Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Baby, don’t say no until you know how you really feel when I ask things of you. Giving up control doesn’t mean giving up who you are. It simply means you trust that I’ll take care of you and make the best decisions for us. You doing that for me, giving me whatever I need or want, means to me that you care about my happiness and you’re willing to put me first. You doing that makes me want to give you everything you could ever possibly want or need. It also takes the burden of decisions from you. You don’t like making them.”
How could he know that about her? He was right. She was terrible at making decisions. She was the most indecisive person she knew. “But I’m working to overcome that flaw. I’m working hard at it.”
Again, she looked up at him so he would see that improving herself meant something to her. She needed to feel empowered when for so long after her sister and the children had been murdered, when she’d been shot by a man who had helped to raise her, she felt worthless, alone and unsure of everyone and everything.
“I can help with that. You want to make decisions regarding our home, your school, your clothing—except when we’re going out—I have no problem with that.” He continued to cup her face with gentle fingers, holding her gaze captive with his. “Say yes.”
“I want you to explain why you need these things from me, Andrii. It has to make some kind of sense when commitment for me is so scary.”
“You commit to me, and I’ll tell you as much as I can about myself. Anything you ask, I’ll answer when I can, but I must have your word that you’re in this with me all the way. Say yes. Be mine. I swear you won’t regret it.”
Her breath left her lungs in a rush. She couldn’t look away from his compelling eyes. She forced herself to breathe. To think. No matter that he admitted to being trained as an assassin, she believed that he hunted criminals—ones falling through the cracks of the justice system. He found young children and women trafficked and freed them. Was what he did wrong? Probably. Vigilante justice wasn’t a good thing, yet every instinct she had told her he was a good man. He hadn’t exactly answered her when she asked him point-blank if he had approached her because she worked for Billows, but she had to admit that his question was a good one. What did it matter how he found her if what they had was the real thing?
She wanted to take the chance with him, when she’d never wanted to be with any man. The thought hadn’t entered her head that she would ever trust someone enough to take that chance. But when she was with him, she found herself falling more and more under his spell.
She wanted to know about his past, what made him the way he was. She recognized that both of them had suffered trauma and at their core didn’t trust anyone. Yet she found herself wanting to trust him. She wanted him to be able to trust her. Would it be so bad to at least try?
She started to nod, but he shook his head.
“Say it to me. Out loud. Speak it to me and the universe. Mean it, Azelie. Make that commitment to us.”
“Yes.” The word came out strangled. There were so many reasons to say no and very few to say yes.
“That’s my brave woman.”
The moment he gave her praise, she found herself responding even more to him. Was she so screwed up that having a man compliment her was all it took for her to want to give herself to him? She was agreeing to a relationship when she had no idea what that actually entailed. Azelie was caught in his spell despite her brain telling her to be cautious. To go very slow.
Andrii bent his head toward hers and her breath caught in her lungs. His kisses were killer. She wanted to get lost in his kisses, so she wouldn’t have to think too much about what she’d just done. To her disappointment, he brushed his lips on the tip of her nose and released her. As he leaned back, his hand slid down her arm, causing a flurry of hot little sparks of electricity to dance over her skin. His fingers settled around her wrist, a bracelet, a handcuff, a tie between them.
THIRTEEN
“It’s important that I disclose as much about myself to you as possible,” Maestro said. “I know you’re wondering why I’m so fucked up.”
Azelie’s eyes widened. “I don’t think you’re…well…messed up.”
Maestro had to smile. How could he not? Most girls had no problem using foul language. It was second nature to him. It was to the other club members. Only Preacher was careful with his language because he had always looked after Lana, his younger sister, but even Preacher swore sometimes. Maestro thought it was hilarious that his woman couldn’t say fuck.