Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I didn’t ask if you’re going to have them right away, did I? I merely want to know if the thought has crossed your mind. Is that so bad?”
“We haven’t discussed it,” I jump in.
This could be one step too far: promising an elderly lady she has a shot at grandkids when I’ve got no intention of ever seeing Raiden again after this weekend.
“Well… don’t wait too long.” Evangeline winks. “Listen to me! I shouldn’t pressure you. That’s not fair. Enough talk–let’s eat!”
As I take a pastry and pour a mug of coffee, my heart is hammering and my throat is suddenly dry.
I feel dirty, guilty, seedy somehow.
I push it all deep down. I can’t dwell on this.
Sure, I’m giving this sweet old lady false hope. But it’s necessary. I have to give Evangeline false hope to give my grandmother real hope.
It’s a price I’m going to have to get comfortable paying.
CHAPTER 16
RAIDEN
As we walk back through the estate, Aurora seems more withdrawn. Her hand is on my arm., She doesn’t say anything, but it’s… her energy. Damn. That sounds stupid. But I can feel something is off.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She stops, looking up at a painting of a Victorian hanging, the crowd gathered around, baying for blood. “That didn’t feel good,” she says. “Lying to her–making her believe there’s a chance, even a small one, that I’m going to give her grandchildren one day.”
“It didn’t,” I agree. “This was her deal though. She didn’t say anything about long-term commitment. Just this weekend. Just the Retreat.”
Aurora grabs my shirt lapels, looks up at me, her eyes confrontational from within the mask. “And you’re fine with this?”
“I didn’t say that,” I tell her. “It’s just the way things have to be.” A pause. “What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t need to.”
She keeps looking at me, her grip tightening on my lapel.
“You think I should’ve taken the hit and been honest with her. Accepted I’m not going to be in the will if these are her terms.”
“I didn’t say that,” she mutters.
“Again, you didn’t have to.”
She sighs, lets me go, and turns away. “My opinion doesn’t matter, anyway. As long as I say what you need me to say when the time is right, that’s all that matters, correct?”
“That’s a cynical way to view it,” I grunt.
“Isn’t that what we’re doing here?”
“I don’t remember telling you to say I fell to my knees and begged for forgiveness.”
Her smile is magnetic and mischievous. “Can’t I have some fun?”
“Oh, that’s fun to you?” My hand glides to her hip, squeezes, and pulls her closer. “You enjoy humiliating me, don’t you?”
“I think you might enjoy it too, sir.”
“Or maybe you’re forgetting who’s in charge.”
I pull her in for a kiss. When I taste her lips and feel the urgency in the kiss, I can’t fight the feeling that this is real. Which makes me an idiot.
She pushes her tongue into my mouth, grabs my shoulders, and sinks her fingernails in as though she’s desperate for my touch. I pull her closer to me. My instinct is to glide my hand up her thigh, feel her naked thickness, find her wet and needy pussy.
She presses her hand against my chest, leans away slightly. “Maybe not… here.”
“Then we better get back to our room,” I growl.
“We’re not doing anything like that again,” she whispers.
I don’t say anything. She’s right; this wasn’t part of the deal.
How is she going to kiss me like she wants me, needs me, and expects me not to feel the same?
We continue through the mansion. Other guests are waking up now, walking through the gardens, and some have already taken a seat in the vast living room, sipping champagne.
As we walk down the hallway, I hear a raised voice coming from one of the other rooms. It’s Julian, my cousin, the backstabbing prick. He’s yelling at someone. “If there’s something you need to tell me, just fucking tell me. You won’t be happy if you wear my patience out. Bitch!”
Aurora looks at me. Even with her mask on, I can read her concern.
“Wait here,” I tell her, then hammer on the door.
“What?” Julian roars.
“It’s me,” I grunt. “The whole mansion can hear your yapping.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“I’m making it my business, Julian. I’m counting to five and then coming in. Make sure you’re decent.”
I silently count to five and then push the door open. Julian’s date is in bed, the sheets pulled up around her chin. She’s the escort, I remember. The one the oh-so helpful butler, Sebastian, set him up with… and wanted to set me up too.
“What’s all this commotion about?” I growl.
Julian looks tired, his eyes bloodshot, bags under his eyes. He huffs and runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t know why you think you need to get involved.”