Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Forcing a smile to her lips, she held the glass up. “I helped myself, I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, by all means, I’m pretty sure I can find a reasonable way for you to pay me.”
She wanted to cringe, but all she did was force a smile to her face. “Do you make all of the women in your life pay for the simplest of needs?”
Paul laughed. “Ah, you’re a girl after my own heart. You believe the finest whiskey is a simple need?”
She noticed how he called her a girl. Tamsin wasn’t a girl, but if that was what he needed her to be right now, she would take it. Anything to distract him. She had already noticed his gaze move up and down her body, and she hated it.
Think about Mason.
Think about your brothers.
Think about David.
Think about all those people you can save.
It helped.
“What would you call a simple need?” Tamsin asked, trying to flirt.
Don’t be sick. You can handle this.
She had dealt with six meddling brothers, seven if she counted Gabriel, but he’d not been there through her earliest of years. Landon had been the one to put a frog in her bed. Jacob and Abel had tickled her until she nearly peed herself. Gideon and Damon had locked her in the cupboard under the stairs and told her ghost stories. She’d handled her share of men. She could deal with this man.
They were your brothers. They were nothing like this man. None of them wanted anything from you.
“There are many things I think are a necessity, like your dress,” Paul said. “It is stunning.”
She turned toward him and then gave a little twirl, doing so slowly. “Ah, you really think so? I wasn’t sure if this was a good dress.”
“It’s glorious,” Paul said. “Come a little closer and I can have a proper look.”
I can do this.
She stepped toward him. Every single part of her was screaming to get as far away from him as possible. She had run away from home for fear of him. Started a whole new life away from everything because of this man. Mason had nothing to do with it, but this man disgusted her, and she hated him with a passion.
Pushing all of it to one side, she focused on him and closed the distance between them. Paul reached for her glass, and she was tempted to fight him on it, only he pulled it from her grip. Now she had nothing between them.
He looked at her, and then he let out a low moan. “You know, you’re beautiful now, but two years ago, you were even more stunning.” He put his hand on her hip and Tamsin did her best to control her body’s reaction, but she wasn’t good at it.
She shuddered and before she knew what was happening, his fingers had wrapped around her throat.
Shit!
“Do you think I’m a fool?” Paul asked.
She had no way of responding as he cut off all her air. His grip was way too tight, and she struggled to breathe.
You can’t die like this.
Not today.
The one tiny little good thing about having brothers, even when their parents had told them not to roughhouse, they rarely listened. All six of her brothers had taught her exactly what to do when a man was becoming too familiar, or was hurting her.
Drawing her knee up, she was so pleased the dress had a bit of give in it, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to connect with his dick. She did so, hard. The moment she did, Paul reacted, trying to cover himself.
Tamsin didn’t run away, but rounded the desk, picking up the knife she had hidden. She had hoped to kill him a little easier, luring him to her, playing the femme fatale, but that was not going to happen.
She gripped the knife and charged at him. During this time, Paul had gotten control of his senses, and as she went to attack him, he was ready. He swung out, slapping her hard.
Tamsin stumbled to the ground, and before she could move out of his way, he kicked her—a hard, swift hit to her ribs—making her struggle for breath.
Focus, Tamsin.
You can do this.
He lifted her head, and then slapped her hard across the face with the back of his hand.
“Do you really think I want you?” Paul tutted. “It was fun to watch that son of mine worry about your safety, and the only reason I ever visited you was to watch you both squirm. I like my girls young and for the most part, untouched by anyone but me.” He wrapped his fingers around her throat once more. “I guess I could help put a baby in you. Teach my son and you a lesson. You could be my own personal little fuck toy, Tamsin. Use you when I don’t have a nice, pure pussy.”