Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
He dropped his hand when we reached the stairs and made a gesture for me to go first. Neither of us spoke as we went down the stairs, me in front of him.
I needed fresh air. That was the only reason I was going with him. Or at least, that was what I told myself. It seemed I wasn’t so bad at lying to myself. It was others I struggled with.
At the bottom, I hesitated, not sure if he meant for me to go outside alone or if he was going too. And if he was, did I want to continue the conversation that had ended last night when he walked out of the bedroom?
Before I could delve too much further into that thought, a woman—the one who had walked out of his room, naked, yesterday morning—came strutting out of the red door that led to the kitchen in a black halter top and shorts, which didn’t cover much more than a pair of panties. Rome’s hand returned to my lower back, and I glanced from her to him. If he’d noticed her—and I didn’t know how he could not—he wasn’t acting like it.
He tilted his chin forward. “This way,” he told me.
“Tex!” the female called out.
His hand felt more like a flame than a sizzle now, one that I’d allowed too close, and I knew it was going to burn me if I didn’t put distance between us.
He didn’t respond to her, although her voice had rung out loud and clear. Instead, he began walking, and I had no choice but to go with him or be pushed. The veins in his neck stood out, and I knew he was clenching his teeth. He only did that when he was angry and trying to control it or…or…when he was inside me.
God, that image was one I had tried so hard not to think about for a very long time.
“Tex!” she called again, and I could hear the heels of her stilettos against the hardwood floor as she hurried in our direction.
He might have no issue ignoring her, but I did. Sure, I was jealous of her. There, I’d admitted it. She’d had the man, whereas I’d had the boy. But to walk off as if she were invisible was rude.
I stopped walking and stared up at him. “Aren’t you going to acknowledge her?” I asked in a clipped tone.
He raised his eyebrows as his pale green eyes lowered to mine and then shook his head slightly. “I’d rather not.”
But he had no problem screwing her and then shoving her out of his room without clothes on. I opened my mouth to say just that, even knowing it was something I shouldn’t because it would make it sound like I cared about who he screwed. However, the woman reached us, and her long fluorescent-pink nails with rhinestones on them caught my attention as she grabbed his arm. I felt his entire body tense as his hand flexed against my skin.
“Tex,” she said in a breathy whine, “I was coming to see you.”
Her eyes cut to me sharply, and the sultry smile she’d been giving him faltered.
If looks could kill, she’d have me splayed out on the floor.
“What do you need, Nixie?”
The annoyance in his tone made me wince. She might not like me and would like to strangle me with her bare hands, but she didn’t deserve that. He could be nicer to her. She was young. Too young, in my opinion. If she was of legal drinking age, I’d be surprised. But then he’d mentioned my being old right away. It seemed he didn’t like them after they hit full adulthood. The thought soured my mood further.
“I miss you.” She pouted.
“That’s an issue you will have to work out yourself.” He dropped his eyes back to me. “Come on,” he said, then began leading me, this time forcing me to move toward the door with him.
I was reluctant, but I also didn’t want to make a scene.
“That’s it then?” she asked, sounding almost hysterical.
He didn’t respond.
“TEX!” she cried out.
He muttered a curse word under his breath, but he did stop.
I waited as he turned back around toward her.
“Nixie, learn when you’ve been dismissed. And never use that tone of voice with me again, or you’ll be looking for a new job.” The warning in his tone made me shiver.
Her eyes widened as her bottom lip trembled, but she nodded.
We were moving once again, and a quick study of his face was one of mild irritation, but not the fury that I’d heard in his voice.
He stepped to the side of me and unlocked the bolts, all three of them, and then the doorknob itself before turning it and pushing the heavy metal door open. The instant warmth and sun washed over me as I stepped outside.