Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
So. Frustrating.
“Is the food all right?” Salem asked quietly.
“Oh yes, it’s really nice. I just don’t seem to be that hungry.”
And because her body was against her lately, her stomach chose that moment to gurgle.
Crap.
But Salem didn’t say anything. Instead, to her shock, he reached over and grabbed her fork. Then he used it to scoop up some meat and potatoes.
What was he doing?
Was he going to eat her food? Well. If he was hungry, he should go for it.
Only he held the fork up to her mouth. “Eat.”
“I can do it.”
“Eat the food, Tamsyn,” he said firmly. “Don’t think. Don’t worry. Just eat.”
To her surprise, her lips parted, and he placed the food in her mouth.
Oh man.
That was yummy.
Every time her brain started to interfere, he would hold up a forkful of food and she’d just eat.
Without thinking.
Alexei started to talk to Salem about his workouts. And Roman interjected with his own thoughts. And it all felt so incredibly normal.
Even with someone else feeding her.
When she was full, she drew back, shaking her head.
Salem glanced down at the plate. Two-thirds of the food was gone, which was more than she thought she’d be able to eat. Was he going to try and force her to eat more?
To tell her that she’d done a terrible job?
She tried not to tense up. To not show her feelings. But it was difficult.
However, he just nodded and grabbed her napkin with one hand and her chin with the other. Then he dabbed gently at her face.
He was cleaning her up.
And she was letting him.
Who was she? What had happened to Tamsyn, the sneaky spy? Who was this girl in her place?
This girl who let someone carry her around, feed her, and wipe her face.
“You did well, Little one,” he told her.
“Thank you.” She felt ridiculously proud of herself. All she’d done was eat some dinner.
All it took was a bit of praise from these guys and she turned into putty.
It was terrible.
And amazing.
Because if anyone could help her turn off her worries and thoughts and learn to relax and just feel it would be them.
But if she let go of that stronghold she had on her emotions, she wasn’t sure what would happen.
Part of her wished that her training had been successful in turning her into a machine. Then she’d have no fear of anything.
To be fair it had been partially successful.
For so long she’d been closed off from all feeling and emotion. But at some stage, something had started to change.
She didn’t fear dying or physical pain.
However, if one of these men were in danger, she didn’t know what she would do.
Glancing up, she saw Alexei and Roman were grabbing plates to carry them into the kitchen. She stood, but Salem shook his head at her as she grasped hold of her plate.
“Let them clear it. I want to show you where your room is.”
Her room.
In this grand house.
She didn’t see how that was even possible, but she nodded and took the hand he held out to her.
“Feeling a bit overwhelmed?” he asked as he led her up the stairs.
“Urgh, yes, I guess.”
Seemed silly to be overwhelmed by someone’s kindness and attention.
But they were two things that she hadn’t had in a long, long time.
At least, the good sort of attention.
“That’s all right. But you tell me if it all gets too much, okay? I don’t want this to be stressful.”
“All right.” She doubted that she would, but if it would help him feel better, she could agree.
He turned at the top of the stairs.
“Still,” he commanded.
She stopped moving and he stepped in front of her before gently wrapping his hand around her hair, tilting her head back. There was a slight tug on her scalp that stung but wasn’t exactly painful.
Although she definitely had a high pain tolerance.
But it did grab her attention. And, if she was honest, she felt a surge of heat go through her. Why did she like that? Was it the small sting?
No. She didn’t really associate pain with pleasure. It was more likely to be the dominance in that move. He wasn’t being a jerk. He wasn’t being rough. He wasn’t trying to scare her or harm her.
But it was so obvious that he was in charge. And she kind of loved that he could be so calm while being in control.
No yelling.
No intimidation.
Yeah. She was just turned on by Salem.
“I want you to listen to me carefully. Are you listening, Tamsyn?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Wow. That just came out of her without thought.
“That’s a good girl.” Reaching up with his free hand, he ran a finger across her lips. “You’re always such a good girl. I want you to remember that. And I’m proud of you for being so brave with us. But I also need you to remember that one of your rules is honesty. Yes?”