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)
“Growl all you want,” he said, the line of his jaw hard. “You’re not getting past me.”
There was no mistaking his determination to keep me here. It was a fire burning in his eyes and tone, and it was all too familiar.
Never again.
I charged him, dropping low to strike with a vicious kick. He jumped, avoiding the leg sweep. I popped up, panting for breath. Sweat glistened on his brow, and a line of crimson trickled from the corner of his split lip, staining his jaw and cheek. The metallic scent of his blood filled my nostrils. Hunger gnawed at me.
I needed to feed.
If I did, I knew I could take him down instead of merely trying to escape. That’s what I should be doing. But…
Something stopped me. Was it my distrust? Getting close enough to feed would make me vulnerable. Or was it the knowledge that he hadn’t once swung on me?
It didn’t matter.
He stepped toward me, and I thrust my knee up, aiming for his groin. With swift movements, he shielded himself with his thigh and then tried to pin my arms to my sides.
Realizing he was going for the type of hold that would force submission, I let my legs buckle.
Unprepared for my dead weight, his grip slipped. He cursed as I landed on my knees. Ignoring the dull pain, I rocked back and jumped to my feet.
A wave of tingles swept up the back of my head, momentarily causing darkness to creep into the corners of my vision. Breathing harshly, I backed up until I hit the wall. Agitation and rising exhaustion grew as he calmly waited for my next move.
With one last surge of energy, I pushed off the wall and used a nearby chair to gain height. Balancing precariously on the seat, I jumped off and kicked toward him. The wooden legs scraped against the floor, desperately trying to gain traction.
My body moved swiftly through the air, muscles coiled as I started to twist and extend my leg—
The bastard snagged me in midair.
A snarl of anger tore from my lips as he effortlessly hauled me back against him. His pine-and-spice scent filled my nostrils. I struggled against his hold, his grip like an iron vise around my arms.
“I can do this all night,” he taunted, his voice low. “But I’d prefer not to.”
Fueled by anger and panic, I threw my head back without thinking, connecting with his chin. A spike of pain joined the pounding as he grunted in surprise.
“Fuck,” he swore, his grip loosening enough for me to break free. “That was unnecessary.”
I took off.
He caught my arm and spun me to the side. Lifting me, he held me close to him.
Gods, his strength was shocking.
I frantically searched for an escape route as he moved away from the door again. Unfortunately, my efforts were futile as the distance between me and my freedom grew larger and larger. Desperate to break free, I pulled my legs up and swung both our bodies backward. He slammed into one of the wooden bedposts, causing it to creak loudly. A grunt of pain escaped him as he staggered a foot to the side. Pulling my knees up again, I threw my weight back.
He went down, this time landing on the bed instead of the floor with my back to his chest.
“Let me go!” I thrashed wildly, only managing to make him tighten his hold on me.
“I can’t do that, Poppy,” he said with a hint of regret.
I dug my nails into the arm around my waist and heard him hiss in pain. That gave me a little wiggle room—just enough to create enough space to draw my arm back. I shoved my elbow into his stomach. He cursed, his grip loosening. I twisted and faced him, lifting my arm.
He caught my wrist. “What poor manners you have,” he drawled with a bloody smirk. “Hitting isn’t nice.”
Clamping an arm around my waist, he yanked me down again. Somehow, I ended up straddling him, the softest part of me pressed to the hardest part of him.
My mind went blank for a moment as I thought I picked up the sound of approaching footsteps. I wasn’t sure because I was stunned by the feel of him beneath me.
I liked it.
A lot.
A riot of sensations erupted in me—a confusing mix of desire and fear. Both were unacceptable. I needed to move, but I could feel his heartbeat thudding against my chest in sync with mine. I breathed him in, the intoxicating mix of his scent and blood sending a pleasant warmth coursing through my veins. I wanted it. I wanted him. A shudder swept through me. It was overwhelming, and for a second, I couldn’t remember why I had been fighting him.
Not safe here.
Instinct kicked in, reminding me of who he was—a liar, a thief, a manipulator…a murderer, and a monster. The rush of lust and desire didn’t fade, though.