Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
But I couldn’t walk away from the table.
My self-preservation and need to cope with what was happening immobilized me. Things would go very badly for me if I did something that landed me chained up again—or worse, dead. So, I kept eating, telling myself this was fine, and I’d keep repeating it until believing it was second nature.
"Why didn’t you just choose someone from this Isle? Someone that was fully on board with your way of living and customs?”
“I’ve done that already. Even if things had worked out—and as you can see, they did not—it wouldn’t have mattered. In the end, it’s always going to be you.”
“Is that another attempt at flattery?”
"It’s nothing but the truth. I don't need to flatter you to win you over. You’re already mine.” The way he emphasized mine made me recognize how serious he was being.
“Everyone keeps saying I’m here for a reason. It’s fated.” I spoke calmly, proud that my voice was steady and unshaken. “You’ve had someone here that understands you and everything this place is. Why couldn’t you be with her or one of these other women?”
He took a measured sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine as he placed the glass down with deliberate slowness before leaning back in his chair.
"Come here." His voice was soft yet carried an undeniable command.
It took more effort than I’d have liked to shove down the apprehension those two words inspired. Choose your battles. Too bad I was losing every single one of them. With a deep breath, I hesitated momentarily, then pushed my chair back and stood, taking cautious steps toward him. His perusal was intentionally slow, amber eyes looking me over from head to toe.
“I want you to sit, but when you do, imagine you’re going to fuck me just like this.”
I swallowed, catching my lower lip between my teeth as I stepped closer. He made no attempts to move as I placed my hands on his shoulders and then eased onto his lap. I was forced to place my legs on either side of his body, my dress rising in the process.
Once I was straddling him, he wrapped one arm around my waist to hold me in place. “See? You fit perfectly.” His voice was low, still deceptively soft. “I could have any woman I want on or off the Isle. I chose you then. I’m choosing you now. I’ll choose you ten years from now.”
"You can't make that claim," I whispered, a desperate attempt to assert some semblance of control.
"And you can’t keep denying that I already have," he said simply, with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. “You're home now. All that’s left for you to do is find yourself. I’m going to help you do just that."
His beautiful eyes held a raw honesty that was as surprising as it was unnerving. This wasn’t a game to him. There was no doubt in his mind that we belonged together. My heart twisted painfully.
This scared me far more than his promise to kill in my honor did. Those were strangers’ lives. This life was supposed to be mine, but then he looked at me as if I were the very center of his universe. He did everything in his power to know me inside out, down to the most trivial detail, and I knew if I asked, he’d say my life was his.
I panicked.
"Did you do these things for the wife you sent to the butcher?" The words tumbled out to serve as both a sword and a shield.
His reaction didn't betray any surprise, as if he had expected me to stumble upon such dark secrets. Instead of answering, he leaned closer, his lips meeting mine in a soft, lingering kiss. His hand slid down, coming to rest right above the branded name on my thigh, a tangible reminder of what he’d done.
"I've never dealt with a woman who didn't understand her place. That alone should tell you how much I adore you.”
“Your naivety, Lolita, is truly endearing, luckily for you." A hint of something more serious laced his voice as he continued, "I’m not ashamed of what happened with my first marriage. It isn’t a secret. I did the right thing and allowed Melanie to give back to the Isle, to depart with grace at the end of a blade. It was a fitting end."
So, it was true. He’d sentenced her to death like some medieval dictator. He noted my shock with an amused grin. "Don’t look at me like that, you’ll hurt my feelings. Did you expect me to lie to you? Deny it?" he asked, his tone teasing.
He suddenly reached around me, his movements forceful yet controlled. He cleared the table, sending dishes clattering to the floor to shatter apart. I flinched, my arms automatically winding around his neck as he stood up.