Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
She sighed.
Damen was beginning to wonder if he just happened to be sexually infatuated with a woman with serious mood swings. His words were meant to be a warning. He already had enough of women lying to him, and he had wanted Mairi to know that. And yet, while Damen had expected her to perhaps be overwhelmed or even offended, Mairi had instead sighed like he had recited a fucking poem for her.
“Are you all right?” he asked finally.
“I’m, umm, yes. I’m sorry.” She sighed again, unable to help it. When Damen had spoken those words, he had reminded her so strongly about the Greek billionaires she used to read about that goosebumps had formed all over her skin.
Damen decided to let those sighs go. He had a feeling he would simply drive himself crazy if he tried figuring it out. “Do you have any other questions?”
“Umm, yes.” She bit her lip. “But...it’s somewhat personal so if you don’t want to answer, it’s okay.”
The words made Damen tense. He was absolutely sure it would have something to do with his parents’ scandal. He poured himself another shot.
And then—-
“Who was your first crush?”
Surprise had Damen spitting out his whiskey. What the hell? It was like she was reading her questions straight out of an autograph book. What would she want to know next – what he dreamt of becoming when he grew up? What his motto in life was?
“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.
“Are you seriously asking me that?”
“I told you it was going to be personal.”
Damen didn’t know whether to groan or roll his eyes. “Are you truly like this, Mairi Tanner? Or is this all a show to make me more intrigued? Because you already have my fucking attention and I want you so damn bad I’m tempted to go over there and be damned with the consequences.”
But instead of a straight answer, all he got was a heartfelt sigh.
God, did this woman drive him crazy! And damned if these crazy ways of hers did not make Damen want her even more.
Her gaze drifted towards the wall clock and Mairi gasped, not realizing how late it was. “I have to go,” she said glumly.
And now she was being the first to put the phone down – yet another deed no other woman had been able to do to him. It was like she knew all the right buttons to push, making him feel fucking unsure of where his place in her life was – and he did not fucking like it. Not one damn bit.
“Mairi?”
“Yes?” Her heart started beating madly.
“Once you meet with me tomorrow, there is no turning back. You will be mine – and only mine until I let you go. If you are thinking of playing around, don’t. I’m not the kind of man you would want to cross.”
Another sigh.
This time, Damen ignored it. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Oh dear – he was such an alpha. Just like the Greek billionaires in her bedtime stories, only this time he was real and so, so, so much better than she could ever dream of.
She said tremulously, “I understand, Damen.”
“And you will be mine?”
Mairi answered simply, “I was meant to be yours.”
She sighed.
He wanted to groan. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Those words just made sure he needed a long cold shower to see him through the night.
Chapter 7
To catch a Greek billionaire, you must be prepared to give him your most precious gift.
She said: And that is your love.
He said: And that is your virginity
(Note to editor: Matter to be decided before the last round of edits)
“MS. MAIRI TANNER?” A uniformed chauffeur came out of nowhere, a bland expression on his weathered face as he said Mairi’s name.
“That’s me.” His tone was deferential, his posture so absolutely correct that Mairi felt like she was talking to a king who had gone undercover. Even his uniform seemed more expensive than her own outfit, which she had bought from a beach bazaar the past month.
“If you could follow me, Ms. Tanner?”
She certainly could, and she did her best to not cause too much noise as she followed the older man to the limousine parked at the far end of the road.
Mairi had texted Damen several times this morning, stressing the importance of not being caught by anyone because she couldn’t afford to lose her job. Maybe when they were married, she mused. But for now it was better to play it safe.
The chauffeur opened the door for her. “Ms. Tanner?”
She had barely taken one step inside before hard arms pulled her forward, the strength in those muscular arms making Mairi feel like she was no heavier than a tiny bird, even though she knew she was more like an ostrich than a swan.
There wasn’t even time to breathe, to say hello, or to think about what was going to happen next.