Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Apprehension gnawed at my insides like battery acid. If Jasper was out of control, he was more dangerous than ever.
“Felt like a lobster roll. Heard this is the best place to get them.” His dark eyes bored into me.
My chest heaved as I fought to keep my composure, to slip back into the dynamic between us that used to be second nature. That used to be enticing.
I knew that I’d changed since meeting Elliot, at least logically. My hair, my clothes, my makeup, even my resting bitch face had relaxed somewhat. But never was the change so stark as when I stared at Jasper and saw the person I used to be—the person he expected me to be—staring back at me.
I hated her.
Hated Jasper for being here, soiling everything, reminding me of who I had been. Who I still was underneath it all.
“You’re allergic to shellfish,” I told him what he already knew. “But I’d be happy to serve you a lobster roll and watch you eat it.” Venom dripped from my words.
Jasper’s mouth didn’t so much as twitch, but his jaw softened with what I recognized as amusement. “So you haven’t had all of the bloodlust sucked out of you in Pleasantville.”
“I’ve still got plenty left for you,” I seethed, anger seizing my muscles. “I haven’t forgotten about the fire. Or the dead body. Though I guess you took my demand to never see you again as a request. Which it wasn’t. Leave.”
I spat the order at him, as if it were that easy to rid my life of Jasper. I knew it wasn’t. Had always known. We’d be in each other’s lives until the other’s heart stopped beating.
His brows lowered just a fraction, enough to show his displeasure with me. Not that I gave a fuck.
“I’m not here on a personal errand,” he replied without emotion. Yet I saw his eye twitch. “I’m here to relay a message. You’re expected back in New York. By month’s end. Not a request either.”
There it was. His protection, such as it was, was over. Whether his employer had truly reached the end of their patience or if Jasper was trying to punish me by tearing away my happiness was anyone’s guess.
I didn’t let any of my fear show. Nor did I let my satisfaction show either. I’d been expecting this. Had been working myself to the bone in order to find leverage juicy and powerful enough to buy my freedom and ensure I did not have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life.
For a while there, I didn’t think such information existed.
Until last week.
Jasper didn’t need to know that. I wasn’t going to be using him as an emissary anymore. Not with the dynamics between us so vitally changed.
I didn’t trust him anymore.
“Message delivered,” I told him. “Now leave.”
Jasper ignored me, stepping forward. I held my breath as his body brushed mine, his scent mingling with the salty fragrance of the ocean, tarnishing it.
My skin roiled at his presence. But I didn’t drop eye contact.
“You’re not understanding,” he murmured. “There is no way out. You’ve had your fun, doing whatever this is. But there is no way out of the life you chose. There is no escaping the person you are, underneath it all.”
My breathing stayed even as he probed for weaknesses, trying to scare me with the might of his employer and his knowledge of me. My wants. Needs.
Except those weren’t the same anymore.
His finger trailed down the length of my bare arm, circling my wrist. The gesture wasn’t tender. It was threatening and made me nauseous. Although I wanted to bolt, I rooted myself in place, schooling my features.
“You had your fun. But you’ll never be satisfied with this. With him.” His disdain for Elliot was obvious in just the subtle inflection at the end of the sentence.
I leaned forward with a sneer, hoping to inject all of the shiny, new hatred I had for Jasper into my every word. “You have never known what it’s like to truly satisfy me.”
It wasn’t smart. Poking the proverbial bear. If I was calmer, then I likely would’ve led him on a little, made him think there was a chance with me. Reassured him that I was the Calliope he knew. It was the safest option.
But I couldn’t restrain my fury at him stepping foot in here. In Elliot’s family restaurant, full of happy memories, hallowed ground.
“Everything okay here?”
My gaze whipped to the source of the voice. The familiar voice, carrying an unfamiliar hint of menace.
Elliot was standing on the patio, eyes locked on Jasper. More accurately, on Jasper’s hand clasped to my wrist.
Jasper didn’t look at him right away, his lazy gaze possessively pinned on me.
I stepped back, Jasper’s hand tightening on my wrist to the point of pain. When I whipped my head to glare at him in warning, he held my gaze and my wrist for several seconds before letting it go.