Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
She slides the car into the spot, kills the ignition and turns to me. “See, I didn’t hit anything. That was fun actually.”
I rub my neck. “What? You didn’t expect to have fun with me?”
“Not really, no.”
I reach into the glove compartment to retrieve my Glock, slipping it into its holster before opening the door. My phone pings with a message. I pull it out of my pocket.
“Is it Vivi?” she asks.
I glance at her, noting her tone. She’s trying to be casual, but she’s not. “No, actually.” It’s Angelo telling me where he is. I type out a text to let him know we just arrived. “Let’s go in.” I climb out, close my door and by the time I walk around to open hers, she’s distant again.
“If they’re here because you think I’m going to make a run for it, I’m not.” She gestures to the soldiers climbing out of their SUVs.
“You wouldn’t run the first chance you got?”
“What would you do if I did?”
“I’d come for you,” I say, not needing to think about it. Not for a second. But I’m not sure she or I understand my reasons behind that. “But they’re here for protection. That’s all. Just as your family would have protection when out in public.”
I take the keys from her and pop the trunk. Before I can slip on my jacket and grab her bag, she does, hoisting it over her shoulder.
“Who’s Vivi?” she blurts.
I study her for a beat. Her attempt at casual has the exact opposite effect. “My sister-in-law.”
“The one who keeps her clothes in your closet.” She doesn’t quite look at me when she says it.
“I’ve already told you, it’s not like that.”
“I don’t care if it is, Cassian. I just want to be sure I’m protecting myself.” She takes two steps then stops. “From STDs I mean,” she adds hurriedly.
“Ah. Okay. Well, in that case, you’re safe.”
My phone pings with a message. “You should get that. It might be Vivi.” She starts to walk away again, but I capture her arm and stop her.
“Are you jealous, Little Moth?”
She tries to tug free, but I don’t release her. “Of course not.”
I study her, see the flush creep up her neck. She pulls at her arm again and this time, I tug her to me, wrap one arm around her back to grip her braids. Tugging her head backward, I lean close to inhale her scent, that subtle one of me, of my bodywash on her.
“I like my smell on you,” I tell her. She shudders. “Just to be clear, Vivi has never nor will she ever sleep in my bed. She’s like a sister to me.”
Allegra stares up at me. She’s searching my eyes, and I get the feeling there’s more.
“I heard what Jet said,” she says.
“Refresh my memory.” I say tightly, really not wanting to think about any of what Jet said because it makes me want to kill him all over again.
“That you’ve shared before,” she says. That’s not what I expected.
“My, what big ears you have, Little Moth.”
She shrugs her shoulders.
I grit my jaw. I remember well the moment. The rage I felt. The fury that I might share her. That he might touch her. That I’d allow it.
My eyes narrow as my blood begins to boil at the memory of him looking at her, laying his hands on her.
I glance around, draw a deep breath in. “Allegra.” I bring my mouth to her ear. “You belong to me.” I lick the shell of it and she shudders. “You have belonged to me ever since the moment you walked into your father’s study with those ridiculous wings on your back. You’re the only woman I’ve thought about since that night. You’re wild and violent and angry and you are mine. Only mine, my Little Moth. And once we’re upstairs, I’m going to show you exactly what it means to belong to me.”
19
ALLEGRA
There is an energy, a crackling electricity when Cassian pulls away, narrowed eyes burning into me. He releases me and I stand there stupidly watching, my heart pounding against my chest, my breaths short as if I ran a marathon.
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, I guess to read that message that just came in.
Enzo clears his throat.
Cassian tucks the phone back into his pocket and shifts his gaze back to me. His eyes are still burning. On fire. “Tell your father I’ll be up once I clarify something for Allegra,” he says. He takes his jacket out of the trunk and slips his arms into it, concealing the Glock.
Paper wings flutter in my belly. Sweat breaks out under my arms, across my hairline. I look away, unable to hold his gaze. I shake my head, needing to clear it, unsure why I said what I said. Why I brought it up. Of course, I knew what Jet meant. I may be inexperienced, but I’m not an idiot. Although the second part about Cassian not fucking me, that I don’t understand.