Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
He wanted to push her a bit more. He pointed at the floor in front of him. “Come here.”
“You did not just make a ‘come here’ gesture then point at the floor by your feet.”
“Hmm, let me think about that. Yes, I did.”
“And you think I’m going to come? Like a dog?” she asked.
“Not like a dog,” he told her.
“Good.”
“A dog would already be here.”
“What?”
“Come here, Dougie,” he called and pointed at the floor in front of his feet.
Dougie raced across the room. Unfortunately, Dougie couldn’t see his finger or where he was, he only had his voice to go on. So he ended up banging into Matthieu’s leg.
Then he sat back on his ass, his tongue hanging out as he smiled up at Matthieu.
“Good boy,” he told him. “See?”
“That doesn’t count. Dougie is always like that. He probably thought you had a sausage or were a sausage. That’s why he ran over so quickly.”
“I wasn’t talking to you like you were a dog, I was talking to you like you were a naughty girl who has been procrastinating for the last two hours. Come here, Maya.”
For some reason, her feet were moving without her permission. And she found herself standing in front of him.
Then he placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head back.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes were shut and she shook her head.
“Maya. Look. At. Me.”
Didn’t he realize he was asking the impossible? She couldn’t look at him. He was far too close, far too potent, and he smelled far too good.
Opening her eyes was impossible.
“Come on, Spitfire. I know you can do it. You don’t have to speak. Just listen.”
All right. That seemed doable. As long as he didn’t expect her brain to function while she was looking at him.
So she opened her eyes and stared up into his gorgeous face. A small sigh escaped her and she quickly tried to stifle it.
Oops. She hadn’t meant that to happen. Had he noticed?
His lips quirked up slightly, but he didn’t say anything. Maybe not.
Hopefully not.
“I know I said you didn’t have to talk, but I have to ask you one question.”
Uh-oh.
Pay attention.
“You weren’t procrastinating because you’re scared, were you?” he asked.
Surprise filled her. “N-no.” She glanced around the room, looking for a distraction as her body started to sway. Maya wanted to press against him. To feel his touch.
Bad, Maya.
Stop it.
“Keep those eyes on me,” he ordered.
Her gaze snapped back to his. Darn it. How did he have the ability to do that?
“I’m glad you’re not scared. Because at any time, if you ever feel worried or uncomfortable, I want you to tell me. Or you can simply say, ‘Red.’ Nod if you understand.”
She nodded. Relief filled her. Huh, maybe she had been a tiny bit concerned. Not that she didn’t trust him. But just because this was all a bit of an unknown with her.
“That’s a good girl. Now, if you’re ready, I’ve put some paper and a pen at the kitchen table. I’d suggest numbering each line so you don’t lose track.”
Urgh.
Was he really going to go through with this?
But he didn’t say anything more. So Maya dragged her feet as she headed toward the table. She stopped once and glanced behind her. Matthieu just stood there, staring at her.
This sucked so much.
26
“All done?” Matthieu asked as she sat on the sofa next to him.
It was surprisingly brave for her. She tended to avoid getting too close to him.
“Yes,” she grumbled, shooting him a suspicious look. “Did you make extra dishes for me? Because there seemed to be a lot.”
“Nope.” He just hadn’t cleaned up as he went along the way that he usually did.
She’d written out the lines and had been unimpressed as he’d sat there afterward and made sure that she hadn’t skipped any words.
Then after dinner, she’d started washing the dishes without a word.
“Hmph.” She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted as she stared at the television.
“What would you like to watch?” he asked.
“Well, there’s this new spooky zombie series I’ve been wanting to watch.”
He hid his wince. Not his favorite. But he’d suck it up. “Sure, okay. We can watch that.”
An hour later, he was ready to take back any complaints about the sort of show she’d chosen to watch. Because she was currently pressed up against his arm, her arm wrapped around his and her breasts squished against his bicep.
As one of the super creepy zombies approached a house where people were hiding, she let out a gasp and pushed her face into his arm.
“No, no, no!” she cried. “I can’t watch.”
It was pretty gruesome. The zombie tore one of the people hiding into pieces. It wasn’t even eating it, just creating a huge, bloody mess.
“Why did you choose to watch this series if you are scared of zombies?” he asked curiously.