Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“What were you doing down there then?”
“I was—” I realize how bad this looks and cross my arms over my chest. “Licking the floor. I love the taste of old wood.”
“You love the taste of my wood.” He smirks at me. “That door’s locked for a reason. Everything past there is stripped down. Rusty nails, loose boards, all that good stuff. Old house and whatever.”
I decide to ignore the crass dad joke. “I guess this is the off-limits part?”
“You really are a curious girl, aren’t you?”
He has no freaking clue.
“I met your housekeeper. She was nice.”
“Good. I pay her enough to make sure she’s extremely kind.”
“When do I get a full tour?” I gesture at the door behind me.
“Never. Forget about that part of the house.” He comes toward me. I catch a whiff of something smoky wafting off him. “I know that locked door is going to drive you insane, but forget it exists.”
“That’s going to be hard.” I step closer to him and sniff a few times. “Why do you smell like a bonfire?”
“Work.”
“Lots of burning rubble in the computer chip business?”
“Yes. And no.” He puts one hand on my hip and the other snakes up my back. I let out a surprised whimper when he grips my hair. “Are you going to make my life difficult, little thief?”
“I’m not a thief. And probably.”
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you act too stupidly mysterious. How’s a computer chip guy afford a house like this?”
He’s smirking as he dips down and brushes his lips against my neck. I groan and try to push him away, but that’s like trying to move a mountain.
“You’re too clever.”
“And you’re way too shady. Remember when I saw you murder a guy?”
“I assumed we wouldn’t talk about that again.”
“Arsen. Who did I marry?”
He lets out a low grumble in the back of his throat. “I’ll tell you, but you have to give me something in return.”
“That’s not really the basis for a reasonable relationship.”
“We don’t have one of those.”
“Fine. What do you want?”
“I brought some of your clothes over. I want to watch you get changed.”
I laugh stupidly before realizing he’s not kidding. “That’s flattering and also a total red flag. I don’t want to exchange sexual favors for basic information about my husband.”
“And yet here we are.”
“You just want to watch?”
“That’s all. I just want to watch.”
“Weird. But no touching. Deal?”
“Deal.” He grips my hair tighter. “I like your nose ring.”
“Thanks?”
Then he lets me go. I slip past him and he lightly pats my ass. I try to swat him back, but he’s already grinning and following me back to his bedroom.
True to his word, the weirdo sits in a big leather chair in the corner of the room and crosses one leg. My old gym bag is sitting on the bed stuffed with a lot of my things. “How’d you get this anyway?”
“Your mother sent it over. She’s a nice woman.”
My eyes go wide. “You talked to her?”
“Briefly. She made me swear I’m not pimping you out. Her words.”
I groan and cover my face. “She thinks I’m getting trafficked.”
“If only.”
“Don’t be a creep.”
He shrugs and gestures at me. “I’m waiting.”
“God, this is weird.” I pick out underwear, a sports bra, my favorite baggy long-sleeve shirt, and leggings. “You’ve seen me naked. I don’t know why I’m nervous.”
“Because you know I’m studying you.”
“Please don’t use that word again. I’m not your research subject.”
“But you are. I have to learn everything about my new wife. Take off your clothes, Lena.”
Well, fucking shit. For whatever reason, I’m extremely turned on, which makes it easy at least. I tear off the big t-shirt I’m wearing and when I turn my back on him, he scolds me and makes me turn back around.
“Slower,” he commands.
“Don’t be so bossy. This is how I get dressed.”
“Not when I’m around. Slower, Lena, and let me see your body.”
Fuuuuck.
My nipples are rock hard. My cheeks turn bright pink. Arsen’s looking at me like he can’t see anything else. That man is a freaking golden god and looks like a marble statue covered in ink and scars, and somehow, I’m the one getting all the attention. I should be down on my knees worshipping him. Or at least licking his very thick, very wonderful cock.
Instead, all he wants is to watch me take off my clothes.
I do as instructed. Because damn, the attention feels good. I get fully naked and wish I had time to shave myself a little this morning. I never go full bald, but a casual little shape-up would be nice. He licks his lips at the sight of my reddish pubes and maybe he doesn’t mind a wild lady. Good to know.
“I’m a little cold,” I admit, trembling with excitement. I want him to come over here and grab my hair again. I want him to kiss me hard enough to make my lips bleed. I am definitely a fucked-up freak.