, but I felt sort of sick as I slid off the bed. I rushed for one of the doors. Grasping the gold handle, I yanked it open—
A large clawfoot tub—an absolutely beautiful clawfoot tub—greeted me.
“Wrong door.”
Hissing, I spun toward the other one. He was so damn quick, planting himself in front of the exit.
I charged, my swings and kicks coming in rapid succession, but he was good—and fast—his movements so fluid it seemed like he was part of the very air around us. He deftly blocked each blow, but as he caught my next swing and pushed me back, I saw the beginnings of deep purple bruises forming on his skin. A mix of satisfaction and sorrow filled me at knowing I was causing him pain, but I also felt a twinge of guilt for hurting someone I…
Pain stabbed my temples, making me stumble. He caught me by the shoulders, and my head jerked up.
His chiseled features, rigid and severe, softened the moment our gazes met. “We don’t have to do this.”
I drew my knee up, aiming for his stomach. Groaning, he dropped his hold. Without wasting time, I turned for the other door.
He wrapped an arm around my waist with a curse and spun me back toward the bed. I let out a frustrated growl.