Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Not wanting to give her much time to overthink this, I turn her in my embrace between my legs, open the camera feature on the phone, flip it to take a selfie, and hold it up. I love the way we look together on the screen. She’s frightened, but she still manages to give a wan smile for the camera.
I snap the picture and immediately hand the phone to Zack.
“What’s your name?” Zack asks her.
“Bailey,” she whispers.
“And your friend who’s outside?”
“Mary.” She shudders and tries to step out of my embrace.
I have an arm around her waist, though. It’s easy to pull her back so she’s even closer to me. Her pulse is racing.
“I can’t just disappear,” she murmurs, her argument weak probably even to her own ears.
I understand how confused she is. I’m prepared for this. But I also know she feels enough of a connection to me that she’s aware of the inevitability of what we are to each other. A part of her knows walking away is not an option.
I wrap my other arm around her middle so that I’m touching her even more intimately. Claiming her, smothering her. Forcing her to inhale my scent and feel my heart beating.
Zack looks at me for directions.
“Would you like to type a message in the phone for your friend, Little one?” I suggest.
She hesitates. “Yes, please.”
As I extend a hand, Zack returns the cell to me.
I hold it in front of my girl. I won’t give her privacy. Whatever she types I will see. Keeping her between my legs, I let her wiggle her arms up so she can grip the phone.
Her hands tremble as she taps the screen and opens a text conversation. It looks like a group text that includes three people. Their names pop up across the top. Since this is her friend Mary’s phone, I surmise this text is going to Bailey’s own phone and two others.
Her fingers are poised over the letters as though she’s unable to think what to say.
“You mentioned Allisa. She was the one who dared you to come to the club. Who is Kate?” I ask.
Her voice is shaky as she replies. “Kate and Allisa are my other roommates. Mary is the one out front.”
Unable to resist, I gently kiss my Little girl’s neck. “Would you like me to type something, Little one?”
“Yes, please.” She sniffles as I take the phone from her, holding it in front of her so she can see.
My heart soars. She’s so polite and submissive. I assume she’s always been this way, but perhaps I bring out a deeper need in her. That’s normal. I quickly type a message to her friends.
This is Zingar. Your friend Bailey will be leaving Earth with me. I promise she will be protected and loved for the rest of her life. I took a picture of us on this phone. She wanted to fulfill the dare.
Before hitting send, I kiss her neck again. “Is there anything else you need to add, Little one?”
“Oh, yes.” She takes the phone from me and continues the text.
This is Bailey. I have money hidden in my pencil box in my desk drawer. Take it for yourselves. Don’t give it to my father. He’ll never know I saved it.
She’s shaking as she continues to stare at the phone. Finally she hits send and holds the phone out for Zack.
Zack quietly takes it from her and turns toward the door behind him. He leaves us alone without a word.
Chapter Three
Zingar
“This can’t be happening,” Bailey murmurs.
I turn her in my arms, keeping her as close as possible. Her face is nearly level with mine since I’m sitting on this low couch and she’s standing. “I know you’re shocked, Little one, but you feel the connection.”
She swallows hard, her eyes brimming with tears.
Sliding my hands up into her soft curls at the back of her head, I kiss her nose. I can’t resist. I need more of her. “I meant what I said, Little one. You will be protected and loved by me for centuries.”
“When I don’t answer my father’s text in the morning, he’s going to lose his mind.”
“Zack will handle your father,” I inform her.
She shakes her head. “He’ll probably come here with police.”
“Zack is prepared for that eventuality. It happens sometimes. We’ll be long gone by then. Are you close to your father, Little one?” There’s something odd about how she speaks of the man whom I assume raised her. Something is off. She’s only mentioned how her father is going to feel. Not once has she insinuated that she herself was upset about not seeing him again.
“Yes, but…”
“But…?” I lift a brow.
“He’s…overprotective. Controlling. I’m not permitted to go to clubs. When he finds out I tricked him and lied to come here, he’s…” Her voice trails off.