Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 159420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 531(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 531(@300wpm)
Which is why I spent the last hour overcoming my ridiculous fear and pumping Haven for information, though in a way that she doesn’t suspect anything. His name is Radisson and he’s their cousin—their aunt’s son—and he grew up with them. He also happens to be the foreman of Rawhide and Arsen’s best friend. Which is probably why Arsen trusted him not only to keep an eye on the Turner Princess but also to kidnap her and bring her to the ranch. And like the loyal best friend he is, he did.
“You’re not a Grayson,” I tell him like he doesn’t know. “You’re a King. Radisson King. That’s what your name is, isn’t it?”
At last, a muscle clearly moves in his jaw.
“You weren’t born to hate me.”
“No.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “But you still do.”
He doesn’t have to say anything at this point to confirm it.
“Out of what, loyalty?” I ask, even though I shouldn’t care.
His eyes go back and forth between mine. “You understand loyalty.”
I breathe out sharply.
“Don’t you?” he goes on. He moves his eyes over my face, studying me as he murmurs, “Ain’t that why you did what you did? Last night. Walked into that piece-of-shit bar, hooked the bait, set the trap. Went to all that trouble just so you could find your best friend. Didn’t work out in the end like you thought, but you gave it your best shot. That’s loyalty, ain’t it?”
“It is, yes,” I agree, tilting my head to the side. “But if we’re handing out trophies for who’s the most loyal, I think it has to be you. I mean, you went above and beyond for your friend, didn’t you? You not only kidnapped me for his revenge plan, but you kept an eye on me for months. You watched me flirting with guys, going on dates, buying myself coffee and pretty dresses and a million other boring, airhead, and princess-y things. All so you could support your friend in his vendetta. Now that is what loyalty is. I think you should start writing your speech, Phantom, because this is the one award no one can take away from you. Unless…”
There’s no more space to cover between us, but I still inch closer to him. I go so far as to put my hands on his biceps. My breaths stutter at the feel of his hard muscles. Hard and hot. Something I should’ve known, given he’s manhandled me enough times today, but I was either drugged at the time or probably freaking out of my mind. I’m still freaking out, but it’s more because of how strong he feels, how good he feels to my fingers.
I ignore all that, though, and continue, “Unless there was another reason.”
He glances down at where I’m touching him, and even though I know I should stay the course and not get distracted, I can’t help but follow his gaze. I have to bite my lip at the picture we present. My hand, small and pale, looks even smaller and paler against the backdrop of his dark shirt and big muscles. It makes my belly clench, too, as I whisper, “Did you like it?” He lifts his eyes and I grip his arms tightly. “Watching me.”
He stares into my eyes and I notice the green going darker. Maybe it’s yet another ploy on his part, but my heart still races as if he already knows what I’m referring to. I wasn’t going to talk about it, wasn’t going to even think about it, but somehow, I am. Somehow, I’m the one bringing it up because I want to shake him. Make him react, provoke him. Get to him like he gets to me.
“I know you were just doing your best friend a favor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the show,” I say and let myself smirk a little. “And I did put on a show for you, didn’t I? Back when you were just my Phantom. A man in a mask who watched me. Who saved me in that dark alley one night, who kept me safe from all the bad men out there.” I slide my hands up his strong biceps then, tracing the hilly terrain of his muscles, making my way up to his powerful shoulders. “God, I’d get so wet for you, thinking about you standing there, watching me through the window. I’d think about your eyes, all green and mesmerizing. Your hands, so big and strong…”
I’m up to his collar now, and before I can stop myself, I slide my fingers up to his thick neck, tracing his hot skin, a pulsing vein, his prickly stubble. Despite myself, I have to squeeze my thighs before I’m able to continue. “I’d think about how it’d feel if you put them on me, in me. I bet it would take some work, fitting it in. I bet you’d stretch me out because I’m so small, and God, you’re so big. And the moment I’d start thinking about how much you could overpower me, I’d come. I’d come so hard, Radisson. I’d make a mess of my thighs, my sheets. I’d moan so loud. I didn’t care if someone heard me. All I cared about was you. I wanted you to hear me. I wanted…”