Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
“I bet I can improve your mood,” she said with a smile. “Lucian’s postponed his trip. Apparently, he met some Thai woman and she’s keeping him rather occupied right now.”
That did improve his mood. “Hopefully she keeps him occupied for a long, long time.” Knox took another swig from his glass. “Like a century, for example.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can’t say I’m disappointed by his news. I don’t think he’ll react well to my being pregnant, so the delay is most welcome. Not that I want or feel that I need his approval. But you’ve seen how he gets when something upsets his little world. It’s excruciatingly annoying. And I know that if he has a tantrum and says something offensive, my demon’s going to want to shove my stiletto blade right up his rectum.”
Knox licked his teeth. “My demon will want to do worse.” The entity already despised Lucian for his neglect of Harper.
“Which means the whole thing has the makings of a clusterfuck.” Harper fell quiet as she finished off her Hershey’s bar and drank more of her Coke. “Oh, I meant to ask before: was Dario at the meeting?”
“Yes, he seemed angry that you were hurt and he wants to be sure that whoever’s behind the attacks will soon be dead.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
“I asked him if Nora had any warnings to deliver. She said that when it’s time to kill the child, we shouldn’t hesitate. For a moment, I thought she meant our child. But I think she meant McCauley.”
Frowning, Harper swallowed. “The kid creeps me out, but I don’t want to have to kill him.” Just the thought made her stomach churn. Even her demon wasn’t keen on the idea.
Knox rubbed her thigh. “Neither do I, baby. Neither do I.”
“You said it was a beach hut.”
“It is.”
Hut, my ass. “Knox, aside from having a thatched roof, it is nothing like a hut.” The white, two-story building was more of a luxury villa. Situated on a beautiful tropical beach, it was surrounded by tall palm trees and white sand. The sun glittered off the rippling turquoise-blue sea, and she just wanted to dive right in it – it was seriously freaking hot.
It had only been a short walk from the jet to the “hut”, but already her skin was sticky and sweat was trickling down her back. As they’d walked along the man-made path through the jungle, she’d seen lots of colorful birds, a few snakes, and heard what she suspected were monkeys in the distance. Not a big fan of monkeys, she hoped they remained in the distance.
She almost sighed in relief as the cool breeze swept over her and ruffled her shirt. “Did you ever rent out the island?”
“No. It’s mine.”
He said it with such finality that she smiled. “And you don’t share what’s yours.”
Knox drew her close and spoke against her mouth. “No, I definitely don’t share what’s mine.” Neither did his demon. He licked at her lower lip and then gave it a sharp, possessive nip. “Come on, let’s go inside so I can show you the place.”
Knox first introduced her to the housekeeper and maintenance guy – both of whom were natives of a neighboring island but also belonged to their lair. It was clear to Harper by the way they chatted to Tanner and Levi that the sentinels had accompanied Knox here plenty of times.
The interior of the spacious, stylishly furnished villa was beautiful. Bright walls, gleaming floors, and high windows that took advantage of the idyllic ocean view. The bedroom was her favorite part of the villa. It had a hot tub, a canopy bed with white drapes that kept out the mosquitos, and a gorgeous balcony that overlooked the sea.
Each of the sentinels had their own room at the other side of the villa, which gave Harper and Knox plenty of privacy. She was glad of that, because she could be kind of noisy in bed and the sentinels would no doubt immaturely tease her about it.
Dressed in a neon-pink bikini, she’d just finished applying sun lotion when Knox walked into the bedroom. His eyes darkened as they roamed over her, and her demon stretched languidly. Harper let her own gaze explore his powerful build, lingering a little on the growing bulge in his shorts. “I’m happy to skip the swim and take care of that, just so you know.”
Knox stalked over to her and trailed his finger over the swell of her breasts, inhaling the fruity scent of her sunscreen. “Very magnanimous of you,” he quipped.
“I’m all heart.”
He dropped to his knees and kissed her stomach. “I don’t know why it turns me on knowing that I put a baby in you. I really don’t.”
She swallowed. “I’m not complaining, in case you were wondering.”
He stood, mouth curved. “Come on.” He linked his fingers with hers and led her downstairs and out onto the deck, facing the beach. Tanner and Levi were already sprawled on sun loungers, soaking up the sun.