Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
He kept his eyes on her, watching her responses and studying her tolerance when he gripped her throat or pulled her hair. He liked manhandling her. Liked when he made it hurt because he liked kissing the pain away and putting her back together again.
When she shattered in his arms, it was with tears streaming down her face—not from pain, but from the overwhelming relief of being truly seen. Truly accepted. Truly cherished despite everything she’d been forced to do.
When they lay tangled together on the rug, watching flames dance in the hearth. Marigold confessed, “I like being with you.”
He shifted to hold her a little tighter, but said nothing. The storm outside had finally broken, leaving the world washed clean and new.
“Maybe you’re exactly what I needed, someone sturdy enough not to bleed from my rough edges.”
“I have rough edges, too. We all do.”
“I like when you put me back together again.” She stared at the flames and laughed to herself. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall…”
“If you’re expecting all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I only share with my brothers.”
His words were playful, but also realistic. She shivered at the terrifying thought of Hunter. “What if I don’t want to be with them.”
He drew back to look at her. “Don’t be foolish, printessa. We can be very accommodating, but the rules are clear. To stay, we require your full consent.”
She tightly swallowed. “But Hunter hates me. He told me himself he has no interest in touching me.”
He pressed her head back down to his chest. “Eventually, that will change. Do yourself a favor and accept that which cannot be avoided.”
She sat up. “You can stop him.”
“Why would I?”
His question stung. “Because we…” She looked down and frowned. “Don’t you care about me?”
“Yes, but Hunter’s my brother.”
“So?”
“So, we have an understanding. I won’t betray him.”
“Even if he plans to hurt me?”
“He won’t.”
“He already has! Just tonight, he slammed me into the counter and threatened me. He’s cruel and—”
“Enough.”
Stifled by his sharp command, she stared at him in shock. He cared about her, but would never put her before his brothers.
“I’m such an idiot,” she whispered, pushing herself off the floor.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from you.” She tugged on her sweater. “Do me a favor, next time you want to fuck me, just do it. Leave out all the emotional bullshit, because it’s giving me a migraine.”
“I’ve been nothing but upfront with you, Zayka.”
“And stop calling me that. I’m not a little fucking bunny or whatever the hell that means.”
“Rabbit.”
“Whatever.” She snatched the ribbon that had fallen out of her hair and tied back her curls. “I’m not some skittish little animal who runs and hides and I’m not some helpless princess waiting to be rescued.”
“I never said you were.”
“Yes, you did.” She crossed the library and yanked open the door.
“Do you always get hysterical after sex?” he yelled.
“Go to hell.” She stepped into the hall and let the door slam, but when she abruptly turned, she crashed head-on into Stone’s granite chest.
“Well, well, well.” He steadied her. “Where are you running off to?” Bending closer, he stiffened her neck. “Smelling like sex.”
She swatted him away. “Get away from me.”
“Doesn’t work that way.” He crowded her towards the wall. “Ash has been hogging you.”
Her pulse leapt when he tugged playfully at a long curl.
“Cracked you open like an egg,” he continued, his gaze tracing attentively down to the toe of her suede boot. “He’s good like that. Knows how to get the difficult ones to open up.”
Ones? “He’s not as smooth as he thinks.”
Stone laughed and glanced back at the library door. “Lover’s quarrel?”
“Something like that.”
He moved closer, barely touching her but caging her in with his body all the same. “Part of you is enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Lying little thief. I think—”
“Stone.” Marigold’s spine stiffened at the unexpected lash of Hunter’s voice.
Stone scowled back at his intrusive brother, who appeared at the end of the hall, but quickly returned his focus to her. “I’m busy.”
Hunter didn’t seem to care. “Meet me in the berloga. Bring Ash.” He walked away, and Stone sighed.
“We’ll finish this later.”
Once again, she questioned if Hunter was some sort of alpha or leader to them. Why did he have such command over them?
Stone backed away and thumped his fist on the library door twice. “Hunter wants us in the berloga.”
Ash opened the door, appearing surprised to find her standing there with Stone. He met her stare but said nothing as he exited the library and moved in the direction Hunter headed. Stone followed. Once again, abandoning her and leaving her utterly alone.
This time, she planned to make good use of their absence and use her unchaperoned time wisely. She rushed into the library, searching the shelves until she found the book she spotted earlier.