Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“I’ll take care of you in a way that no one has before. I don’t need to know your past to know that will be the truth. I can see it in your eyes. You’ve been carrying too much of a burden for too long. Something as wonderful and perfect as you deserves to be worshiped. Given the world. A life most people would kill for. But it will be more. I will show you what that means. It’s not something I’ll explain here.” His eyes shift for a split second to Jess, then back to me, and I hate to admit it myself, but I’m all in.
His voice is heavy, but like his text messages, there’s a paternal, protective nature to his words, and his eyes are not those of a man that wants to harm me. They are more like a man that’s seen the sun and yet can’t bring himself to look away.
“You aren’t taking her anywhere,” Jess says with a weak defiance. “You can’t take a human in exchange for doing what’s right. You should be ashamed of yourself!”
Erik only shrugs on a dismissive frown. “And yet, I’m not,” he says, with a smile that sends my world spinning. “I’ll take care of her in a way you cannot, Ms. Collins. I am not shaming you, but no one in her life has put her first. That will be my life from now on. She will be with me, not just as a pawn in a man’s game of power and profit. I’ll make her the center of my world. She will have everything and want for nothing. She will overflow with happiness, and if she doesn’t, I will fix it.”
Warmth gathers in my core, rolling on itself, gathering more heat with every word. But Jess doesn’t look convinced.
“Where will you go? When will I see her again?”
“She will go wherever I go. I don’t believe I will ever let her out of my sight, and if I do, it will only be for a brief time and with all the forces I can align to make sure she is safe while we are apart. But, what she cares about, I will care about, and that will include you. And your house.”
“Can she come to see me whenever she wants? I’m sorry, but I need her. I need her help. I hate that I do, but I don’t have anyone else.” Jess’s voice breaks, her broken pride at having to admit she can’t function on her own scattering all over the floor in pieces.
“I’ll take care of you,” I answer, my eye imploring this stranger next to me that I’ve silently given myself to, to understand my obligation to the woman who showed me the most love and attention of anyone in my life.
Before now.
“She will be with me forever.” My eyes widen as he offers only another shrug. “I already know I will never let her go. I knew the second I saw her she was going to be my wife. I’ve never considered marriage before, not for a second, but now? It’s the single most important focus of my life.”
My skin prickles, fear and arousal twisting and battling inside me, heat sliding up my neck and down my back.
“Andrea is coming with me, but I’ve already arranged for new housing for you.” He nods to Jess as a siren screaming by on the street outside punctuates the moment. “And whatever help you need, it will all be taken care of. She just needs to come with me and stay with me. Then your house will also be relocated. I will pay to have it lifted from its foundation, moved to a beautiful new site, fully renovated and adjusted for you to live safely. That will take time, but until then, you will be tended to at a temporary residence. I assure you,” He pauses, looking around the small space, his eyes falling to the mattress on the floor as anger flashes across his face, “it will be world’s away from what you have here.”
“Andrea…” Jess folds her hands together like she’s praying, her eyes pinned on mine. “You do not need to do this.”
“I want to.” The words burst from my lips without a thought. “I trust him. And you need to trust me.”
She mounts some more protests, but in the end, while I’m dressing to leave, Erik leaves her with her own black credit card and a stack of cash, with a list of phone numbers and names of people that will be calling or coming around to facilitate the transition into her new housing.
There’s hugs and tears, then I’m in the back of a blacked-out limousine, and the dark reality that a man I barely know is taking me.
I’ve offered myself in trade.