Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Guilt immediately consumed me when I thought about Hunter and the night she must have had. She wouldn’t have slept at all, and here I was sleeping a little too well. Grumbling to myself, I stretched my body like a cat and pried bleary eyes open. I blinked to clear them and take in my new prison now that it was morning. My survey was interrupted by an unexpected surprise.
“Ahh!” A startled squeak left me once I realized I wasn’t alone. I scrambled to collect myself, and in my hurry, I ended up getting tangled in the sheets that silkworms—boiled alive in their cocoons before they could turn into moths—died to make and tumbled over the side of the bed, landing in a heap of pillows, blankets, and my own shame.
At least he couldn’t see me now.
As I lay there, wishing the floor would open the hell up and swallow me, the awkward silence seemed to stretch on forever before he spoke. “You good?”
Peeling myself off the floor without responding, I only made it as far as sitting on my now sore butt as I stared across the rumpled bed at Ocean sitting at the small dining table. It was only a few feet from the bedside, and he had his phone in his hand, ignoring the untouched feast splayed out before him. He was also dressed for the day in one of his suits that made my mouth water. It was a light gray, minus the jacket, which was folded over the back of his chair. His vest and dress accentuated his chest and arms.
“Why are you in here, Ocean?” I croaked.
His gaze silently roamed me for a moment before he returned calmly, “I asked you a question, mo aingeal.”
Because he cared, or was it to assert his dominance? I decided I didn’t want to know the answer because one threatened my plans and the other would only push me to act rashly. “I’m fine.”
Ocean nodded with satisfaction and then gestured toward the table, where a small feast awaited. “Good. Come eat.”
Holding my robe together, I stood on shaky legs and slowly rounded the bed like a stray that didn’t know whether to trust the offering of food but was desperate enough to risk it.
Besides, there was nowhere to run. One glance at the door told me that it was still locked because Ocean was much too smart to let down his guard.
At least…not until I gave him a reason to.
That’s how I found myself sitting across from Ocean, sharing small talk and breakfast with the creeping suspicion that this was my new normal. I could run from it, hide from it, but there was no shielding myself from him. Whatever secrets, thoughts, and pieces of myself I didn’t give away over the hour-long meal, he saw anyway, and it hadn’t even been a day. I’d been dreaming of what it’d be like to be Ocean’s girl for so long that it disturbed me how little it mattered that the reality was a lot more terrifying than I’d imagined.
I still wanted him.
But I loved my brother, and I missed Hunter.
Ocean had taken them both from me, and for that, I vowed never let him have a single day’s peace so long as he kept me from them.
I was sipping my tea from the gorgeous china when I heard a beep at the door. Two uniformed women entered. They wore simple black dresses with a white trim around the short sleeves and collar. I sat up a little straighter at their sudden appearance, a plea on the tip of my tongue, but the cold burn of Ocean watching me so closely silenced my cry for help.
The staff quickly cleared the table and then departed, leaving only a roaring in my ears that dulled when Ocean spoke.
“Someone will come by later to take your measurements,” he announced without preamble.
“Measurements for what?”
“Clothes to start. Your wedding gown for the other.”
My belly sank. “Already?” I gasped.
Hearing the rising fear in my tone, Ocean reached for me, but I shrank away and felt my heart shrivel a little at the denied contact. Ocean clenched his jaw at the rejection but said nothing. “Yes, Coby. The wedding will happen quickly, so there’s no time to waste. We need to get you fitted for a gown and a wardrobe, among other things. These will have to do for now.”
As if on cue, the same ladies entered again, this time carrying shopping bags. They set them by my feet before making a quiet but speedy exit once more. “We can shop for the rest of your wardrobe later.”
“I don’t want to go shopping,” I told him as I set my tea cup down. It had gone cold a long while ago, but I kept sipping at it to keep from saying all the things I wanted. I was especially sour this morning since Hunter and I always made and ate breakfast together. Always. “I have clothes at home.”