Total pages in book: 260
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” he says slowly. “Right. I know how it is.”
“You can’t go in there. It’s not a good time.” It will never be a good time. My heart races with anxiety, but more so anger. She’s mine.
“Fine, fine,” he says, putting the empty beer can down on the counter. “Just take care of this shit fast, Gio. The Romanos want results.”
“Fine,” I say, and walk him to the door. “I’ll do what I can, as fast as I can.”
“Alright then, son.” He gives me a look that I can’t read, then leaves. I shut the door behind him, breathing fast as I lock it.
As I lean against the wall, taking deep breaths to calm myself, the memory of Grace’s hand touching mine comes back to me completely out of nowhere. I feel that same electric spark and excitement course through me as in that moment, and I remember her surprised but angry stare.
I didn’t stop my father because I want to break her, and the realization hits me with an undeniable force.
I stopped him because I want to protect her.
I don’t want my father near her because I don’t want him to hurt or touch her. It’s completely fucked, but I’m protective of her. The princess is mine, all mine, and I won’t have anyone else come near her.
Which makes things pretty fucking difficult for me.
I go into the kitchen and make her a meal, not thinking too much about it. I’m too busy going over every detail of my conversation with my father, wondering if he got an inkling of how I was really feeling. That last look he gave me was strange.
I’m going to have to be extra careful from now on.
I carry the food on a tray to her room. I touch the fingerprint scanner with my thumb, and the door opens with a click. I push my way inside and shut the door behind me, making sure that my face is blank. She can’t sense my confusion.
She’s lying in the cage like always, her eyes shut, breathing slowly and deeply. I walk over and put the tray down where I always do before taking a few steps away.
“Wake up, princess,” I say softly.
She stirs a little bit.
“Princess,” I say louder. “Get up.”
Her eyes open. Her gorgeous eyes. She looks at me for a second, then looks at her food. She shifts her weight toward me, and for a second I think she’s going to come out. I want it so badly, more than I could have imagined, but instead she stops moving, those eyes boring into mine.
“I’m here for you now, princess,” I say softly. “So eat up. You’re going to need your strength.”
I smile at her, wicked and desiring, the darkness inside of me raging with delight.
Chapter 10
Grace
* * *
My lungs fill with the savory smell of cheeses and meats, along with the sweet scent of fruits.
I lick my lips, sit on my knees, and then get up on all fours, my eyes steady on the tray. This is new. I’ve eaten everything he’s brought me since the peach, but never has he made a tray like this.
“Come out, princess,” Gio says from the entrance of the cage. My eyes dart to his, and my heart beats faster. Ever since our fingers touched, there’s been a heat in his eyes that I thought I was imagining. But it’s there, staring back at me. I know what it means, but I can’t admit it to myself. Not yet.
“I want to feed you.”
I look past him at the room that used to be barren. He’s brought so many things into the room over the past few days. So many tempting items to touch. Textures I haven’t felt in days… I think it’s been days. No, it has to be longer. I try to remember how much time has passed, but I can’t.
There’s a pitcher of water on a small wooden table. I imagine it’s plastic, but I’m not sure because I haven’t moved. I wonder if there’s anything I can break and use against him, but then I look back at his intense gaze and feel a shiver down my spine. I’m terrified that the second I creep out of here, he’s going to come in and take me. Never letting me go. Never giving me a chance to run back here, into the cage. I can’t live here forever though, and I want to come out and see everything he’s brought for me.
“Gio?” I ask, my voice surprisingly level.
The corner of his lips pull up. “Yes?”
“If I come out and you feed me,” my eyes rise to his, “will you let me come back in once I’ve finished eating?”
His eyes narrow at me and he tilts his head, considering my words.
“Do you think I’d take your cage from you?” His voice is low, as if daring me to tell him that.