Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Instead, he claps my hands and holds them out in position before guiding me to the symphony’s notes from below.
Staring into his eyes, I let him lead until our bodies move in sync, until the world below disappears.
We dance together in the dark for another song, then another.
When the final note ends on the fourth song, he stamps his mouth over mine without a single word.
He runs his palms against the back of my dress, splaying his hand across the exposed skin. His fingers find the zipper, and he slowly pulls it downward.
“Turn and grip the railing,” he softly demands.
I oblige, facing the party.
He presses into me from behind in one swift, hot thrust. I gasp, my hands braced against the railing as he rocks into me, deep and possessive, his grip claiming my hips.
His hips drive into me harder, and I meet every thrust, matching his rhythm. The room blurs around us—only the slick sound of skin, our tangled breaths, and the dizzying heat between us exist.
When we come, it’s together. Intense. Shattering. His body shakes against mine, and I cry out his name, gripping the edge of the counter like it’s the only thing anchoring me to earth.
There’s a near voyeuristic thrill to it, knowing that at any given moment, someone could look up and see him fucking me, owning me, in this ballroom.
I collapse in his arms, and he holds me until I come to, keeping me steady until I stop shaking.
He stays there for a moment, buried inside me, his lips pressed against the back of my shoulder.
“I’m very impressed with your performance tonight,” he whispers harshly in my ear. “You were perfect.”
“Thank you…”
“You’re very welcome.” He adjusts the strap on my dress and spins me around, pressing a long kiss against my lips.
“Are we able to go home now?” I ask.
“You are,” he says. “The car will be ready by the time you make it downstairs.”
“What about you? Are you done, too?”
“No.” He presses a kiss against my forehead. “I’ll never be done.”
End of Episode 20
Painful Lengths
EPISODE 21
Ryder
My Heart
Thank you for letting me leave the estate with Miss Jane today!
I had a lot of fun.
You’re welcome… But don’t get used to it.
I know. Love you.
Love you more.
Islide my phone into my pocket and stare at my parents.
They’re staring back at me from a glittering gold locket, their eyes helping me calculate my next move.
This is one of few family heirlooms that I keep locked away in a bank’s security box; it’s the only place other than the cemetery and my basement where I can pay them a visit.
“One day, our empire will be yours, son… And you better not fuck it up…”
“Is everything alright in here, Mr. Rochester?” A bank employee clears her throat from the door.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
She disappears as quickly as she came in, and I lock the box and slide it into place. I check the other boxes, the ones that feature photos of my brothers, aunts, and uncles, and then I return to the bank’s main lobby to handle what I really came here for.
Checking in on everyone who owes me.
“You can come on up here, sir,” the teller smiles at me. “How may I help you tonight?”
“Check these twenty accounts,” I say, sliding her a sheet of paper and my signature card. “Verify that each one has made a deposit within the past week.”
“Do you need to know the amounts or balance on each?”
“No.”
She nods and takes the paper, typing away on her screen. “I think it’s really cool that you help so many local businesses. It’s very inspiring.”
I arch a brow, confused.
You must be new here…
“Okay, well, um—looks like they’ve all made deposits this week except for one.”
“Which one is that?”
“The one ending in 7685.”
Nate Taylor’s… “Are you sure about that?”
“Very sure.” She nods, lowering her voice. “But um, between you and me, he’s probably struggling to keep it all together these days. He was beaten so badly that it made the news… We sent him a care package.”
“That’s very nice of you.” I take the sheet back. “Maybe I should do the same.”
I return to the safe deposit room, preparing to take notes, but my phone buzzes. Gunnar.
“Yes?” I answer.
“The power is out at the estate, sir,” he says.
“The backup generator should kick on eventually.”
“It hasn’t.”
“Is my gate open?”
“No, sir.”
“What about the security cameras around the perimeter?”
“They’re not working.”
“Does anyone have eyes on my heart and the nanny?”
“No, sir…” He pauses. “No one has seen them since they returned from the mall this afternoon…”
“How long has the power been out?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“And you’re just now fucking telling me?” I rush to the door. “Get the team over to search the grounds.”
I rush outside and slide behind the wheel of my car, speeding onto the highway.
Memories I’ve locked away since I was fifteen years old suddenly flood my brain—carnage, death, bloodshed—and I refuse to drown in them. I refuse to accept that I’ve put Adeline at risk.