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)
When it’s over, when he’s spilled himself onto me, he straightens fully, draws his pants up, eyes glued to me. He looks at the mess he’s made all over me and I follow his gaze then meet it.
“Mine, only mine,” he says, eyebrows furrowed as he smears his come into my skin, rubbing it in. “I will never share you, Allegra. I have no intention of ever sharing you.” He leans close to kiss me. “I will kill him before I let him have any part of you,” he says darkly.
20
ALLEGRA
“Ineed to shower,” I protest.
“No.” He pulls my sweater over my head, then tugs me close. His eyes search mine and I wonder what he sees. “You’ll wear my come all day long. All night long.”
“That’s insane.”
“If you wash yourself, I will punish you. Am I clear?”
“Are you serious?”
“You need to know, and anyone who comes near you needs to know, that you belong to me.”
By anyone, I assume he means his stepbrother.
He walks into the living room and a moment later, returns, carrying my backpack.
“What are you doing?” I ask when he sets it on the bed and takes out my makeup bag. He unzips it and pulls out my birth control.
“How careful are you with these?” he asks, opening it, counting the empty slots and the ones with pills inside them.
I take them from him and shrug a shoulder. “I’ve never had to be careful. It’s not like I was having sex. It was to manage pain.”
“So not very,” he says. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll get you the shot. That’ll be more reliable.” He picks up his discarded shirt and pulls it on.
“You don’t get to decide that. And besides, you don’t fuck me anyway. Not…” I trail off, feel myself going red.
“I won’t risk pregnancy.”
He tucks his shirt into his pants and when he slips his hand into the pocket, his forehead furrows.
“I need to take care of some business. Two of my men will take you to the shops.”
“Soldiers? You’re not coming?” I ask, suddenly worried that he won’t be there which is ridiculous. Cassian is my enemy. I keep forgetting that. Why do I keep forgetting?
“Don’t tell me you’ll miss me, Little Moth.”
“No. I just don’t know them.”
He studies me. “Don’t worry, you’ll be safe.”
“It’s not that,” I start, heat flushing through me, my underarms suddenly damp. “I’m not scared,” I say, but it’s not wholly truth. After the kidnapping, the murder of my mother, my father rarely gave me permission to go out, which was fine by me. I’d have anxiety just thinking about being out there where someone could take me. At home, I was safe. Or at least I wouldn’t be hurt anymore. It’s embarrassing and weak, but I have these moments of panic. I have had them for five years now. I can usually manage them, but this is a surprise. I don’t like crowds. I don’t like to be anywhere where someone might get to me.
He steps closer, taking my hand. He sets his finger over the stub of mine. With his free hand he tilts my chin so I’m looking up at him. I search his eyes, unsure what I’m looking for, feeling things I don’t understand.
“No one is going to hurt you, Allegra. You’re under my protection now.”
He can’t really promise that and I think we both know it.
“You need to buy a dress. I’ll let Elenora know.”
“Elenora?”
“The boutique owner. She’ll close the shop while you’re there. The dinner is formal. Buy something expensive. Red, I think. And whatever else you want.” He waves his hand around like it’s nothing. I never thought about money when I was growing up, but since dad’s death, it’s definitely a thing. “You can have your hair and makeup done too. Whatever you want.”
“What’s wrong with my hair and makeup?”
“Nothing. Just if you wanted to. They’ll put it all on my account. You can go exactly as you are. You know you’re beautiful.”
I raise my eyebrows. Was that a compliment? “I’d like to go to the beach. I haven’t been in a while.”
“I’ll take you later. We don’t have time today. Be ready by seven,” he says. We hear the doorbell ring through the closed door. “Okay?” he asks me, releasing me to pull on his holster and jacket.
I shrug a shoulder as if it’s nothing. “Go.” I walk over to the side table where a menu sits beside the phone. “I’ll get lunch.”
“That’s a good idea.”
I open the menu, but don’t read it, instead, I wait until he’s gone. He leaves the bedroom door open, and I can see him giving instructions to two soldiers. Enzo is standing by the door, ever present.
When Cassian glances back at me, he catches me watching so I clear my throat, pick up the receiver and push the button for room service. I place an order for pancakes. Breakfast for lunch is good. He’s gone by the time I hang up the phone, only the two soldiers left with me now, so I close the bedroom door and plop down on the bed, undoing my braids. From inside my backpack, I take out a wide-tooth comb and watch my reflection in the mirror on the wall across the room. The braids leave my hair in thick waves. I look at my face and there’s a part of me that wonders what he sees in me. Why he wants me.