Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
It took everything I had to keep a smile from my face. This was the first concrete news I had that Daisy was safe. If she wasn’t, I didn’t doubt that Stone would have paraded her around this table in handcuffs or with a gun to her head.
“Missing?” I repeated, reaching to take the glass of amber liquid that he had assured me was not alcoholic. I took a small sip. It tasted just as earthy and rich as I remembered wine being, so who could know if it was real or not? I decided I’d worry about the potential relapse later. This was a game I was playing, one I was learning on the fly, but one I intended to win.
“What a shame,” I tutted. “Your favorite bargaining tool is gone, and now you’re going to have to resort to either charming me or threatening me into staying.” I took another long sip of the wine, not breaking eye contact.
Stone watched me carefully, measuring my every word, my posture. He was probing me for weaknesses, sincerity, for threats. Surely, he was smart enough to know that I had come to hurt him, not to concede. Then again, male arrogance knew no bounds.
“I don’t think I’ll have a problem finding … methods to convince you that becoming my wife is in your best interests.” His eyes were aglow with excitement. This was turning him on, thinking of the ways he’d bring me to heel. This wasn’t his first rodeo. He was practiced at torturing, breaking women. Something instinctive told me I was not the first woman to sit there.
My spine tingled with unease, and every instinct inside of me shouted ‘danger.’
The door to the dining room opened and closed before I could say anything and before Stone could threaten me further. Giovanni placed a large bowl of pasta in front of me, creamy and invitingly smelling of garlic and parsley.
“I was also made aware of your preferences when it comes to eating meat,” Stone said, sipping his wine. “And I’ve made the necessary arrangements. Though I hope through our relationship I can coax you over to the dark side. Giovanni makes veal that will melt in your mouth.”
I glanced up at Stone, plastering a smile on my face. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you revel in eating baby animals?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
Stone’s face was blank for a handful of seconds before he smiled, chuckling. The sound was low and throaty and might’ve sounded warm to the casual observer, if you didn’t know what a piece of shit he was.
“Ah, there’s that fire that drew me in. I was worried you’d let it go out in your … time with Knox.” I caught the slight stiffening of his shoulders and the glazing over of his eyes as he mentioned Knox. He was forcing his composure, but I could see the rage festering underneath.
He wanted to punish me. Hurt me. I could see it. Feel it. But first he wanted to coax me into a false sense of security.
Maybe it might’ve worked had he just plucked me off the street, but I doubted it. I was not one to be wowed by grandeur, money, a shiny suit and smile. Not when the man who fathered me was just like him. Cruel and weak.
“It’ll serve you well, having that spark.” He cleared his throat, glossing over the Knox remark.
I forced myself to eat some pasta, if only to have something to do that wasn’t stare at Stone. The flavor profile surpassed even my rage-filled body, and I had to suppress a moan.
“Is that what you want from me?” I asked once I swallowed. “To serve you?”
Stone’s eyebrow raised, and he leaned back in his chair, eyes making a slow trail down my body. “You came here of your own free will,” he said instead of answering once he was done assaulting me with his gaze. “Well aware of the lengths I would go to in order to make you mine. Do you expect anything else from a man like me than a wife who will know her place?”
I considered his words. My next move. How dangerous it would be. Every decision I made felt riskier and riskier. I still couldn’t shake the certainty that Stone had no intentions of marrying me, that he was going to play with me until he wasn’t amused anymore, breaking then discarding me.
If I acted how he expected me to act.
Looking longingly at the most delicious pasta I’d eaten in my life, I reached up with my napkin to dab at my mouth.
Feeling Stone’s eyes on me, I pushed out of my chair, noting him tense as I rounded the table. He turned his body toward me, as if he expected me to attack at any moment.