Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
We were opposites, me playing it safe and him living on the edge.
We sure as hell didn’t match.
Natural born enemies.
Neither of us could really fit into the other’s life, even if we wanted to.
I felt all of it as sure as I felt the tremor rock through me as I took him in.
He wore jeans and a tight white tee and his cut over the top. Worn motorcycle boots on his feet.
All his harsh, serrated edges were honed in the morning light. Eyes gold-edged daggers that cut me right down the middle.
Too violently beautiful to be real.
Okay, maybe I was off base with this dangerous game I was playing.
Because right then, he actually looked mad.
Really freaking mad.
“Told you I didn’t want you down here by yourself.” Silas gritted it, his jaw clenched. Every muscle in his rigid body fired with severity.
“And I told you I’m not going to allow some creep to force me back into a corner.” I flung my hand in the direction of the door.
Didn’t he get it after what I told him last night?
Besides, I was surrounded by an army. There had been at least four men posted along the front perimeter when Brody had dropped me off, and those were just the ones who were visible.
I had a suspicion the entire club was on duty.
He winced, then that anger was making a resurgence when he stepped forward.
His presence slammed me like a landslide.
I lifted my chin against it. Or maybe I was only lifting it toward it. A masochist who wanted to feel the brunt force of his impact.
“So what? You plan to run headlong into danger for the sake of proving a point? Is that what you want?” He basically sneered it.
“Apparently, since I keep putting myself directly in front of you.”
I guess there was no reason to beat around the bush. We both already knew what he was going to do to me, and I couldn’t seem to do anything but beg him for it.
Silas chuckled a wry, self-deprecating sound. “I think it’s me who’s standing in the front row of the firing squad, Brinley. Me who’s gonna get burned because I can’t fuckin’ think straight when it comes to you. Driving me out of my mind. Pushing me through every boundary that I’ve ever set. Making me want things I can never have.”
My heart took that opportune time to flip in my chest, liking the sound of that far too much.
I gripped onto the desk behind me like it could keep me standing. Keep me on my feet so I wouldn’t go crawling for him.
Shock slammed me when he suddenly growled, “Turn around and bend over the desk.”
How it was possible for those words to send arousal careening through my body, I didn’t know.
But there it was.
Throbbing with every pulse of my blood. Heart running manic to carry it to every cell.
My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip.
Normally, I’d be afraid and lash out.
Take it as a threat rather than a temptation.
Not with Silas Mercer.
I felt emboldened.
“Is that my punishment, King?” I drew his nickname out like spite, even though there was an avalanche of desire behind it.
It was a wonder the walls didn’t come crashing to the ground.
Cocking his head to the side, Silas stalked forward three steps, sending the floor undulating below his feet.
“No, Brinley. It’s my punishment.” He punched his chest right over his heart, and his words were jagged fragments of strained breath.
Harsh and hard.
“Touching you and knowing that it’s only temporary is my sheer and utter punishment. Nothing but a penalty knowing what a treasure you are. How beautiful you are. This fucking gorgeous body and this wild, untamed heart. How’s it you managed to get under my skin this way?”
My inhalation was strangled.
He took another step forward, and the scent of him smacked me in the face.
Cherries drenched in whiskey.
I had to be drunk.
“A sentence for this sin,” he continued. “Taking this bit of you that I could never deserve. Taking it and knowing I will never get enough. And even with that bare taste, I know I’m still going to have the memory of you scored on my soul for the rest of my life. I don’t know how you got there, but there’s going to be no getting you out.”
I almost laughed. It was me who was going to be marked.
He angled in close, his mouth at my ear. “Now why don’t you be a good girl and actually listen to me for once and turn around and bend over the desk. Unless you want me to walk out that door because you know I will. It would be best if I did.”
He was giving me an out.
Asking for consent as he took a step back.
I heaved another tremulous breath and slowly fumbled around.