Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
The last time I saw her, she was nothing but a budding flower reaching for the sun, but now she is in full bloom. The tight mini dress hugs her feminine curves perfectly and doesn’t help to lessen her appealing appearance.
Instantly, she’s no longer the little girl I knew her to be, but a young woman who has grown into her body. A woman I want to touch, possess, and explore. I force my hands to remain at my sides. I won’t, can’t, touch her. After breaking her heart and telling her I would only ever see her as a child, to show any type of attraction would only lead to more heartache. I’m not what she needs, but everything she should stay away from.
Her green eyes widen with surprise first, flames of fury flicker in their depths. Oh, if she thinks she hates me now, she’s really going to hate me once the night is over.
“Serioussslyyy, Carter?” Claire slurs and turns her head to peer up at him.
“Don’t blame me. I asked you when we started this night if you wanted to remember it, and you said no.”
Claire frowns, and even in sadness, she is still beautiful. “You had to call him, though.” She shoves her finger in my direction. If I wasn’t so pissed off over the shenanigans of these two, I might laugh, but all I can picture is something happening to Claire. Some fucker taking advantage of her or slipping something into her drink. The mere thought of something happening makes me insane.
“I’ll take her, and you can follow behind in your car,” I tell Carter without looking at him. He already knows I want to punch him in the face, but I’ll save the violence for later when Claire isn’t around.
He nods and attempts to pass Claire off to me. She squirms like a child, huffing and puffing the entire time.
“Let me go… I hate you. I’m not going with youuu…” She tries to dig her heeled feet into the ground but only trips herself.
I lean down, my lips next to her good ear. “Stop!” Her scent invades me, fresh-picked strawberries, and summer. Her soft body molds into mine.
“No, you stop. Stop pretending you care.”
I can hear the raw emotion in her voice, and the sadness seeps into my pores. Yes, I’m an asshole for hurting her, for pushing her away, but I only did it to protect her. Everything I do is to protect her and keep her safe. Why can’t she see that?
“Stop acting like a child,” I growl and tighten my hold on her.
“You stop! You overbearinggg-douchebagish-assholeeee prick!” Each word becomes louder and more slurred than the next as I drag her further away from the club.
By the time we reach the car, she is flopping around like a fish out of water. Her fight, if you could call it that, doesn’t bother me.
In fact, it has the opposite effect. My cock hasn’t been this hard in, well, a long fucking time, and it’s all because of the little temptress struggling to get away.
“Lucca,” my name rolls off her tongue, “I’ll screammm.”
Her struggle intensifies, her limbs flail, and out of nowhere, her elbow connects with my face. Pain radiates up my nose, and all I can do is react. Twisting her in my arms, I grab her by the throat and press her against the car.
She hasn’t even seen a sliver of what I’m capable of, but she’s about to.
My fingers squeeze the tender flesh in warning. Shock overtakes her features, and her glossy, red-rimmed eyes fill with fear.
I hate knowing I put that fear there, but I’m done with her shit right now.
“You think I care if you scream? I’m not afraid of the cops. Scream, Claire, scream at the top of your lungs. Nobody’s listening. No one cares.” My lip curls. “That’s exactly why I do what I do, so you don’t have to scream for help in some fucking alleyway.” I release my hold on her throat and take a step back, even though all I want to do is kiss the skin there. To feel her thundering pulse beneath my lips. Something flashes in her eyes, and in this moment, I can’t tell if it’s fear or something else. Is she still harboring feelings? God, I hope not.
“Now, stop being a brat and get in the car,” I snap. The tone of my voice makes her jump.
Whirling around on her heels, she almost tumbles to the concrete, but her tiny hand grabs the door handle of the SUV just in time to balance herself.
“I hate you… you’re nothing. You ass. Go away… you’re dumb.”
I have to piece her sentence together to make out what she’s saying.
“Good, you can hate me some more by getting into the car.”
She tugs the door open and jumps into the seat. “I don’t like you.”